Recycling rough materials into miniature sculptures meant to be worn, Mio Studio crafts new life from exotic hardwoods and metals. Artists Mayra Orama Muñiz and Erica Millner hand carve and sand each piece from start to finish, using their years of experience to meld remnants together into clean, modern designs.

Shaping exotic hardwoods as an expression of life in organic moving forms, Mayra Orama Muñiz has created a line of jewelry that reflects her New York City upbringing and the more recent influences of living in Puerto Rico for five years. The many landscapes of her life - from the modern industrial city to the tropical rain forests in Puerto Rico - have become an inspiration to her.

The miniature sculptures Muñiz creates are a melding of richly textured woods and cool metals. She creates forms that hint at the natural flowing beauty of the lush green mountains of Utuado and the pristine white sand beaches of Vega Baja. An admirer of Henry Moore, she is also influenced by Asian art and is drawn to creating balance and movement in her work. Muñiz is self taught and wishes to remain so.