Regina-based jewelry artist Megan Hazel and her apprentice, Laura Steadman, are creating “wearable history.”
They’re transforming old and new copper from the Saskatchewan Legislative Building dome into pendants and lapel pins that are inspired by the province’s logo.
The ” legacy project” has the duo beaming with enthusiasm.
Jewelry artist Megan Hazel incorporates new and old copper from the Saskatchewan Legislative Building dome into “wearable history”. The pendant and lapel pin design is inspired by the Saskatchewan logo.
“We’re excited. We’re honoured to do it,” said Hazel, all smiles as she sat in her southeast Regina production studio, surrounded by raw and finished materials. “It’s probably the most labour-intensive, and such an important project. But each piece takes a very long time.
Known for transforming old jewelry into new pieces, Hazel has established a reputation for taking on unique jewelry design challenges. So she was intrigued when a good customer, MLA Regina Qu’Appelle Valley Laura Ross, suggested she consider working her magic to recycle and repurpose copper from the legislature’s dome.
“She said, ‘I have the best old-and-new project for you,'” Hazel recalled.
Conserving the historic copper from the legislature’s dome created challenges for Regina jewelry artist Megan Hazel, who has created “wearable Saskatchewan history.”
So, like Ross, Hazel took a tour of Inland Metal Manufacturing, the construction company working on the dome, and was inspired to pick up her torch to conserve and share bits of Saskatchewan history.
“They gifted me a piece of the old copper and new,” Hazel said. “The rivets are copper as well..”
She set to work to echo the construction materials in her jewelry design – incorporating old and new copper, as well as a copper rivet in each piece.
Ross commissioned Hazel do the first piece.
“And it’s taken off from there,” Hazel said with a smile.
Now, she’s being flooded with orders.
“Each piece is one of a kind,” Hazel explained, noting that it takes hundreds of steps to get to the final product. “Sure, they all have the same design, but each one is hand made, and the backing is all different.”
“They share a design, but there’s no way that we can make them exactly the same –because they’re all hand cut, shaped and polishe,” Steadman said.
Wearing a piece of Saskatchewan history is appealing to a diverse range of customers. For example, Hazel received a call at 8 a.m. from a man who asked her to speak up because he was calling from his John Deere. Proudly telling her he was a fourth-generation Saskatchewan farmer, he ordered a pendant on a leather cord chain, which he said he planned to wear every day while farming.
“People are not just calling to order, but sharing stories of why they want a piece. They want a piece of Saskatchewan history,” Hazel said.
Born and raised in Regina, Hazel can relate. She fondly remembers family picnics on the lawns by the Legislative Building.
“So to be approached and trusted with this material is really special,” she said.
Apprentice Laura Steadman, left, and jewelry artist Megan Hazel working with new and old copper from the Saskatchewan Legislative Building dome to create pendants and lapel pins inspired by the province’s logo.
“Because we have to conserve the look of the copper … it was a learning curve,” Hazel said, noting traditional methods use too much heat, so had to be modified.
“So you have to be so careful. This is history. So the first day, I don’t think we were breathing at all, because you want to do it justice. You want to do it right.”
“And because we have such a limited supply, the margin for error is extremely small,” Steadman said.
“But we figured it out,” Hazel said. “There’s the challenge to preserve (the copper).”
What happens when their extremely limited supply of dome copper runs out?
“We might be able to get our hands on a little bit more,” Hazel said. “We’ll keep our fingers crossed.”
Pendants featuring copper from the legislature dome are $225 and lapel pins are $135. Each piece is numbered and signed.
Hazel has also received requests for bracelets and earrings – and even an engagement ring – featuring the historic copper. “So, lots of good design challenges along the way here,” she said.
Right now, Hazel and Steadman are focused on trying to keep up with the high demand for pendants and lapel pins.
Those interested in owning a piece of wearable Saskatchewan history can contact Hazel through her website (www.meganhazel.com), or call (306) 737-2202 to make an appointment to visit her studio.
