In our Staff Spotlight series, we’re pulling back the curtain on the talented artists, artisans, and craftspeople who make up our crew. Our team is a gumbo pot of creativity: painters, sculptors, woodworkers, fiber artists, costume designers, metalsmiths, actors, musicians, and the list goes on. If you can dream it up, chances are we’re already doing it in our free time, too. That’s what makes us so good at our day jobs as custom experiential fabricators.

Each month, we’ll shine a light on one of our team members—their inspirations, their after-hours projects, and the creative spark they bring to both their life and our shop floor. Because behind every masterpiece is a person with a story worth sharing.

This month, we’re talking to Shaynna Gueno, our resident Museum Exhibition Specialist.

Day-to-day in the Downtown FabWorks shop, Shaynna’s focus is on artifact mounting and handling, metalwork, and scenic artistry. However, after hours all bets are off! Her personal creative work as a metalsmith, jeweler, and interdisciplinary artist fuels her curiosity and inspires her to see life from new angles. Keep reading to find out more about Shaynna’s work.

So tell us how you became an artist.

I was born an artist, with a vivid imagination and a mind full of ideas. As far as making art to put out into the world and sell, I didn’t start doing that until I was around 30. I had a lot of responsibilities in my youth that had to take priority over my creativity and dreams. I was finally able to be in a space both mentally and physically where I could start making all the ideas in my head come to life.

What kind of art do you create?

I concentrate on metalwork, creating jewelry and sculptures from silver, copper, and brass. But I also love drawing, painting, and working with clay. I’m currently enjoying creating little creatures made of organic matter like bones, insects, and plants.

In my day job, I’m a metal fabricator and finisher, so I do a lot of welding, grinding, and polishing. I really enjoy taking a metal frame that has been warped and distorted from welding and finishing it to a smooth, seamless 90-degree angle. I’m also a mountmaker, and have the privilege of handling amazing artifacts from museums across the country. It’s incredibly satisfying to get to design, fabricate, and install mounts for them. On top of all of this, I’m also a scenic artist in IATSE, so occasionally I dip back in to work on a movie or television show.

What’s one of your favorite creations?

While learning metalsmithing, we had to design and create something that would show all the skills we had learned. Since I’m obsessed with bugs, I designed a cicada pin with four movable wings. I love looking back at it now because it’s a little goofy and simple looking - my skills have improved over the years - but I’m still so proud of it! It was so inspiring to see that I could turn a sheet of metal into a cool little object like magic. I was hooked.

What do you enjoy most about your artistic journey?

I enjoy the process. No matter what you are working on, you will learn new skills from it, and you will constantly surprise yourself with what you are capable of doing. I like going into a piece with an idea in mind, and seeing how it changes for the better with each step.

What are you looking forward to making next? 

I’m working on a series of little creatures that will be a part of a world I’m slowly learning about and building. I say “learning about” because I’m approaching it from a perspective of discovery. Even though I am technically creating everything, I am letting the creatures inform me of who they are and what they look like. Much like my process of creating jewelry with organic objects, I lay out everything in front of me I have available for use, and I let the pieces create themselves. There’s no sketching or planning, I just start putting the piece together and add things that feel right. In that way, I feel like I am truly discovering these little creatures, not creating them myself. I’m really excited to see how this little world expands in the future!

Who are your favorite artistic influences?

One of my favorite working artists is Shing Yin Khor, and I admire them not only for their art, but for their kindness and contributions to society. They also try all kinds of different mediums and processes and I identify a lot with the desire to be a jack-of-all-trades. I also love the works of Dan May, Ellen Jewett, and Nicole Watt (Mahlimae).

Do you feel like your personal creative work influences how you approach projects at DFW?

Definitely. I try so many different things and techniques in my own art, and I find that the problem solving that comes along with that experimentation opens my mind up to that perspective at work as well. 

Where can we find your work in the wild?

I have a permanent home at Chemical 14 Gallery in New Orleans, where you can find my jewelry and some of my little creatures. You can also find me online at www.bluereverie.net, and give me a follow over on Instagram and Cara under my handle @bluereverie.

You also teach metalsmithing classes, right?

Yes! I actually have an Introduction to Sawing class coming up this month, and it’s perfect for beginners and folks who need a refresher. The class is August 23rd, from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. at Chemical 14. The $100 registration fee includes 4 hours of instruction time AND all the supplies you need to take with you after the class to be able to continue sawing away at home! Get in touch here to sign up.

Interested in finding out how the creative minds at Downtown FabWorks can help you create unforgettable experiences for patrons, guests, and clients? We partner with our clients to design and fabricate immersive experiences, themed environments, and more. Visit our website to see how we can bring your vision to life.