Visual Art On Campus

UW-Stout Students Team Up with Radical Jewelry Makeover

Rachel Witthoft |

UW-Stout art students to take part in jewelry makeover.
UW-Stout art students to take part in jewelry makeover.

In a recent press release from UW-Stout’s Office of University Communications, they announced a collaborative project between UW-Stout, UW-Madison, and UW-Milwaukee jewelry students. Together, they will join professional jewelers and Radical Jewelry Makeover, an organization whose mission is to educate the public about recycling and cutting down on material waste. Instead of throwing away old or unwanted jewelry, Radical Jewelry Makeover is encouraging people to recycle it by making donations to their project team.

Donations of all jewelry types and materials can be made starting Feb. 20 at a number of drop-off sites. In Menomonie, drop off your donations in the Applied Arts Building at UW-Stout’s School of Art and Design Office. By donating your jewelry, you will get a coupon to buy repurposed jewelry items. Donation forms are available at drop-off sites or online.

Radical Jewelry Makeover has been established since 2007, but this will be the first project held in Wisconsin. Overall, the project will last through March, with the final proceeds of jewelry sales going to Ethical Metalsmiths – a nonprofit organization dedicated to using ethical materials for jewelry, and to fund student scholarships.

Kathleen Kennedy, co-director of Radical Jewelry Makeover, says, “It’s allowing the students to use the techniques they are learning in their regular classes and how to apply those to make old materials new.”