Exhibition: Plastic Undone: Jewelry Art by Carole Shelton

Carole Shelton presents an exhibition of jewelry created out of plastic that has been diverted from the waste stream. The show features plastic food containers made into floral brooches and necklaces that can be worn many ways. Carole’s philosophy is to turn these discarded objects into something useful and beautiful, while bringing attention to the damage plastic is doing to the earth. She hopes that plastic will become so rare that she will run out of material for her projects.

As a metal smith and jewelry artist, Carole offers awareness and information about the amount of throw-away plastic in the environment. “I would like to elevate plastic jewelry to an art form. Maybe if plastic was seen as a valuable resource, it wouldn’t end up thrown away, incinerated, or polluting the water. Why is it so much easier and cheaper to manufacture plastic than to get rid of it?” she asks. Though her works could stand alone, she will also showcase easy ways to reduce plastic use.

Carole’s large bold necklaces and brooches are part of “Plastic Undone”, an exhibition of plastic jewelry to be held during the month of April. Marisa Dalla Valle’s “Birds for Peace” project, birds made from plastic bottles, will also be part of the exhibit.  The Opening Reception is held during St. Pete’s Second Saturday Art Walk featuring modern folk music by Kathy Bellavia.