Olivia Boi
she/her
Westbrook, ME, USA
Olivia Boi is the owner and creator of Strong Moon Metals. A few years after graduating with her Bachelor of Fine Arts, she took an introduction to smithing class at Metalwerx in Waltham, MA and the rest was history. She started Strong Moon Metals December 2017 and hasn’t looked back ever since. Olivia creates jewelry at her home and metals studio in Maine. Sterling silver, brass, and beautifully cut stones are the bread and butter to her practice. You can find more of her work on her website, or in person at local shows around the Portland area.
“As a disabled queer artist, I feel lucky to have found solace in fire, metal and transmuting energy into wearable art. Metal-smithing has provided an unimaginable positive outlet to foster my creativity, that continuously aids me through the obstacles in which it means to be a disabled 33 year old queer woman.
The glow of the various metals, permanence of the solder structures and constant decision making is so exciting to me. Creating jewelry feels like the utmost form of emotional preservation and decision making I have continuously achieved.”
“These earrings connect the wearer to community by watching out for all. They are amulets for the community as watchers. The metaphysical healing properties of these stones protrude into the collective, while beaming compassion, connection and community to anyone who crosses their path."
How does your work relate to the theme connection?
What role does connection play in your creative process?
“As a disabled artist, connection is very important to me, especially because I spend a lot of time alone. I work from my home studio and most days I do enjoy it. Other days I ponder about what it would be like for me to be in an artists community, going to work intentionally outside of the house and on the way, possibly engaging with a few people I otherwise wouldn't.
I crave connection in my community, and so I try to be involved in anyway I can, especially locally. I participate in lots of events, and even created a traveling artist market called ‘The Rebel Market’ which I sell my jewelry at, but we ( my wife and I ) have shown over 250 local Maine artists in the last 3 years we have been hosting them.
I feel as though the people I have met through hosting these markets and selling my work at them has been such a huge win for me in the realm of fostering a community, by giving artists a chance to have their work seen and be able to make a profit from selling their goods, all along with some great conversations and forever connections built. I have met so many amazing artists of all kind, and many metal-smithing jewelry makers along the way. The connections I have made through my intention of creating a community has been so nourishing and rewarding to me and my craft and always remember to tell myself, think all the people you wouldn't meet if you stayed inside all day."
"Queer Eyes", Petrified wood, amazonite, sterling silver, 2" x 2.25", 2020 What connection(s) does your queerness make to the world around you?
“My queerness grounds me to the world by giving me the foundation to be my authentic self, which took me a long time to fully realize. This makes me really feel a strong connection to others who have also gone through similar situations, especially other queer folks and disabled folks. It feels like a big family in which I am embraced, protected and encouraged to be myself, as I am- right now. Maine has such an incredible community, I have never experienced this feeling of wholesomeness anywhere else I have lived. It makes you just want to continue on becoming a better version of yourself, along side a bunch of other good folks who also, have your best interest in mind."
“Both of these stones were hand-cut by a fellow metalsmith and lapidarist based out of Iowa, her name is Alex Robinson. The photographer that took my headshot is Nat Nelson.”