Site Launch

Written By Secret Basement Lab Studio

Hi Friends! Happy Earth Day 2022! We’re finally updating the Secret Basement Lab website, how exciting!

Rough cut shards of a red exit sign lens.

Rough cut shards of a red exit sign lens cut using a band saw.

In honor of Earth Day let’s talk materials - specifically the materials Katie uses for her jewelry. Each piece is hand cut out of a material that was free, whether a scrap of wood from local furniture makers, or a scrap of Formica from a jobsite Katie worked on in 2009, or a found bit of steel found on a walk around her former office, or a piece of plastic from some packaging that can’t be recycled. This helps divert materials from the waste stream (yay) AND keep prices low so we can get more of these pieces out into the public for everyone to enjoy.

Sanded red exit sign lens pieces with striated texture.

Sanded exit sign lens pieces.

Katie’s favorite material story is that way back in 2003 she was a sculpture student at St. Cloud State University and while walking back to her dorm room one day she spotted a broken exit sign lens resting on a pretty full garbage can. That scrap was carried around until 2015 and then finally found new life as some fun red earrings! See, hoarding can be a beautiful thing.

Finished red exit sign lens earrings, one a triangle with hoop findings, one a 4-sided polygon on fish hook earrings.

Finished red exit sign lens earrings.

Secret Basement Lab Studio

Katie and Josh met in Winona, MN, went to Art school in St. Cloud, MN, got married in 2004, and live and make art in the secret basement lab studio deep within a stone covered house in Eagan, MN. Katie’s work focuses on making jewelry out of reused, reclaimed, and upcycled materials using wood working tools - no piece is ever exactly like another, and makes bow ties for pets because why wouldn’t she? Josh’s work includes paintings and drawings inspired by his many interests including mad scientists, music, monsters, movies, and art. Josh is also a prolific writer and radio show host.

https://secretbasementlab.com
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