girls against gold 2009, lisa furno

madonna, neckpiece, 925 silver, 2009

The Madonna series is inspired by my earliest childhood memories
of gold. I vividly remember my dad, nonna, uncles, aunties and cousins all adorned with gold rings and religious emblems worn on gold chains.
The Madonna series is originally sand cast from my nonna’s gold Mary pendant, which she wore most of her life. Sterling silver casts of casts were made to slowly deteriorate the initial preciousness of the original gold piece. The intrinsic preciousness lies not in the materials or casting quality, but in the piece’s emotional value.