Artist uses barbed wire , beads to make unique crosses
Staff writer
The cross has been a universal symbol, worn as jewelry and used as home decor.
For Katrina (Swan) Griffin, former Marion resident and craft show exhibitor, the crosses that she and her family make are a way to express artistic flare and their Christian faith.
Basically, it’s just old barbed wire and beads that are used to make the unusual creations but with skillful bending of the wire, they become pieces of art.
Justin and Katrina Griffin always have made gifts for family and friends, particularly at Christmas.
Two years ago, Katrina received a barbed wire cross from her sister-in-law as a gift.
“I thought, ‘I can make this’,” Katrina said, and she did, with a little help.
This past Christmas, she and her family, including daughters Kandace, 12, and Kassady, 9, made 31 barbed wire and bead crosses to give as gifts.
“There have been so many people asking me to make some more, I decided to make some to sell,” Katrina said.
The cross itself is made from the barbed wire, preferably old, rusty wire. The Griffins got off to a good start with the project because they had quite a bit of the prickly wire in their front yard in rural Strong City.
When they had used that wire, Katrina found wire on her grandmother’s rural Marion County farm.
So, why does she use the sharp wire?
“The cross is not supposed to smooth,” Katrina said, because it should express the pain and suffering of Jesus Christ.
Finding beads has not been as simple as the wire. Katrina shops at variety and craft stores every chance she gets.
“I’ve thought about ordering them online but prefer seeing them and touching them,” she said.
Not all of the crosses have beads but the decoration does add color and character to the piece.
Another way to decorate her crosses is with jewelry. Katrina also can take the jewels from costume jewelry, provided by customers, and mount them on crosses as a memorial to loved ones.
The Griffins have made three sizes of crosses — ornament size that are about four inches tall, a 16-inch, and a 24-inch.
“No two are the same. Each cross is unique,” Katrina said.
The 1991 Marion High School graduate also is willing to take orders for specific designs and colors of beads.
Katrina will have a booth at Marion’s Art in the Park and Craft Show from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 20 at Central Park.