Triangle Identity Bracelet from recycled tin by Harriete Estel Berman

Seder Plate for TuBishVat Reduce Reuse Recycle

Gold Flower Brooch from recycled plastic and tin cans

Gold Identity Bead Necklace by Harriete Estel Berman

Blight-World Hunger from the series 10 Modern Plagues

Measuring Compliance sculpture about education by Harriete Estel Berman

Everready Working Women is a sculpture about the identity of the artist

Consuming Conversation Teacups about our unstable economy

Godiva Chocolate Cup from recycled tin cans by Harriete Estel Berman

Obverse Obsession Chocolate Pot by Harriete Estel Berman from recycled tin cans

Vanity Seat Fading Identity by Harriete Estel Berman

Harriete Estel Berman

Artist • Metalsmith • Advocate

"For nearly three decades, Harriete Estel Berman has made it her sacred mission to create work that addresses cultural issues and political hot buttons." *

Harriete's artwork turns ordinary materials from the waste stream of our society and recycles it into something extraordinary.

"Using every last scrap as a source of energy and inspiration she up-cycles her materials in uber-crafted, intens-ellectual objects of art and social commentary that are the ultimate expressions of sustainability."*

Berman's jewelry examines value and identity in our consumer society. Grass/gras' is a nine-foot square lawn about the unsustainable green lawn. Measuring Compliance and Pick Up Your Pencils, Begin critiques our educational system built on standardized testing. A new Judaica series is about the 10 Modern Plaques.

Contact me anytime.

Read my blog ASK Harriete.

Silver repair and restoration at Berman Fine Silverwork.

Jewelry

The use of post-consumer tin cans contributes important content to my work. Bar codes and brand names recycle our exposure to advertising, marketing, and possession as identification. The materials may not be as precious as gold or silver, but in many ways reveal more accurately the values of our society.

Judaica

Contemporary Judaica constructed from post consumer recycled tin cans, spice tins, and vintage steel dollhouses based on the concept of 'tikkun olam', Hebrew for repair the world. The reuse of materials from the waste stream is a manifestation of our contemporary culture and a reflection of our past.

Sculpture

Since 1988, I have decided to use recycled materials diverted from their destiny as trash. Sculpture social commentary includes women's roles in society, identity in our consumer society, environmental issues, a critique of our current educational system, gun violence, consumer debt and our unstable economy.

*Quotes from Manufractured Forward exhibition at the California College of the Arts, Oliver Gallery Spring 2013 by curator Mara Holt Skov, author of the book Manufractured