Rachel Lenzen

by Ariel Radock

As a metalsmith, Rachel Lenzen creates highly personal and unique small sculpture as well as jewelry. Under the tutelage of Jane Weintraub at Northeastern Illinois University, she received a degree in art with an emphasis in metals. Rachel exhibits her work at select galleries throughout Chicago in addition to studying and working under professional jeweler Steff Korsage. She currently lives in Chicago, Illinois.

Fill In The Blank Gallery: For hundreds of thousands of years humans have embraced the inherent desire to adorn themselves in jewelry and possess portable art objects whether it is for symbolic, protective, or merely artistic purposes. As an artist, do you feel that you are part of this history continuing the creative lineage of those who came before you?

Rachel Lenzen: I do. I love looking at the jewelry that others have made. I find it very inspiring but also intriguing. I am very interested in the whole concept of a piece, not just the beauty. I’m interested in what the meaning or intention of the piece is. I think this is something that my work does. There is an entire idea behind it and every part of the piece was made for a reason. It is all very intentional.

FIB: Where does the inspiration for your designs come from? What meaning does it have for you personally?

RL: My art is extremely personal and the inspiration comes mainly from my life experiences. Art for me is in a way a form of release. I feel I am able to fully express the person I am through art. This can be difficult at times because I become very attached to my work and it makes it hard to let it go.

FIB: Do you specifically choose certain materials aesthetically for each object?

RL: Yes. I usually work with copper and silver but it is based on the piece. Most of my jewelry is done in fine and sterling silver and most of my small sculpture work is done in copper. However, I have a few pieces that are a mix of both as well as found objects. It really does depend on the piece because each type of metal gives the piece a different feel.

FIB: How long does it take you to complete a piece?

RL: It depends on the piece. Most of my pieces will take about a month to complete. However there are a few that are less complex so they don’t take as long and few that are more complex so they take longer.

FIB: Do you prefer to create jewelry or small sculpture? Why?

RL: I enjoy small sculpture more. I feel I can express more with small sculpture because I am not as limited with space. I do enjoy making jewelry, which can still have lots of meaning behind it. With jewelry I have to consider the person who may be wearing it which may limit the size, weight, and some materials.

FIB: Do you believe that functionality and form are inseparable? Or do you regard one more dominant than the other in the consideration of design?

RL: I think they go hand in hand. The pieces’ form and function have to work together. Every piece I make has a function of some kind whether it is a piece of jewelry or a sculpture and the form of that piece must coincide with that function. For me they have to work together.

FIB: Is your work strictly one of a kind or is it a production of multiples?

RL: Almost all of my work is one of a kind. I have made a few pins that were similar but each still unique in their decorative aspect.

FIB: What is your biggest frustration and greatest pleasure working with metal?

RL: I think my biggest frustration in working with metal is the cost of metal and sometimes the amount of time it takes to finish a piece. There have been a few times when I have had to scrape together enough money to order silver to make a piece. I also do a lot of research for my pieces before I actually start them. This adds even more time to how long it takes to complete a piece.

My greatest pleasure working with metal as crazy as it may sound is the tediousness nature of it and the end result. I love working with my hands and actually forming something from a flat piece of metal. It is always really exciting to watch my pieces start to come together and turn into something really fantastic.

FIB: Do you wear any jewelry on a daily basis?

RL: I have people ask me that question all the time when they find out that I am a metalsmith, and as funny as it seems I don't. They only thing I really wear on a daily basis are broaches. I have a bunch of my grandmother's broaches, which are more along the lines of costume jewelry but I love them.

FIB: Are there other mediums you enjoy working with as well?

RL: Most recently I have fallen in love with enamel paint. I am not a painter but the feel and look of enamel paint just intrigues me. I have also been doing embroidery work for a little over a year now and I still enjoy taking photographs, which is what I first studied in school before switching to metals.

FIB: If someone, one thousand years from now, excavated your work what do you believe his or her reaction would be? How would you wish them to respond?

RL: I think his or her reaction would be that the work is very unique. I guess I would hope that they would see some sort of beauty in it or find a connection with it in some way. My hope is that people will see my work and they will be pulled in by it but also really question what it is all about.

FIB: What are you working on now?

RL: Right now I have quite a few different ideas written down on paper but have not yet started. I have recently begun to do embroidery work again and I would like to start incorporating that into my metal work. I also been working with a friend to create a book made completely out of metal. This is an idea that I have had for sometime now and am really excited to actually get it started.