Priceless Plastic Wearables: Charity Ridpath

“Filter Helmet” detail

Charity Ridpath only graduated from college 7 months ago and is already making waves with her art. She is a recent recipient of a BFA in Studio Practice with a specialization in Metals from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. Over the last year of her time in school, Charity embarked on what she now calls a “Year of Plastic.”

My wearable sculptures are informed by what we as humans make to be thrown away.  This past year, I collected all of the single-use plastic I used in order to better understand my own footprint. – Charity Ridpath

“Fan Ring” made from a salad container and recycled silver

“City Ring” made from fused produce bags and recycled silver

“Filter Helmet”

By creating avant garde wearable sculptures, she has brought to life beautiful jewelry and accessories which make us ponder our consumption instead of celebrating it. Charity leans into the dystopian elements of taking something so ubiquitous and creating fantastical pieces which could live in a museum.

Through interaction with the work, I engage with the contradiction of single-use plastic; Though it plays an ephemeral role in our everyday, it has a long lasting impact on our environment and consequently, on us. – Charity Ridpath

“Radical Brooch” made from assorted fruit containers and steel

Her practice of repetition and accretion (a thing formed or added by gradual growth or increase) perfectly mirror our societies unending daily consumption and accumulation of disposable products. Plastic pollution continues to grow as we continue to look towards quick and easy solutions for our everyday needs. Charity Ridpath, through each magnificent piece she crafts, puts this human failure on display for all of us to reckon with.

Find more of Charity’s work on her site, as well as her social media. We can’t wait to see  what the young artist comes up with next!