Mother Bones
(Alejandra McLure)
Milwaukee, wi
Meet Alejandra McLure, also known as Mother Bones. With a unique blend of recycled rosaries and animal bones, Alejandra transforms discarded relics into striking, wearable jewelry pieces. Her interested in bones began in her early childhood years and her admiration for Catholic iconography deeply influences her work.
With a love for giving new life to items that can often be overlooked, Alejandra invites us to see the beauty and potential in the small things that can be easily forgotten. Mother Bones is something you may have never seen before, so be sure to check out these incredible pieces at DEVIATE!
Tell us about you. I'm a queer artist from Milwaukee, WI. I graduated from UWM in 2020 with a bachelor's degree in print and narrative forms. I've dabbled in quite a few different art forms, but currently make jewelry from animal bones and recycled Catholic rosaries.
I've been collecting animal bones since I was a child and am obsessed with functional, specifically wearable, art. I've also always been particularly fascinated with the aesthetic of Catholic iconography. It was only a matter of time before the two worked their way together and into my practice. Everything I use is foraged or ethically sourced!
What inspires your art? I'm mostly inspired by nature and Catholic iconography and imagery. Generally, I start with the bones or remains of an animal and my work takes shape from there. Occasionally I'm more inspired by whichever piece of religious iconography I've come across, but that is a bit more rare.
My focus is to give a second life to things that may otherwise deteriorate and be forgotten. I also aspire to give people an opportunity to view familiar concepts (religion, mortality) in a new way, and in tandem with one another.
Knowing DEVIATE is an experiential, interactive art event, how do you envision participating and building your booth? I feel everything about my work demands interaction as it is wearable, functional art. I intend to set up an interactive booth that encourages people to touch and try things on. My work is unique and carries powerful concepts with it, as well as being aesthetically pleasing.
How did you find out about DEVIATE and why do you want to be involved? My aunt, who is also an artist in Milwaukee, sent me the website and thought my work would be a good fit for your concept. She's always looking out for opportunities for me to get more involved in art events.