I design jewellery to adorn with flair as well as to initiate conversation about issues that confront us as people of the 3rd millenium. Most recently, I have been experimenting with the theme of fences, incorporating chain-link, barbed wire, immigration papers, signs and flags, effectively turning my jewellery into wearable sculpture. We build fences and borders, not only between countries, but between ourselves and our neighbors, friends and family in order to protect the things we value: our culture, beliefs, land, jobs, possessions and rights. I hope that my art serves to draw forth debate about why we build fences, how effective they really are and what some of the unexpected consequences might be. The ultimate goal of encouraging discussion about political and personal divisions is to ease some of the fear that keeps us from sharing. Only by working together will we be able to tackle the challenges that face us in the coming decades. -Tia Vellani, 2008