RADFORD – More than 44 pieces of hand-crafted jewelry and a small metal sculpture, all of which were created by RU students in Professor Alison Pack’s metalsmithing class, are part of a rotating permanent display in the Museum of the Earth Sciences in Curie Hall.

“Treasures of the Earth” opened recently in the museum and features handmade works by students using traditional and contemporary jewelry-making processes. The artists, Pack says, have completed only one to three semesters of jewelry-making classes.

“Metalsmithing requires applied physical science by manipulation of the crystalline structure and surface of metal through heat and chemical immersion” Pack said. “Students apply physical science by manually working with the materials. They develop their visual sensibilities, spatial skills and critical thinking abilities through a broad range of problem solving activities. The tangible act of hands-on experience is encouraged in order for the student to gain the skills and confidence to work independently with metal.”

This display is a collaborative project between Pack and geology professor and Museum of the Earth Sciences director Stephen Lenhart.

Pack said she was thrilled with Lenhart’s offer for a permanent display case of jewelry in The Museum of the Earth Sciences. “I was excited because making handmade jewelry is essentially using ‘Treasures From the Earth’ to make works of art,” Pack said.

Jewelry students in Packs’ class use copper, sterling silver and a variety of gemstones to make both jewelry and small sculpture. The gemstones range from opaque cabochons to faceted gemstones.