On a quiet morning in Pittsburgh, Rachel Casper, known to some as “Gwen Strange,” sifts through a collection of beads, wood scraps, and secondhand treasures. Each item carries a story—a whisper of its past life—waiting for a new purpose. “I’ll touch any medium,” she says with a laugh, her hands busy assembling a bracelet that started as a cherished turquoise necklace belonging to her late Aunt Joan.
Casper, a multidisciplinary artist with a background in marketing, didn’t set out to be an artist. The pandemic, a time of global uncertainty, also became a period of personal rediscovery. Laid off from work, she returned to painting—something she had loved as a child but had long set aside. “I thought, what did I love to do that I haven’t done in a long time?” she recalls. “Painting was the first thing that came to mind.”
From those first brushstrokes, a new path emerged. What began as a way to process the emotions of isolation and loss soon expanded into jewelry-making, sculpture, and upcycled fashion. Casper finds inspiration in the tactile—the smoothness of gemstones, the weight of a vintage pendant, the grain of reclaimed wood. “Everything has a story,” she says. “I just try to build on it.”
Art as Memory, Memory as Art
Casper’s artistic journey took a deeply personal turn with the passing of Aunt Joan, a beloved and eccentric family member. “She was the kind of person who surrounded you—literally and figuratively—with warmth,” she says. When sorting through her belongings, Casper found a stunning turquoise necklace, its beads likely sourced from New Mexico. But instead of keeping it intact, she chose to transform it.
Knowing that her father—a man more comfortable in cowboy hats than jewelry—would never wear the necklace, she crafted a custom hatband using its beads. “My sister actually stole his hat for measurements,” she admits with a grin. “We made it a Christmas surprise.” Leftover beads became bracelets for her mother and sister, a necklace for her husband, and a purse charm for herself. “That one necklace has now become something for all of us,” she reflects. “It’s how we stay connected to her.”
This theme of connection runs through all of Casper’s work. Whether it’s a bracelet made from reclaimed materials or a thrifted leather purse she’s painted with delicate floral designs, each piece is an attempt to bridge past and present, people and place.
Pittsburgh’s Influence: Sunrises, Skylines, and Sustainability
Casper’s work is deeply tied to Pittsburgh, where she was raised in neighborhoods like McKees Rocks and the North Hills. “I don’t know what it is—maybe the rivers—but the sunsets here are incredible,” she says. Some of her paintings capture those fleeting moments of color before they fade into night. “There have been times I’ve been driving to work, and the sunrise is so beautiful that I get emotional. I just want to stop and paint.”
Beyond its natural beauty, Pittsburgh’s vibrant arts community has also shaped her creative philosophy. A passionate thrifter, Casper is committed to sustainability in her art. “There’s so much waste—especially in fashion,” she says. “I love finding well-loved items, giving them a second life, and making them feel special again.”
Her current work, available on LocalGood.com, includes jewelry made from semi-precious stones, paintings on canvas and reclaimed wood, and upcycled accessories. “I want my art to be accessible,” she says, explaining that she prices her work carefully to keep it within reach for those who appreciate handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces. “We’re all doing our best out here, and everyone deserves a little beauty in their day.”
Balancing Art and the Everyday
Like many artists, Casper doesn’t create full-time. By day, she works in marketing, helping architects and construction professionals keep projects on track. “It’s a little like herding cats,” she jokes. By night, she shifts from organizing deadlines to stringing beads, painting wood, and stitching stories into every piece she makes.
Even in her corporate job, Casper finds ways to inject creativity into daily life. She leads her office’s “happenings committee,” organizing events to foster joy and connection among colleagues. “I spend all day bringing people together,” she says. “Then I go home and connect beads together.”
Despite the demands of full-time work, Casper remains devoted to her artistic practice, carving out time to create even when energy is low. She hopes that by sharing her story, more people will recognize the importance of supporting local artists. “Most of us have day jobs,” she says. “We create because we have to—it’s how we make sense of the world. But without people supporting handmade art, it wouldn’t exist.”
Her work is a testament to that belief—a reminder that art isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about memory, community, and the little moments of connection that make life meaningful. Whether it’s a beaded bracelet infused with family history or a painting inspired by a Pittsburgh sunrise, each item invites its new owner to become part of the story.
“Art should be lived with,” she says. “And if I can create something that brings someone a little joy, then that’s enough.”