ALEX KINSLEY VEY

Mixed Materials / Canada

We are products of our environments, shaped and changed by the places we call home.

Hamilton, my home on the shore of Lake Ontario has traditionally been a steel producing centre. Despite the industry having died down in recent decades, its industrial activity is still apparent. The View from the Pier series of necklaces examine the geographies of the city and reference my time growing up there, and the impact this place had on me.

The culture of Hamilton was rough, the attitude grimy, and those characteristics greatly influenced me. Baseball bats, Metal shows and bus fights all existed alongside the backdrop of heavy industry. The working-class ethos and attitudes of my hometown shaped me into who I am today – for better or worse.