I create work that is generated from the architectural, industrial and consumed environments that I examine around myself. Creating surreal depictions of the body from these inspirations, communicate to the viewer a sense of resilience, abandonment, rebirth, continuation, wealth disparities, power, fame and memorial.
I use a combination of traditional metalworking techniques; lost wax casting, soldering, forging, and forming coupled with fine jewelry and new/digital technology. This process allows me to design forms that not only have the allure of fine jewelry with pave set stones, but also the integration of electronic components. The addition of electronic components in the jewelry encourages audience and wearer participation, using sound and video.
My main body of work uses the electronic components of a Bluetooth speaker which is encapsulated in each piece. This addition of the technology allows the wearer to choose their own form of auditory expression, in lieu of emotions or words that are hard to speak or communicate.
On the surface of my work, I adorn them with blocked and splotched areas of gray, known within graffiti communities as “gray ghosting”. Grey Ghosting is the phenomenon of covering graffiti with gray or monotone primer, in the attempt to censor, remove or hide the expression of a graffiti artist. This is something I feel is exhibited on my own body as the birth mark on my neck. Which has a personal significance to my mother’s unexpected passing as I was just becoming a young man. She would kiss that spot on my neck frequently, and the lack of that tactile sensation leaves a physical and mental scar, while expressing a feeling of censorship in my own mourning process. I intend for the wearer to understand my story, while obtaining a sense celebration while the work is activated. Expressing their own sense of memorial towards people, ideas or times they have lost.
Furthering ideas of coverings, markings and symbols, I blanket portions of my work in set stones, A process known as pave. These blanketed portions of my work are meant to enhance the metaphor I use with gray ghosting, but to express the need for displays of wealth to hide or soothe the pain of trauma or loss rather than the outward expression of it. This work is important to the field of jewelry and metal smithing because it uses a historical context of Hip-Hop and graffiti to establish that items of accessory are in fact body adornment. For example, the boombox that is proudly displayed on the shoulder, in affirmation of empowerment, community engagement, and freedom of expression is emulated and translated into a new age and acceptance in jewelry and body adornment.
Zach Mellman-Carsey is an artist and jeweler living in Lancaster, PA. Receiving an MFA from Indiana university in Bloomington, He creates wearable fine and conceptual jewelry and sculptures. When not creating visual art, Zach spends his time honing his culinary skills and experimenting with niche processes and ingredients dealing with food.
With a reference to industrial structures, Zach Mellman-Carsey creates surreal depictions of their own body. Combining these forms with set stones examines expressions of wealth and power while contrasting a narrative that expresses loss, grief, resilience and renewal.
2015- 2018
Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Master of Fine Arts: Emphasis in Jewelry, Sculpture, and Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing
2011-2015
Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH
Bachelor of Fine Arts: Three Dimensional Studies, Emphasis in Jewelry and Metals
2021 - 2023
Millersville University, Millersville, PA
Adjunct Instructor:
3D Design (Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Fall 2023, Spring 2024)
2D Design: Foundations (Spring 2023)
2020 - Present
Millersville University, Millersville, PA
Laboratory Technician
2019 - 2020
Daytona State College, Daytona Beach, FL
Adjunct Instructor: Art Appreciation, 3D Design, Drawing I + II
2019 - 2020
Daytona State College, Daytona Beach, FL
Adjunct Instructor: Art Appreciation, 3D Design, Drawing I+II
2019 - 2020
Northeast Chapter Florida Society of Goldsmiths Studio, Deland, FL
Jewelry and Metalsmithing Instructor
2018 - 2020
Frank Reubel Designs, Daytona Beach, FL
CAD Designer
2018
Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Associate Instructor: Metalsmithing & Jewelry Design II
2017
Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Associate Instructor: Metalsmithing & Jewelry Design II
2016 - 2017
Indiana University, Bloomington Indiana
Associate Instructor: 3D Fundamentals
2015-2016
Indiana University, Bloomington Indiana
Studio Technician/Graduate Assistant: Metalsmithing & Jewelry Design Studio
2015
Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH
Teaching Assistant: Advanced Sculpture & Metal Casting
Mentored by Benjamin Lock
2024
Hereafter, Regional Juried Exhibition Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh, PA
2023
Still Processing, New York City Jewelry Week, New York, NY
National Juried Competition
Radical Jewelry Makeover, New York City Jewelry Week, New York, NY
National Juried Competition
Dial Up, Swift Gallery, Millersville, PA
Solo Exhibition
Transformative Craft, Susquehanna Art Museum, Harrisburg, PA
Juried Regional Exhibition
2022
Brooklyn Anonymous, Brooklyn Metalworks, Brooklyn, NY
Colorful Recovery, Israel Contemporary Jewelry Biennale, Geological Museum, Ramat Hasharon, Israel
Juried International Exhibition
ICEDOUTBOUJEEBOOMBAPFWSS2INFINITY, Adorned Spaced, Society of North American Goldsmiths Conference Providence Convention Center, Providence, RI
Solo Exhibition
2021
Rings! 1968-2021: Helen Drutt Collection Traveling Exhibition, Houston Center for Contemporary Crafts, Houston, TX
Time Capsule, New York City Jewelry Week, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Virtual Exhibition
WE ARE SNAG: Anthology 2021, Society of North American Goldsmiths Goldsmith ’20, InLiquid Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Virtual Exhibition
Faculty Exhibition, Millersville University Art+ Design Sykes Gallery, Breidenstine Hall, Millersville, PA
2020
Newfangled, Splop Design
Virtual Exhibition
2019
Faculty Exhibition, Daytona State College, News Journal Center, Daytona Beach, FL
Get It On; The Ultra-Modern Necklace, Soil Gallery, Seattle WA
Juried Exhibition and Competition, Art Fields, Lake City, SC
Permanent Collection, Gallerie Marzee, Gallerie Marzee, Nijmegan, Netherlands
Offbeat Bijou, Florida Craft Art, St. Petersburg, FL
Juried Exhibition
2018
The Grey Ghost, Gallery One Twenty, New Smyrna Beach, FL
Solo Exhibition
2018
International Graduate Exhibition, Gallerie Marzee Gallerie Marzee, Nijmegan, Netherlands
Materials Hard + Soft, Denton Arts Council, Patterson-Appleton Arts Center, Denton TX
International Juried Exhibition
2017
BGSU Milestones Alumni Exhibition, Bowling Green State University Fine Arts Center, Bowling Green, OH
Omni: Translates to All National Juried Exhibition Columbus Museum of Art and Design Gallery, Columbus, IN
Materials Hard+Soft, Denton Arts Council, Patterson-Appleton Arts Center, Denton, TX
International Juried Exhibition
2019
Honorary Mention: Offbeat Bijou, Juried Exhibition Florida Craft Art, Saint Petersburg, FL
2017
Mary Jane McIntire Endowed Fellowship, Indiana University School of Art and Design, Bloomington, IN
2016
Alma R. Eikerman Scholarship Fund Award, Indiana University School of Art and Design, Bloomington, IN
2015
The Caldwell Fine Arts Fund Award, Indiana University School of Art and Design, Bloomington, IN
2014
Center for Undergraduate Research Grant, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH