Monek Harris

Metalsmith- Textured Sterling Silver Bracelet and Earrings

Monek Harris was born in Peoria IL, in 1966. Growing up in Peoria, she describes herself as having always possessed a
naturally creative spirit as long as she can remember. From creative hair styling as a kid, to painting, leather crafting,
woodworking, and any DIY project she could get her hands on.
Monek was introduced to the technique of beading using semi-precious stones more than 20 years ago by one of her
best friends. Over the years she has traveled around the globe taking classes, attending gem & jewelry shows, and seeking unique semi-precious stones from local area bead shops. Some of her
fascinating adventures include her most recent trip to the Tucson Gem Show in Arizona, the Pearl Market in Beijing China, Chatachuk Weekend Market in Bangkok Thailand, markets in India, Senegal,
and South Africa.
It wasn't long before beading became the gateway to her love of metalsmithing. Monek enrolled in her first metalsmith class at the Morean Arts Center in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2015 and soondiscovered her fascination with the art of the torch and fabricating beautiful hand-made jewelrypieces out of sheet and wire metal. She learned fabrication skills to take a flat sheet of copper or
sterling silver using a torch, specialty hammers, and various other metalsmithing techniques, and turning the sheet into a beautiful work of art. Monek continually enrolls in metalsmithing classes as
new techniques continue to inspire her to create.
She started Black Girl On Fire jewelry 2018 where her focus is on creating metal jewelry; however, you can still find beautiful, beaded pieces which are also incorporated in her pieces. Her jewelry is currently exhibited at the Morean Arts Center in St. Petersburg, FL and throughout various shows and pop-up markets in the Atlanta area. Monek is a member of the Metal Arts Guild of Georgia and founder of Strange Fruit Arts Center, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting and supporting African American artists. She describes her love of the process in "connecting from her heart, extended
through her hands, to the final product at the delight of clients wearing each unique work of art. "