Community Spotlight: Nanette Pengelley

Jul 1

Nanette Pengelley (she/her)

How did you arrive at the BAC, and how long have you been a part of our team?

Last summer my former instructor from MassArt, Heather White, let me know of a wonderful teaching opportunity while I was visiting New England for the summer. This will be my second year returning to the BAC.

Tell us about your background and interests related to the BAC

I took my first metalsmithing course in 2011, at MassArt, where I received my BFA in Jewelry and Metalsmithing in 2015. Since then I’ve been building my brand, Hew Jewelry. Last year I began teaching, and since then have taught several introductory courses for teens and adults.

Your artwork incorporates aspects of the environment and the natural world, including silk, driftwood, and even white beans. Why is this process important to you? How is this reflected in the classes you teach at the BAC?

I often find that my work reflects my environment, and I spend a lot of time in nature. Making work that is sustainable, for both my community and the environment, is extremely important to me, and I carry that forward into my teaching practices. I often encourage my students to look around their own environments, to see what they can find. When they bring it to class, we work together to figure out a way to transform their findings into the language of jewelry.

Tell us about your brand, Hew Jewelry. Where does the name come from? How did your art practice lead to the concept behind your business?

When I was in school I remembered getting into disagreements with my professors about the “right” way to make jewelry. I was told repeatedly that there was a certain level of finish that I had to achieve, at least while I was a student but that when I was out of school, I could do as I pleased. “Hew,” meaning to “cut or chop roughly” felt that it aptly fit the aesthetic of the brand I wanted to build after graduating, doing away with the traditional idea of what “fine” jewelry is supposed to look like, and embracing the imperfections of my practice.

What has brought you the most joy as a creative and as a jewelry instructor?

I get a lot of enjoyment from seeing others wearing my work. My work is an extension of myself, and it brings me great joy to see my community representing my art. As an instructor, I find that when my students show true interest in what we are exploring in class, it brings me the most joy. Making something with my own two hands is an empowering experience, and it makes me so happy when I get to share that experience with others.

When you’re not at the BAC, where can people find you?

When I'm not teaching or working in my studio, you can usually find me outside, either in my garden, on a hike with my dog, or sitting in the sunshine, embroidering or sketching.