Found materials become wearable art at Lucy Clark Gallery
There’s a sense of discovery in R. Melinda Hoffman’s work — the feeling that each piece has been coaxed from a life it once lived. Her sculptural adornments and leather vessels often begin with castoffs gathered on her travels: a fragment of hardware, a worn scrap of leather, a small object whose usefulness has long passed. Reimagined in her New Mexico studio, these elements become amulets, containers, and wearable forms that blur the line between utility and sculpture while reconnecting her with the creative instincts that shaped her earliest work. “Reconnecting with my past work has unlocked a sense of childlike curiosity and wonder,” she shares in her artist’s statement. “It’s allowed me to approach art and design with fresh eyes and boundless enthusiasm.” On January 3, Hoffman will bring a new collection to Lucy Clark Gallery & Studio in Brevard for a one-day pop-up fundraiser. Ten percent of all sales will support Penland School of Craft as it rebuilds its water system following Hurricane Helene. “Even though our efforts may be just a drop in the bucket,” says Hoffman, “every drop counts.”
R. Melinda Hoffman Pop-Up Fundraiser: Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, 11am-5pm
Lucy Clark Gallery & Studio / 51 West Main St., Brevard / lucyclarkgallery.com