Step into a world of adornment with MCD at Straw Factory Collective’s upcoming Trunk Show. Celebrating the diverse talents within their collective, Straw Factory is thrilled to present an array of unique pieces that embody the spirit of creativity, craftsmanship, and wearable statements.

Join us in-person at MCD as five Straw Factory Collective artists—LaToshia Woods, Andrea Magolske, Sol Solis, Lynn Lane, and Zorah Flanagan—show off the unique jewelry of Straw Factory. While only five Straw Factory artists will be present at the Trunk Show, work from all eight artists will be on display.

Whether you’re on the hunt for a distinctive Valentine’s Day gift or seeking to expand your jewelry collection with pieces from emerging artists, this is an opportunity to discover and connect with wearable art pieces. As emerging contemporary artists and makers, Straw Factory invites you to explore the evolution of their craft. Join Straw Factory at MCD as they showcase their individual voices and collectively explore the intersection of beauty and expression.

This event is free for all Museum Store visitors.

ABOUT STRAW FACTORY

We are Straw Factory Collective. The Collective is composed of recent graduates and current students completing the Jewelry Entrepreneurship Program at Long Beach City College. We began organizing trunk shows in early 2020, but during the pandemic pivoted to online sales that leveraged our individual reach. Strength through community has always been essential to how we operate, as we organize to pool resources and support each other’s professional goals. Individually, we express our personal design and aesthetics, learning not only the practice of art making, but also the profession of being an artist. Collectively, we are a collaborative cohort that comes together to learn the mechanics of business and how it intersects with art. Straw Factory allows us to forge a path for ourselves through strengthening our craft and finding our voices.

STRAW FACTORY ARTISTS

Lynn Lane

I have lived most of my adult life in Southern California. I grew up in an Indiana suburb of Chicago and have worked with my hands all of my life. My journey includes a degree in Chemistry from Purdue University, and my constant love for all things bright and colorful merges for me and informs my creations in jewelry-making and watercolor painting. I apply my love for the “how and why” in my painting and, most importantly, in my metalwork and jewelry-making. Both Science and Art Creation require creative solutions. As I studied the pandemic problem and potential vaccine solutions, I was inspired by scientific illustrations and created my Inflammasome earring. It is a hopeful shape of one part of a vaccine pathway – made into wearable art. The challenge of making wearable art to adorn is limitless to me, and the process is extremely gratifying.

Andrea Magolske

I am a Long Beach-based artist who uses metal to explore the human narrative and its conflict with the natural world. My interest in art and nature led me to pursue a degree in Landscape Architecture with an Art Minor. Later on, I transitioned from landscape design to jewelry design and am currently pursuing a certificate in Jewelry Entrepreneurship at Long Beach City College.

Guided by an ever-evolving resource vocabulary, my methods and materials adapt, mirroring my exploration of the intricate relationship between the natural and the man-made. As I refine my purpose as an artist, my work serves as a testament to the dynamic and complex tapestry of the world we inhabit. Through my work, my goal is to spark awareness and foster conversations about our impact on the world, encouraging reflection on the potential for positive change in our relationship with the environment.

Cynthia E. Arroyo

I am a Southern California native with maternal roots in Guanajuato, Mexico. My journey into understanding the richness of my culture began with a degree in Comparative World Literature, with an emphasis in cultural studies. This academic pursuit is reflected in my practice, where I create adornments which draw on elements from the American Southwest and Mexico, visually exploring my connections to these regions. I incorporate the delicate art of lace making, melding my Latin heritage with bold brass, silver, or fiber forms.

Braiding the threads of my heritage, I draw on memories from my upbringing in Southern California and visits to Leon, Guanajuato, and neighboring cities in Mexico. The architectural marvels and historical essence of Mexico find new life in my jewelry objects which transform into adornments that carry both cultural pride and history. Everyday cultural symbols such as iron gates of a church evolve into “tesoros” or treasures, functioning as wearable sculptures with a profound narrative. Each piece embodies a sense of old-world history and charm, inviting wearers to connect with a cultural narrative that transcends time.

Adrienne Kibler

I am a metalsmith, lapidary artist, and technical writer born in Long Beach, California. My love of creating was cultivated from a young age by my family’s love of music and art, especially my mother’s paintings and brother’s music. After receiving my BA in Global Cultures I served in the Peace Corps in Cambodia, where I was greatly inspired by the vibrant culture, art, and architecture. Aesthetically my work is influenced by the geometry of the art deco movement, the natural themes of art nouveaux, and a lifetime of growing up in the American Southwest. My time abroad left an indelible mark, influencing the architectural elements present in my current work that embraces the challenge of engineering and problem-solving presented by the medium of metal. As an artist, I relish the versatility and challenge of working with sterling wire and seamlessly incorporating stones into my designs.

Latoshia Woods

I am an artist and heavy duty mechanic born in Los Angeles, California. I define my art through the phrase “Jamalaye Ubuntu”, which incorporates the Senegalese word for peace and the South African word that encompasses the idea that one’s peace cannot exist without another’s peace. Drawing inspiration from diverse sources such as global mythologies, the poetry of body movement, and the intricacies of the mechanical world I navigate as a mechanic, I channel these influences into creating art that breathes life and motion into the human form. My intention is to inspire and empower individuals, fostering positive actions for both personal growth and the betterment of humanity. Functionality, fables, legends, and lore are recurring themes found in objects I create, which speaks to the eyes, the heart, the mind via the many mediums I explore including metal work, ceramics, sculpture, drawings.

Elaine Lao

I am an artist and metalsmith based in Long Beach, California who is currently completing my associate’s degree in Studio Arts in preparation for transferring to Cal State Long Beach’s Studio Arts Program. My artistic practice revolves around the exploration of our world, involving the meticulous emulation of elements observed in nature and our daily existence. Because of this, my artistic roots are heavily anchored in capturing the essence of what is considered tangible, both with realistic and semi-realistic depictions. However, I also embrace experimentation and exploring novel concepts. In today’s competitive creative sphere, developing innovative concepts or ideas by building upon existing elements greatly sparks my enthusiasm as an artist. My recent body of work reflects my interest in and appreciation of the freedom enjoyed by animals and nature. In my spare time, I enjoy other art mediums, music, video games, and documentaries which contribute to the novel exploration in my work.

Sol Solis

I am a maker and activist currently residing in Tungva territory, also known as Long Beach California. My background is in sculpture and craft, earning a BFA in Fiber Arts from California State University Long Beach in 2012, where my work focused on body identity politics. After focusing on community organizing for almost a decade, I enrolled in the jewelry program at Long Beach City College to reconnect with my art practice and because I was drawn to jewelry’s ability to form a narrative on the body. In 2019 I founded the brand Mi Corasol, to create objects that seamlessly function as political statements, decoratives, and practical items. My work is greatly influenced by my experience as an immigrant from Kitu Kara territory, known today as Quito, Ecuador. Situated at the intersection of jewelry and the language surrounding identity politics, my pieces interrogate oppressive systems and institutions that have impacted marginalized communities. As a queer, undocumented person of color living in the U.S. I use my work to empower and bring visibility to these communities. My goal is to unapologetically center the experiences of my Latinx, QTBIPOC, immigrant, and activist communities to redefine the notion of “typical” by centering what has historically existed in the margins. Through this I celebrate and empower that which has conventionally been defined as “Other.”

Zorah Flanagan

Born and raised in the vibrant landscapes of southern California, I’ve called Long Beach home for over three decades. Creativity has been a part of my self-expression since I was young. Beginning my creative exploration at the age of 10, I crafted outfits for my Barbie dolls, setting the stage for a lifelong artistic journey. After attending Otis Parsons School of Design and the Academy of Art, I graduated from California State University, Long Beach, with a degree in Textile and Clothing, solidifying my commitment to the world of fashion. Drawn by the allure of diverse art forms, I delved into metalworking at Long Beach City College, discovering a captivating connection between my fashion roots and the malleability of metal. My work is a celebration of the vibrant fusion of fashion and metalwork, seamlessly blending lively hues with the robust beauty of metallic forms. Inspired by the landscapes of southern California and fueled by memories of crafting miniature couture, my creations are an ode to the enduring influence of fashion on my life.