I landed back in New York after climbing three volcanoes in Guatemala, my legs were tired and my heart was full. I was still processing the whirlwind of fundraising for the Michael J. Fox Foundation and walked straight into the opening night of NYC Jewelry Week at UrbanGlass!
Inside, the room buzzed. I brought my friend with me and we bumped into Sara, a friend I’d just taken a faceting class with (a whole other story for another blog post). The space was electric, packed with artists, designers, collectors and curious wanderers drifting between multiple NYCJW events happening simultaneously.
And then there were the cakes.
Dozens of them, all handmade by Doris who had curated the exhibition as part of NYC Jewelry Week.
Whimsical, pastel, sculptural cakes, each one hiding a piece of contemporary jewelry inside.
People leaned in, lifted lids, oohed, aahed, and gasped when they discovered tiny works of art nestled inside.
And somewhere in that sea of joy, my work sat proudly - two sterling silver pieces housed inside their own cake: sweet, playful, and hiding a rebellious message.
Being invited into this curated group of artists was truly an honor.
The Exhibition — “We Want Cake! Let's Eat Cake!”
Curated by Doris Chou-Durfee (Amulet by D), the exhibition was built on a simple but powerful idea:
In dark times, joy is a rebellion.
Each artist’s work was paired with a handmade faux cake — sculptural, whimsical, and even scented. Yes, scented. Doris tucked tiny sachets inside every one so visitors didn’t just see the cakes — they felt them, touched them, smelled them.
It was a delightfully unexpected sensory experience.
And a reminder that art doesn’t have to whisper in the corner. Sometimes, it invites you in with frosting.
My Jewelry Submission — Sweetness, Industry, and Identity
I submitted two pieces to the exhibition, both rooted in something much bigger than chocolate.
Growing up in Britain, Cadbury was everything.
Moving to America, I learned quickly that Hershey held that place here.
Two chocolates.
Two cultures.
Two identities.
One strangely symbolic connection.
Both chocolates came out of the same machine age that promised progress but often erased individuality. The Industrial Revolution mechanized labor; now, the AI Revolution automates thought. We call it progress - even as it standardizes everything it touches.
My submission explored that tension:
If the machine makes everything, who’s left creating?
It’s a bittersweet realization.
The pieces — one shaped like a Hershey Kiss, the other like a Cadbury bar — look sweet and nostalgic at first glance. But beneath that is the reminder that handmade work still matters.
Joy still matters.
Human intention still matters.
Designing the Chocolate Pieces in Sterling Silver
To make the chocolate forms believable, the surfaces needed to feel deliciously smooth, with soft curves that caught the light like glossy confectionery.
Sterling silver was perfect for this:
- It reflects light like a modern architectural façade
- It can hold precise planes while still feeling soft and touchable
- It invites interaction — people instinctively pick it up, turn it, play with it
The process blended CAD precision with traditional silversmithing. From wax to casting to polishing the final surface, each step was intentionally slow, the opposite of factory speed.
This contrast between subject (mass-produced candy) and method (handmade silver) is the point.
You can watch a video of designing, making and exhibiting the pieces here
Watching People Discover the Work
One of my favorite parts of the evening was watching strangers discover the jewelry hidden inside the cake.
They leaned in.
Lifted the lid.
Paused - then broke into smiles or laughter.
A few even slipped the pieces onto their fingers right there at the pedestal.
It was joy embodied.
And it reminded me why exhibitions like this matter:
because handmade work creates connection.
Being Part of a Curated Artist Community
I was deeply honored to be showcased alongside a talented group of contemporary jewelry artists. The diversity of ideas, techniques, and visual voices was extraordinary.
Every piece told a story.
Every cake held a small rebellion.
And together, they formed something meaningful, a celebration of making, joy, and human creativity in an era obsessed with optimization.
If You’re Interested in These Pieces...
The chocolate-inspired silver works are available by request, but they won’t appear on my website.
If they speak to you, just reach out, I’m always happy to share more about their meaning, process, and availability.