Cadmium Daniels
she/her
Virginia Beach, VA, USA
Cadmium Daniels is a metalsmith based in Norfolk, Virginia. She aims to convey deep emotions and experiences through the language of flowers and nature with metal.
“My work for the past two years is still very new and an exploration of who I am as an artist. I have focused on the concepts of how we view nature and specific species and blended these perceptions with my own experiences. I am currently working on a series of pieces inspired by the seven stages of grief. I have been using the creation of this series to slowly process the emotions of my mother’s illness and looming death. By using my experiences and the emotions that come with watching a dear loved one slowly waste away I have put my heart into my art as a therapeutic process.”
"Goodbye", Copper, brass, nickel, silver, crystal, cubic zirconium, 9" x 10" x 11", 2023
What does being queer mean to you in relation to your material choices? Is it something you consider?
“I honestly don't incorporate my queer identity within my materials. I do think my identity influenced the decision to use the language of flowers though as it is often seen as a historical way queer people communicated with each other. Giving someone a flower and look to convey taboo love and emotions. While my current works do not focus on romantic love within the flower language, the history behind it very much had an impact on my work.
Being queer has always just been a part of who I am but it's never been something that became a focal point of my identity. I tend to focus my art on the more volatile emotions going on through my life at times and I've been privileged in the fact that my queer identity has never been a volatile subject."
"Guilty Breath", Nickel, silver, cubic zirconium, crystal, 11” x 6.5” x .5”, 2023
Is the work queer because the maker is queer, or is it queer because the subject matter is queer?
“I believe it is more based on the subject matter. An artist can create art without bringing forth their identity as a queer person. I've heard some other queer people, myself included, that it is tiresome when our entire identity is pinpointed to queer. While it is a part of our identity it doesn't make everything we do revolve around it. Someone could work diligently on a piece revolving around a childhood memory or event in their life and being queer could have no influence on the work at all. I believe it is up to the artist if their piece is queer or not. I'm proud to be a demisexual panromantic woman but it's not the only thing that defines myself or my work."
"Mum's Bargian", Copper, brass, and silver, 8” x 3.5” x 3”, 2023
Anything else you would like to share about this work? This can be an important part of the process, sourcing materials, or research.
“The three pieces I have submitted are part of a series representing the seven stages of grief. ‘Goodbye’ was created using the stage of acceptance and the imagery of forget-me-nots as a symbol of remembrance for someone who has passed away. ‘Guilty Breath’ was the next created in the series. The thorn necklaces delved into the different perceptions of how people viewed the act of breathing and the thorns. They have different meanings in different countries, cultures, and religions. ‘Mum’s Bargain’ delved deeper into the opposing view of a specific flower. The chrysanthemum is a flower of many meanings around the world. A symbol of longevity and vitality in several Asian countries, but a bad omen to give to those living in France. This piece is supposed to represent bargaining for life. I specifically chose different floral views to showcase the different perceptions people can have not just on art but the meaning of flowers."
