The Designer
Maressa received a BFA in Illustration from Syracuse University, but her passion for metalsmithing took hold of her. Shortly after graduation, she began working as a craftsman, designer, and CAD/CAM technician for a jewelry manufacturer in Ithaca, NY. After four years with the company, Maressa left to pursue her MFA in Metals from the Rochester Institute of Technology. She currently has a studio over Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, where she and her husband live and work. She also continues to work as an independent contractor for her former employer. Regardless of the medium, Maressa constantly tests the boundaries—both conceptually and technically. Her work challenges what, if anything, delineates jewelry vs. sculpture, wearable vs. non-wearable, and beyond that, craft vs. fine art. Each piece intends to both challenge and engage the wearer and the audience. Through the use of common place shapes and materials, she reveals the hidden stories within a presented context, realizing that the interpretation of what is being expressed is different for everyone. |
