markers, acrylic, color pencils, ink; 20×16”
“The project I made has a green diamond necklace with a skull puffing out smoke this represents the hardships of getting the diamonds out the mines. Another aspect of my project is rare diamonds some with skulls in them and others doesn’t have skulls inside them. The reason why some doesn’t have skulls in them represents the diamonds that are conflict free and is run through The Kimberley Process or Lab created. The Kimberley Process was created and still used by the United Nations it’s a multilateral trade regime established in 2003 with the goal of preventing the flow of conflict diamonds. States implement safeguards on shipments of rough diamonds and certify them as “conflict free”. The background of the project is different types of dirt to represent different countries soils. The reason why I choose the topic blood diamonds is because I feel that the people need a voice for their lost loved ones that fought for their living expenses. The fact alone that people have so much greed in their hearts to steal from people just for money sickens me. I can only hope for a future where the different country could see the same thing I do. The pain would be over and wounds heal from all of the damage the wars and mining has caused to many people lives even as consumers, we should be concerned about what jewelry we are purchasing.”
ARTIST BIO: Nadia Williams is a grade 12 student at Butler Tech School of Art studying art under art teacher Mary Catherine Ruby.