Morgan Davis
she/they
Allendale, MI, USA
Morgan Davis is currently a student at GVSU majoring in Jewelry Metalsmithing, with a love for natural elements and mythological themes. She aims to create pieces of work that embrace the odder, disturbing, as well as the fantastical side of life.
“EnChainted is an art piece that utilizes medieval techniques of European Chainmail and Scalemail weaves, taking inspiration from historical armor sets, as well as fantasy video games I grew up playing with my siblings. Adorned with 6 different Labradorite Cabochons, a total of 3,250 handmade Copper O-rings, and around 350 laser cut Acrylic scales mimicking the shape of the largest Cabochon in the center. This chest piece was imagined through a want to gift my inner child by fulfilling my dream of creating my own chainmail set and to encourage others to give in to their own childish impulses.”
“I see metalsmithing as a fluid medium in which one can create any idea that comes to mind, though it may take some creative problem solving. In my art, if I find a strong passion for any project or idea I will always try to think about how I can make it happen and try to not discourage myself. Being Pansexual I don’t limit my love for people based on their own identities, I believe attraction is fluid and people should always follow their hearts. Relating my materials choices to my queerness is to act upon what I truly want and wish to accomplish, not to reject what makes me who I am. I believe you’ll never know unless you try, and you might regret it if you don’t."
What does being queer mean to you in relation to your material choices? Is it something you consider?
"EnChainted", Copper, laser cut acrylic, labradorite, 16” x 20”, 2024Is the work queer because the maker is queer, or is it queer because the subject matter is queer?
“In this case, the work is queer since the maker is queer. Although, I can relate my intention of embracing and accepting childish impulses to my experience of embracing myself in my own queerness. A childhood growing up in a household where I was never fully allowed to express myself as well as being ostracized by my peers in school, partly due to my queerness, left me with a want to heal my inner child and I promised myself that I would be who I wanted to be no matter what anybody said. Embracing all of the aspects of myself that others looked down on has allowed me to truly be happy with who I am currently."
