RJM
FAQ’s

  • WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS?
    We received over 250 lbs of jewelry, which we photographed, examined, and sorted into categories based upon its material composition with the leadership of Radical Jewelry Makeover directors Susie Ganch and Kathleen Kennedy. Students, local alumni, and faculty are working away on designing a range of works that respond to these materials and some of your stories. Students are recycling and melting down silver into ingots to process new material and are deconstructing and remaking components with fresh perspective, while learning about all the materials and techniques used in the jewelry industry. Please follow along on our instagram @newpaltzmetal

  • I DONATED TO RJM IN NEW PALTZ, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
    Thank you so much for your donation to the project! We are truly blown away with the response to this project. We received 78 individual donations, and some additional anonymous ones. Through the sorting process, we assessed the material value of donations, to the best of our ability. If you submitted the form with your name and contact information, we will be reaching out to you in October with a % discount coupon to use toward a piece at our exhibition and sale on November 1. The coupons are individualized based on the materials included in your donation. We hope you come to the exhibit and support student makers and the Community for Ethical Jewelry.

  • WHEN IS THE EXHIBITION AND SALE?
    Saturday, November 1, 2025 will be the opening reception for the Radical Jewelry Makeover Exhibition at The D.R.A.W. Gallery in Kingston, NY. We look forward to welcoming you to the exhibition, and hope you will purchase a piece—giving it new life and story to tell!

  • I HAVE A DIFFERENT QUESTION, WHO SHOULD I CONTACT?
    You can email us directly at radicaljewelrymakeover@newpaltz.edu


    PAST QUESTIONS FROM THE DONATION PERIOD:

  • WHAT KIND OF JEWELRY CAN BE DONATED?
    We welcome any and all jewelry—whether it’s metal, plastic, precious, mass-produced, broken, tangled or incomplete—we welcome it all! If you have jewelry you no longer wear, if it’s just not your style, or has a missing piece, please send it our way! We are excited to transform it into something new!

  • WHEN IS THE DEADLINE FOR DONATIONS?
    We need to receive all donations by Monday, September 1st to be included in the project. The deadline has passed. Thank you!

  • WHY SHOULD I DONATE TO THIS PROJECT?
    -There are so many reasons! The project is educational for our students and community as we will assess and examine objects, materials and sourcing. Students will gain a deeper understanding of how things are made, ethical practices, creative problem solving, and thoughtful re-use through the circular economy model. The project helps spread awareness about these concerns, and we will all help keep things out of the waste stream by contributing!

    -Anyone who donates will receive a coupon/discount for the purchase of a new one-of-a-kind piece made by our network of participating jewelers and metalsmiths from the donated items! All proceeds from the project will support student makers and the Ethical Metalsmiths non-profit organization.

    -We will be welcoming the community in to see the process through events like our RJM kickoff, exhibition and more! Follow our instagram page @newpaltzmetal for updates, photos, and news about the project!