Students can see the results of creative craftsmanship and the donation of several sapphires in the LaVerne Krause Gallery in an exhibit titled “Blue.”
The stones were given to last term’s intermediate/advanced metalsmithing students with instructions to find innovative ways to set the stones.
Visiting Assistant Professor Tracy Steepy taught the course.
“The stones were anonymously donated to the University,” Steepy said. “They went to the geology department first, and then they found their way to us and we were able to use them in a stone setting class. And so everyone was given a stone to do an alternative setting project.”
Students were not allowed to set the stones in prongs or bezel, which is how the precious stones are placed in most conventional jewelry.
University alumna Devienna Anggraini created a piece for
the show.

“The assignment started with the question ‘What does blue mean to you?’” Anggraini said. “And we knew the work was going to be in an exhibit titled ‘Blue.’”
For her project, Anggraini created a silver, half-inch square box, which can be unfolded to display the stone, connected to a small
silver chain.

“You always see stones being set in jewelry in a certain way, this is pushing the boundaries of what is traditional,” Anggraini said. “People go wild. They put it in epoxy, create a little cage.”
Other students set the stones into necklaces and rings. One student used felt to create a sculpture, another used human hair.
Student Jesse Burke-Allmon attended the opening last Monday.
“There’s a wide selection of work,” he said of the exhibit. “I like it, especially the metalsmithing. It’s got a lot of original thought in every piece. It’s a nice touch of having the sapphire theme.”
Steepy said she was pleased with the students’ ability to display the stones in an unconventional way.
“I’m impressed with all the work,” she said. “It’s a good example of student work across the board.”
“Blue” will be on display in the LaVerne Krause Gallery until
Friday.