VIVA’s Featured Member Artist for July is jeweler, Alena Mack

Meet the Artist

Alena Mack grew up in Southwestern Wisconsin surrounded by nature and a creative family. Helping her parents gather their materials from the forest and helping them at art shows for their business was a large part of her upbringing. These experiences have influenced her style in crafting copper and silver jewelry. Alena has traveled all over the world and lived in many states in our nation (currently Wyoming), and each of the natural wonders she encountered on these journeys has influenced her work. Alena enjoys working with not only the physical gifts of nature, but also mimicking the elements she sees in nature to create a unique style. 

What is influencing your work at the moment?

- I am constantly learning new skills and techniques in jewelry making. My latest venture is to delve more into metalsmithing. I am taking some online courses where I am learning more about design and rendering, which is taking my work to a whole new levels. I will also be taking my first in person metalsmithing class, and I am so excited to see where it takes me.  

Who or what has strongly influenced your work?

- I am most influenced and inspired by nature. I grew up surrounded by nature, and try to live as close to nature as I possibly can. I feel the most at peace in the mountains, at the ocean and in the woods. I try to bring this feeling of peace and nature into my work. 

Why did you decide to work in your chosen meeting?

- I love experimenting and learning new skills. Since I was in my teens I have played around with different creative endeavors. When I was weaning my youngest child, I randomly decided that I needed to have a creative weekend (and outlet) to myself. I started playing around with making earrings. My passion was born. I couldn't wait to create more, design more, and learn more skills. 

What does your studio look like?

- Most of the time my studio looks like a tornado went through. Half the time I can barely walk around in it because I have stuff everywhere! I try to organize, but by the time I have another new project or two under way, the disaster returns. My studio is split more or less in half, with half of my studio dedicated to making jewelry, and the other half dedicated to making stained glass. Since I also homeschool my kids, they have a small area in my studio as well that is set up with a sewing machine and their own beads and tools.