Formerly the Ontario Crafts Council, Craft Ontario is a not-for-profit service organization that works to have craft recognized as a valuable part of life. We promote and celebrate professional craft through providing member opportunities, and advocate for craft practice by educating and empowering diverse audiences.
Saydee Chandler is a multidisciplinary maker living and working in Toronto. She specialized in textile design and sculpture, obtaining her BDes from the Material Art & Design program at OCAD University. She is also a recent graduate of the Jewellery Arts program at George Brown College. During her studies, she completed an internship in Sicily studying under a team of artisanal goldsmiths at Malafimmina Gioielli. Her work has been featured in shows and exhibitions across Canada, as well as the United States, Austria, and Romania. Saydee was accepted as an Artist-in-Residence (Metal) at Harbourfront Centre in 2021.
Through the use of a wide range of subject matter and mixed media, Saydee aims to create a palpable narrative shared between material, process, and personal artifact. Inspired by a cacophonous array of symbology, sentiment, and the mercurial nature of identity, she utilizes precious metals, organic matter, textiles, plastics, reclaimed materials and repurposed objects in order to create pieces that ruminate on myth, human refuse, temporality and the fetish of preciousness. She is fascinated with the idea of impermanence, and the lifecycle of objects. The majority of her current work is purposefully non-archival and meant to evolve and erode over time.
Drain Hole (Brooch)
Sterling silver, dental wire, automotive paint, steel mesh
5.4 x 1.3 cm
2018
Tracks (Necklace)
Sterling silver, 18K gold plating, rubber cord, automotive paint
28 x 17 cm
2019
Cracked (Ring)
18K yellow gold, onyx
2.1cm x 2.2 x 3.3 cm (size 7.5 US)
2019
Growth (Necklace)
Flexshaft coil, fuel line, carborundum, formed acrylic,
charcoal, epoxy, brass, steel, found plastic object
630 x 8.3 cm
2019
Growth (Brooch)
Flexshaft coil, fuel line, carborundum, formed acrylic, charcoal, epoxy, brass, steel, found plastic object
8.3 x 4.5 cm
2019
Hide (Brooch)
Self-made material, cotton thread, pigment, sterling silver, steel
8.5 x 4 x 2 cm
2020
Tongue Ring
Brass, wool sweater, shoulder pads
31 x 10 x 7 cm
2021
Tongue Ring (Detail)
Brass, wool sweater, shoulder pads
31 x 10 x 7 cm
2021
Untitled (Ring)
Hand carved marble, hand carved amber, brass
12 x 6 x 5 cm
2022
Untitled (from 'Figure Study' series)
Hand carved slate, steel
6.6 x 2 x 2 cm
2022
Formerly the Ontario Crafts Council, Craft Ontario is a not-for-profit service organization that works to have craft recognized as a valuable part of life. We promote and celebrate professional craft through providing member opportunities, and advocate for craft practice by educating and empowering diverse audiences.