Meet talented high school and PSEO student, Willow Johri. The beautiful necklace she created was featured recently in NHCC's Northwestern High School Art Show. Jeevan Jyoti was the name she gave to the gold necklace she made, which means light of life in Hindi. We asked Willow a few more questions about her art and her NHCC experience, below!
What was your inspiration behind the necklace you created? Why was it important to you to make this piece of art?
Throughout my life, I’d grown to be really insecure about my ethnic features, specifically my nose. Over the years, I’ve been learning to embrace and reclaim what I’ve inherited from my parents and ancestors. These features have been loved over generations, enough to end up being passed on to me. My traits are a blend of my ancestors, representing my rich cultural roots.
When I was designing the face, it was important for me to give the sun a similar nose to mine. I specifically gave it the nose hump I grew up believing was the barrier between me and beauty. The nose represents my personal journey with my cultural identity. Incorporating it into this piece gave me the power to celebrate what I viewed as one of my biggest physical flaws.
To me, this piece represents both the beauty of diversity and the narrative that so many women of color are fed growing up: that our diverse features negate our desirability and beauty because they don’t fit the standard. If anything, our ethnic features and rich cultures enhance our beauty.
Have you always been interested in jewelry making?
I’ve always been fascinated by jewelry and clothes, especially the idea of creating a piece of wearable art on my own. I started teaching myself how to make jewelry around 2 years ago by messing around with materials (like wire, beads, and crystals) and using online tutorials. I attended Jewelry A and B at Maple Grove Senior High, taught by Erin Boe, where I learned more technical skills and created this piece!
How did it feel when you found out your necklace would be on display at NHCC?
The pride and joy I felt when I found out my piece was chosen to be displayed is beyond words. With such a personal project, this recognition means the world to me!!
I’ve only done PSEO here for one semester, but NHCC is such a welcoming and inclusive space. Through this display, I feel my time at NHCC has been memorialized, and I’m forever grateful.
What do you hope to do in the future?
I’d love to further my education through college and eventually law school! I care deeply about society, politics, and current events. I’m planning on majoring in either sociology or political science, then attending a law school.
My main goal for my career is to create lasting change, whether on a personal level or a larger scale. With everything happening under the current administration, specifically the attacks on immigrants, I’d love to directly support and give back to immigrant communities.
How is your sociology class going?
My sociology class has been going really well!! I find sociology to be really interesting and Professor Chen is an amazing instructor. His passion for the subject is so inspirational. I really enjoy the discussion aspect of the class and how applicable it is to our daily lives. It’s definitely changed the way I view my interactions and the way people move through our society.