Jillian Vang

Name of School
Rochester Institute of Technology

Expected Graduation Date:
05/06/2022

Faculty Nominator
Juan Carlos Caballero-Perez

Reason for Faculty Nomination
I am nominating this student, Jillian Vang as she is exceedingly talented. She is very creative in her use of materials and design. She has a unique viewpoint and design aesthetic. She is incredibly detail oriented, experimental and enjoys taking risks. She is highly driven and motivated and is very determined to ensure that her work utilizes urban gathering, recycled and repurposed materials. Jillian is a Senior Undergraduate student and is an inspired and inspiring member of our studio. She is one of the most creative students with whom I have had the pleasure to teach. I highly recommend her for this Windgate award.

Please provide a brief description of your art or medium.
Jewelry (brooch and necklace) and sculpture (wall, floor, and outdoor) created from reclaimed household materials.

Is your artwork handmade by you? If not, please explain
Yes, all of my artwork is created by me.

Are all or some of the components locally sourced?
Many of the materials I use are locally sourced. The papers and fabrics are from thrift stores, rummage sales, as well as from the trash. Some of my pieces, such as the outdoor sculpture, is created entirely from materials reclaimed from a dumpster.

Artist’s Statement:
My artwork illuminates the quickly forgotten products of domestic consumption and refreshes them with new forms. An old film slide becomes a brooch, and vintage vinyl wallpaper turns into a necklace. Outgrown blankets and twin sheets become lush surfaces that take on contemporary aesthetics.

Through my making process, I introduce others to new ways of thinking about reusing the everyday objects that surround them. Sustainable materials such as paper ephemera and fabric are the bases of my work. By utilizing stitching, pinning, and tying in my practice, I don’t create fumes or chemical waste. Most importantly, my artworks are imbued with the ability to take on another life, past what I have created. At their connection points, they can be separated into clean units, ready to be made into a new piece. Through this, the cycle of reuse will continue onwards.

How you will use the Fellowship funds if you are chosen as the winner.
After graduation, I plan to continue making jewelry and sculpture that explores new ways to utilize domestic waste materials. I would use the fellowship funds to establish a sustainable studio which would serve as a model for other artists. I would source used furniture and machinery, as well as implement ethical studio practices. The knowledge I gain from my experience would be made accessible via a social media campaign for other artists to follow. Documentation of the journey would thrive on Instagram and TikTok where there are many artist communities, as well as audiences invested in sustainability projects.

The content produced will provide honest, practical ways artists can cultivate a sustainable practice. The platform would also highlight how waste generated from common studio activities can affect the environment and provide resources on how to reduce one’s impact.