KRISTIN LEIGH CASSIDY

SOHA, St. Louis

2015

what is truly important is not what these pieces might have once helped compose, but what they are now. A visual window into a story and important pieces of St. Louis history in and of themselves. To symbolize the restlessness of the river, each piece has been designed with mobility in mind, so that they can continue their travels. The charms are designed by simply framing the fragments with authenthic silver or gold wire to accentuate their natural beauty. The fragments are unaltered. 

Various antique marbles of different shapes and sizes are fitted with decorative loops fashioned with sterling silver wire, enabling them to be Carried from place to place. These marbles charms are designed to provoke observation and imagination. Some are clouded with uni- or multicolor swirls evocative of galaxies, while within others are trapped bubbles.

Merit Badges are exclusive Kickstarter awards for those most cherished contributors to the Living Gallery. The badges come in five rankings - Owl Scout, Adventurer, World Explorer, Universal Pioneer, and The Captain - that signify different critical roles played in the formation of the Living Gallery. Each badge starts with a circular cross section of a bough that is meticulously sanded down, creating a large wooden token with accentuated rings. Insignias are then etched upon each token by hand, using a solder iron to burn impressions into the wood. Finally, high quality plaid fabric is embroidered with golden thread and fashioned into a ribbon, from which each token is suspended. The result? Beautifully handcrafted badges, each featuring subtle differences - which can be found even among badges of the same rank - that reflect how special their respective recipients are to The Living Gallery.