Katy Taylor (Doody)

While living by the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, the ebbing tides, the debris left behind, and the human propensity to collect treasures from the shoreline have fueled my current creative explorations. Fabricating porcelain jewelry cast from shells feels especially apropos considering the term porcelain comes from the Italian word: porcellana, meaning “cowrie shell”. Used also as slang for “pretty girl” and “vulva”, as well as a form of currency and a prized ornament of the elite, across cultures the many identities of “shell” continue to layer up; much like its physical form does over time. I aim to add my own interpretation by selecting shells that I personally see value in and shifting the object’s identity through material translations and adornments. With a focus on the shell as a potent metaphor for transformation, and a bridge between worlds, the resulting jewelry is intended as a celebration of the experiences and discoveries made when time is spent with the ocean.
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