Shani Richards' Exhibition "United" on view in CapSOUL Gallery

As a trained metalsmith, Shani is fascinated with “how people use jewelry, body modifications, shoes and clothing to convey their race, social status, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, and class.”  As an undergrad at the University of Akron, Shani created a body of work inspired by the bling jewelry worn by those in the hip hop industry.  She created large, heavy necklaces using derogatory language to represent the historic burden many have had to bear from words and labels, particularly in the black community.  Crafting these racial slurs into shiny jewelry reflected the commercialization of black people which is rooted in slavery.  For her residency, Shani further examines the power of racial slurs and expands her research to include sexual orientation and gender pronouns.