Eighteen years ago, Rebecca Strzelec completed The Shorthand Series-- twelve brooches that took their form language directly from Gregg Shorthand—a stenography language established in 1888. During the development of that series Strzelec borrowed a 1942 copy of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland written in Gregg Shorthand by Georgie Gregg Gingell from Penn State University’s library. While the book captivated Strzelec she didn’t pull on its graceful looping figures until now.
Strzelec’s response for the Tincal Lab Challenge 2022: Jewelry and Literature exhibition is like falling down the rabbit hole with Alice as she excerpts poignant phrases in Gregg Shorthand to inspire a trio of sister brooches and two neckpieces.
Trio of three sister brooches
Vinyl lawn chair webbing, found military ribbon, doll eyelashes, thread
10.5 x 2.25 x .25 inches (largest)
2022
Neckpiece
Found vintage textile, vinyl decal, wood, brass, thread, chain
13 x 12 x .25 inches
2022
Neckpiece
3d printed ABS plastic, rope, thread
5 x 7.25 x .25 inches
2022