Women and the Hidden labors of Ritual

Women and the Hidden Labors of Ritual is the culmination of Melanie Silver’s thesis work for her MFA at Columbia College Chicago. As an interdisciplinary artist with training in Graphic Design and Advertising Art Direction, Melanie Silver has created a series of beaded Regalia, wearables, ritual tools, and an altarpiece incorporating representation relevant to many societies worldwide. This work was created to fulfill her thesis artwork requirement and research for her MFA, which she graduated with at Columbia College Chicago, in May 2023. She is using The Tree of Life as a recognizable representation to address her thesis and tie the work together. Along with the Regalia, Melanie completed her thesis research paper, addressing how women are usually the ones in many traditional communities who use their art/crafting skills to create objects, wearable and ritual work to sell. This is primarily done to send children to school and purchase the necessities of life.