Souvenirs are objects that hold on to memory, explains Adjunct Associate Professor of Fine Arts (Jewelry) Brice Garrett. “These objects have power not because of their material value, but because of the personal and emotional associations we attach to them.”
In Jewelry III, a course for BFA Jewelry juniors, Garrett recently challenged students to create a “souvenir” brooch based on a personal memory or anecdote. The resulting brooches, designed to be pinned to clothing or bags, make the perfect souvenirs—small, memorable, and crafted with care. The project encourages students to consider how form, material, scale, and symbolism can capture and reimagine that memory in object form.
Explore some of the student works below.
Hannah Blake
“The inspiration for this brooch comes from the fence of the schoolyard across from my childhood apartment. It always had flowers growing through it, no matter the season, and it was always a marvel to me.”
Gelina Liu
“This brooch draws inspiration from my visit to Texas during spring break with friends. The design incorporates elements of western culture through cowboy boot motifs, rodeo imagery, and constellations to showcase my experience of the culture and atmosphere that made the trip memorable.”
Yana Moradia
“The souvenir brooch is inspired by the trips I took with my family and the tradition my brother and I had of collecting poker cards from different countries as souvenirs. It represents those shared memories and the excitement of bringing a small piece of each place back home with us.”
Angus Nichols
“I made this brooch thinking back to the time I spent in Sheffield, England, as a child, one of the smithing capitals of the world. This brooch features a silver sword and Damascus plate, harking back to blacksmithing and my early memories of learning to forge. The face swings open to reveal the hidden Damascus plate, symbolizing my personal feelings of growth and achievement that come from working with such a complex material.”
Thea Sun
“This piece is my response to adolescence, a time when I felt trapped in my own thoughts and emotions, later realizing the lock was self-imposed. The pouch reflects how these feelings were once contained and carried, and how they can now be held with ease.”
Amy Zhu
“This brooch is based on a childhood memory of sleeping beside my parents, with our bodies and blankets tangled together. I remember the warmth, the closeness, and the sunlight in the room. The overlapping shapes and colors try to hold onto that feeling of comfort and togetherness.”
