“Ball & Chain” Wearable Art

This is a one of a kind item. Artist Statement: Our skeleton is something we all have in common, but the way we wear it can be different. For this wearable piece, I used variations of 4.1mm, 10mm, and 3cm gold chains to drape a skeletal frame. I wanted to accentuate the spine and the cage-like silhouette of the ribs in a beautiful way to foster appreciation for the human body, in contrast to the way the human body may, at times, feel. I then hand-crafted and baked a clay bead to express the weight that can accompany a rare diagnosis. EDS is a multi-systemic condition with built-in duality. While pain is mostly felt in stiff and overcompensating muscles, it’s often the joints, like the ribs or spine, that can shift or sublux. Although we can’t see this without a scan, this jewelry piece is meant to provide a visual representation of such laxity when worn. One of the first barriers I had to overcome in reaching a diagnosis was making the unseen visible. Visibility is also often the first barrier we must overcome in advocacy. It is my hope to continue expanding the dialogue around rare diseases by showcasing the relatable feelings that come with them.