Oops, its been a while...

above - work in progress

below - still from film

Yikes, time flies!!

Christmas came and went, and i've been back in the studio for ages, but somehow i've managed to completely lose track of time and this little blog of mine.

So, to quickly catch you up - along with chipping away at a new precious collection (stay tuned), i've also been working hard finishing off a very exciting collaborative project with contemporary dancer, and good buddy of mine, Katherine Doube.

This project is part of a major group show titled, Signature Style, curated by Nella Themelios and Kim Brockett. 

Here's a bit of a run down:

Signature Style is a major group exhibition exploring models of collaborative practice in contemporary jewellery. Featuring the work of some of Melbourne’s most exciting artists and jewellery practitioners Signature Style will be a significant addition to the emerging discourse around collaboration and contemporary craft. Collaboration poses a very different method of working – by its very nature, collaboration eschews individual artistic identity in favour of some kind of ‘third’ position.Signature Style will examine new methodologies of working and ‘work’, thinking through the potentials of collaboration within craft and design.

I teamed up with Katherine to create a wearable piece that at once informed and was informed by a choreographed piece of dance. 

The result has been an articulated shoulder piece that references something that lurks down in the deep blue sea while also paying homage to the undergarments of ballet and dance costumes.

Katherine's dance is a study of underwater movement observed in a variety of sea creatures, while also working consciously with the qualities and restrictions of the shoulder piece. 

The resulting dance piece was filmed in a blackened theatre space with carefully placed spot lighting to create the feel of a creature moving through a mysterious abyss. 

Both film and shoulder piece will be shown at the exhibition which opens at Craft Victoria next week.

Opening Thursday 7 March 2013, 6-8pm
At Craft, 31 Flinders Lane Melbourne
Showing from 8 March to 27 April 2013

The group show also includes work by:

Nicholas Bastin & Matthew Dux
Dan Bell, Bianca Hester, Charlie Sofo, Nathan Gray, Christopher LG Hill, Liang Luscombe & Oliver van der Lugt
Tessa Blazey & Alexi Freeman
Michaela Bruton & Kane Ikin
Milly Flemming & Dani Maugeri
Natalia Milosz-Piekarska & Katherine Doube
Nina Oikawa & Bridget Bodenham
Meredith Turnbull & Manon van Kouswijk
Karla Way & Dylan Martorell
Katherine Wheeler & Polly van der Glas

GAFFA Gallery - Curio Cabinet

For the next 2 weeks, i have a small showcase of my work on display in Sydney's GAFFA gallery Curio Cabinet.

On show is a selection of exhibition pieces, retail collectibles and some of my working drawings.

If you're around town, pop in and check it out.

281 Clarence Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, (+61) 02 9283 4273

Mon-Fri: 10-6pm, Sat: 11-5pm, Sun+Holidays: Closed

Pieces of Fate - @ Pieces of Eight Gallery

Amazing group show currently on at Pieces of Eight Gallery, Melbourne.

PIECES OF FATE - 24th May - 2nd July

I'm honoured to be one of the participating jewellers involved.

Instrument of Divination. Sterling silver, timber, paint, silk cord.

Pieces of Eight Gallery presents
Pieces of Fate
24th May – 2nd July, 2011


Have you ever come across a piece of jewellery, and thought to yourself, this must have been made for me… And there it was, just sitting there, quite simply, waiting to be found.

Pieces of Eight Gallery presents Pieces of Fate, a group exhibition of exquisite handcrafted pendants. Drawing inspiration from Professor Robert Baines, who coined the term, the exhibition includes works from 37 of the gallery’s represented artists who broadly explore the idea of an objects fate. Within the pendants various manifestations lay inherent intentions, purposes and appeal; an unquestionable right to exist. What then becomes its destiny?

Historically, pendants have provided all kinds of meaning and perceived powers for the wearer. Pieces of Fate explores how the modern day pendant can tell a story, possess magical powers or provide particular protection to an individual. It playfully engages with conversations about how materials, symbols and personal concepts give power or inscribe meaning to a piece of jewellery, and consequently how this may cause it to potentially determine its wearer.

With the making of each pendant, the artist was asked to record who or what the pendant may be for. This confidential text travels with the piece as a secret exchange between the creator and wearer of the pendant. As Kevin Murray states in his essay about the exhibition, "These incantations represent an important step forward in the restoration of jewellery power. They’re more than reflections on the personal inspiration of the jeweller. They also anticipate how the pendants will be experienced by the wearer."

Participating artists Bridget Bodenham, Cesar Cueva, Cinnamon Lee, Craig Spark, David Parker, Djurdjica Kesic, Dougal Haslem, Elfrun Lach, Jin-Ah Jo, Justine Austen, Karla Way, Katie Jacobs,Katrina Freene, Katrina Tyler, Krista McRae, Lucy Folk, Marcus Foley, Mark Edgoose,Melinda Young, Meredith Turnbull, Nadja Soloviev, Natalia Milosz-Piekarska, Nicky Hepburn, Nina Oikawa, Nina Ellis, Pennie Jagiello, Peta Kruger, Raymond de Zwart,Shimara Carlow, Sian Edwards, Sim Luttin, Steffi Kalina, Tamara Dixon, Teresa Lane, Tessa Blazey, Tim Fleming, Zoe Crowder

Opening
May 24th, 2011, from 6-8pm
Exhibition to be opened by Melanie Katsalidis, director and curator, Pieces of Eight Gallery. RSVP by May 20th, email marketing@piecesofeight.com.au

Book Launch
Exhibition publication to be launched on the opening night. To pre-order or purchase a copy, email info@piecesofeight.com.au

Workshop
‘Lucky Dip’ with Rachel Gorman and Pennie Jagiello.
June 25th, 2011, 10 – 3pm.
Open to all, bookings essential, participation fee $50.
RSVP by June 20th, 2011 to marketing@piecesofeight.com.au

http://piecesofeightgallery.blogspot.com/2011/05/upcoming-exhibition-pieces-of-fate.html

Touch, Pause, Engage.

I had a piece in a recent group show in Auckland, NZ titled Touch, Pause, Engage. This exhibition showcased works from a selection of New Zealand and Australian contemporary jewellers at Object Space Gallery, Auckland. For more info check out: Touch, Pause, Engage.

The piece i offered was a timber neckpiece titled 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

UNDERFOOT. OVERHEAD. Studies in Nature.

I currently have work in the newly opened exhibition 'UNDERFOOT. OVERHEAD. Studies in Nature.' at Object Gallery, Sydney, curated by Kate Ford.

Exploring the environments beneath us and above us, and all that lies between. Underfoot. Overhead. includes a number of makers who take inspiration from the natural world and create artefacts that then challenge our idea of what is 'natural'.

Featuring work by Juz Kitzon, Ken + Julia Yonetani, Emily Valentine Bullock, Natalia Milosz-Piekarska and Michelle Kelly.

My work came under the title 'Immortal Morsels' and is an idea i think i might like to explore further down the track...

'Immortal Morsels' sees Natalia explore the mysterious world of food and it's endless uses as mediums for worship, healing and protection. Throughout time and across cultures, certain foods and an endless repository of enigmatic edibles have been administered with the belief that they house magical and medicinal properties. They have been used to heal, protect and alter our physical and mental states. Some foods and ingredients take on such divine eminence, the question could be asked, are they the food of the gods, or are they gods in themselves?

Natalia plays with these ideas through the construction of her own fictitious talismanic morsels . Using a veritable apothecary of materials to conjure up her creations, she cooks up a collection of weird and wonderful bite size charms to be taken strictly as prescribed.

Above are some of the pieces i included.

Bad Beasts Do Not Harm Me - Sydney. OPENED!

Bad Beasts opened to a wonderful reception at Metalab Gallery, Surry Hills, Sydney, last Thursday night. Thanks so much to the brilliant Nina and Cesar for being wonderful hosts and for supplying our jewellery community with such an exceptional space and institution. They are a true force of nature, so much energy, so many ideas, so much going on. If you are in Sydney now, go check out our show, it's on till the 31st March. If you're not in Sydney, but plan on visiting, be sure to stop at Metalab in your travels, it's a must!

Hofstede Design - Bad Beasts Catalogue.

Hofstede Design, Melbourne.

Last year when Bad Beasts Do Not Harm Me came to fruition, we commissioned the wonderfully lovely and talented graphic designer Wendy Ellerton, from Hofstede Design, to design our catalogue. With contributing texts from highly regarded creatives, contemporary jeweller/object maker, Nicholas Bastin, and artist/experimental musician, Nathan Gray, the catalogue showcases a selection of work from the show and includes some brief words on who, what, why and how Bad Beasts came to be.

Beautifully designed, the catalogue has become a treasured adjunct to the show.

Only a small run was printed, so, all in all, a great little collector's piece to add to your library. Copies are currently available for sale at Metalab while the show is up till the 31st March, otherwise, feel free to contact me if you're keen to get your hands on a copy.

...and more rings.

I'm running out of ring pun titles for all the rings posts i've been putting up lately, but none the less, here's two more rings i made recently.

The first is Chilli Seed Ring and is a wee addition to my Bad Beasts Do Not Harm Me body of work which is travelling up to Sydney next week to be shown at Metalab Gallery in Surry Hills. I thought that as the exhibition is touring to a new home, a new little addition, just for Metalab, would be a nice way to carry the show forward.

Second is a ring i've nicknamed Eyes For You. It was meant to be a ring to go out as stock, but during the final stages of finishing it i realised, i never keep anything for myself. So, this one stayed with me and currently lives very happily on my middle finger.

I've had requests for similar designs since i started wearing it, so clearly wearing your own work is a good business move, pity i don't wear a lot of my own jewellery. People often ask why i don't wear more of my own work, or much jewellery at all for that matter. Part of the reason is simply because i find that when i work, i don't like having things getting in the way just in case i either a) damage the jewellery or b) get the jewellery caught in something that spins very fast or catches on fire, in turn, damaging myself.

Sydney folks, the time is nigh...

Dear Sydney friends,

I'm very excited to inform you that Bad Beasts Do Not Harm Me, my and Karla Way's joint show which was launched last year at Melbourne's Craft Victoria, is now travelling up to Sydney and will open at Metalab Gallery on Thursday 3rd March.

If you're around, we'd love to see you at the opening, otherwise, be sure to come check it out when you can.

Tasty Morsel...

Its still all fairly under wraps, but i am working on a few new exhibition pieces for a group show opening at Object Gallery in Sydney rather soon. More news to come, but in the mean time, here's a taster of what i'm offering...

Also, Bad Beasts will be travelling to Sydney very soon to be shown at Metalab, opening 3rd March. More info to come, but save the date and come on down if you're in town then!

Beastly Buddies

A private commission and an exhibition piece evolved together over the last few weeks. They really do look like great friends.

Some of the materials used are timber, resin, glass beads, coral and paint.

Bad Beasts Do Not Harm Me. Installed.

Well here we are, Bad Beasts Do Not Harm Me has arrived at has made itself at home at Craft Victoria's gallery 1. Opening night was a blast with a wonderfully insightful introduction from Craft Vic's Co-ordinating Curator, Nella Themellios. The show will be open for the next six weeks, closing on the 16th of October. A limited series of 100 catalogues has been produced, designed by the lovely and super talented Wendy Ellerton from Hofstede Design Studio, and includes contributing texts from contemporary jeweller Nicholas Bastin and artist Nathan Gray. They are for sale for $15 at Craft Vic and also at Alice Euphemia, don't miss out!

Bad Beasts Do Not Harm Me - sneaky peek

Bad Beasts Do Not Harm Me

Opening on the 9th of September 2010 is my, and studio buddy Karla Way's, joint show Bad Beasts Do Not Harm Me. Working independently to a shared theme and brief, Karla and I will be showcasing a body of work encompassing contemporary jewellery and object at Melbourne's Craft Victoria gallery.

Click here for more information on what the show explores, and where to find it.

Upcoming Craft Vic show and new E.g.etal pieces.

The first two images are to give a heads up and little update on my work slowly coming together for a very exciting show happening in September at Craft Victoria. Karla and i will be presenting a body of work in the main gallery exploring themes of talismanic and lucky charms titled Bad Beasts Do Not Harm Me. Each of us are approaching the topic individually, tapping into our own research into myth, ceremony, superstition and ritual, exploring the potent and transformative capabilities of materials and belief.

The last image is of some new work being developed for e.g.etal. This blue set titled Lagoon has been dropped off already, with more colours on the way.

Garlic Medallion

With a few big projects out of the way, things have kicked into higher gear in preparation for our (Karla and myself) joint show coming up in September at Craft Victoria.

Here is a piece i recently finished title Garlic Medallion. There's a reason why i've gone and made a massive piece of garlic... but i'll fill you in another time... don't want to give it all away right away.

Stay tuned for more tid bits as they come.

Winter Brooches Invite...

If you're in Sydney over this period, go check out Winter Brooches, Studio 20/17's annual brooch exhibition. I had a lot fun producing work for this show, check out previous posts of mine for images...

Quickie update...

Busy times as usual in the studio with simultaneous projects on the go. At the moment i'm focusing on getting my work completed for the annual Winter Brooches show at Stdio 20/17 in Sydney, i had a lovely pendant commission utilising a very sentimental if not rather large crystal. i've been building up my new colection for the new city Pieces of Eight, Melbourne, and have place my thinking cap on firm and fast for the body of work i'll be producing for my upcoming joint show in September with studio buddy Karla Way at Craft Victoria. Oh and i had a bit of a chat recently with e.g.etal about starting to consider a few 'precious' elements to add to the collection there. So, late last week i dropped off a special little ring to be cast in 18ct yellow gold... boy and i excited! stay tuned!

The list of images from top to bottom are as follows:

• A bit of press (utilising my image!) in the Tuesday Age for March 23rd, for the now wrapped up FIGMENT show at e.g.etal. I'm not quite sure about the other artist works, but mine have stayed with the gallery and are available for sale.

• A lovely commissioned pendant project using a very sentimental and large crystal.

• 'When Salt Clogs the Shaker'. The latest and i think final addition to my Weather Lore collection for the Winter Brooches show.

• A few pieces ready for my Pieces of Eight collection.

Winter Brooches.

New work evolving for the annual Winter Brooches exhibition at Sydney's Studio 20/17.

The series of pins i'm working on is called 'Weather Lore' and is based around folkloric proverbial predictions of weather patterns based on age old observations in nature and it's surroundings. The pieces i have created are talismanic pins of sort, to be worn as an aid in evoking desired weather conditions. I think i've got a few more to come before the work is due, but here are my first three.

The predictions they're based on are:

If wood-lice seem in armies for to go, soon after look for rain.

Timber, oxidised sterling silver, paint.

Mackeral skies and mares tails make ships carry lowered sails.

Timber, oxidised sterling silver, pony hair, paint.

If corn husks are thick and tight, a cold winter lays ahead.

Timber, oxidised sterling silver, paint.

FIGMENT - Opening Night!

Wowzers!

What an hot night to be squeezed into an underground gallery filled with people and 20 light projectors. The room buzzed and swooned under the heat, lights and beautiful work on show at Eg.Etal.

Figment has been co-curated by Eg.Etal director Emma Goodsir and Fleur Watson, from creative studio, Something Together, in collaboration with French graphic designer AnneLaure Cavigneaux from March Studio. Through an ongoing process of meetings between artists and curators, a bespoke installation concept was born, with the final jewellery pieces taking residence on a collection of odd vintage overhead projectors, contained in a purpose built 'room' within a room, lighting the work from bellow as well as above. The resulting effect was the creation of a completely immersive environment of whimsical jewellery, light, shadow and mystery.

The various narratives taking place amongst the works all loosely revolve around personal concepts of fantasy, mythology and memory. Each of the seven artists invited to participate in Figment chose to tell their own story creating a highly personal and diverse body of fascinating work.

I highly recommend you take the time to visit this exhibition, allowing yourself to immerse yourself in the glow of light, narratives and detailed execution of 26 enchanting pieces of work.

FIGMENT, officially opened thursday 18th March and will continue, Monday - Saturday's till the 31st March.

ARTISTS: Michaela Bruton, Jessica Morrison, Katherine Bowman, Karla Way, Katherine Wheeler, Natalia Milosz-Piekarska ( me ), Anna Davern.