Nicholas Open Studios 2012! Aug 16th - 17th

It's that time of year again when our studio doors are flung open to the public for two days of show and tell and hopefully a bit of shopping. 

We'll also be open on that Saturday from 11 - 5pm as part of Craft Victoria's Craft Cubed satellite events. So come by, say hi, stay for a refreshment and peruse our wares. 

Sorry - Cash only!! 

Some more recent press...

Melbourne Hot Spots Guide 2012.

Showcase 500 Rings - Lark Publication

This epic publication arrived in the post the other day. A HUGE survey of contemporary rings from around the world, another great feat in keeping with the infamous 500 series books from the folk at Lark Craft Publications.

While flicking through it over breakfast, i was proud as punch to find myself nestled amongst many friends and heroes.

If you're a jewellery fan and collector of great art books, this hefty tome is definitely one to get you all inspired and amazed!
(Find here on Amazon)

NorthCity4 Launch! Invitation!

A very exciting new initiative that i'm very honoured to have been asked to speak at for it's upcoming launch party and fundraiser.

Have a read below, and please join us on Friday 2nd March for the launch and show your support for this great new studio/school/workshop/platform/dream organisation!

Announcing the launch of Northcity4

A new era in creative endeavours

Melbourne’s newest creative initiative, Northcity4, is the brainchild of five talented and forward thinking artists who have come together to create a new contemporary jewellery & object studio and school in Brunswick.

This collective, which is made up of highly regarded contemporary jewellers and small object makers, is developing a work and educational space that will inspire a new style of artistic practice, never before seen in Melbourne, and is committed to an environmentally sustainable work ethic.

LAUNCH DETAILS ‘Open the Door’

Friday 2^nd March, 6–8pm

61 Weston Street Brunswick

SPEAKERS

Marcus Westbury - Not Quite Art ABC1, columnist The Age

Natalia Milosz-Piekarska - Award-winning contemporary jeweller

Katherine Bowman prints and Ali Limb jewellery will be for sale on the night to help fund the next stage of NC4’s development. Music by a local DJ will contribute to the atmosphere.

Wine generously sponsored by Mount Langi Ghiran

WHERE / WHO – 61 Weston Street, Brunswick 3056

The NC4 studio and school is the initiative of artists Romani Benjamin, Katherine Bowman, Anna Davern, Caz Guiney and Ali Limb. This group of artists has come together with the aim of sharing their knowledge, skills and techniques through mentorships, seminars, access studios and workshops.

WHAT

NC4 is a not-for-profit organisation with a shared commitment to environmentally sustainable arts practice that promotes and supports the integration of sustainability into all aspects of contemporary jewellery and object design. NC4 will work with Sustainability Victoria and Moreland Energy Foundation to reach its green goals and to ensure the NC4 communal footprint is minimised or off-set where possible.

The NC4 warehouse space will offer studios for long and short term tenancies for working makers and artists as well as an education program of short courses, weekend workshops and holiday programs, for those with and without previous training.

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

Catch up...

I'm a little late to the party with this one, but here's a post from the Pieces of Eight blog from March 29, 2011.

Also, I'm currently in London on a 6 month internship with fashion/costume jeweller Scott Wilson. I was awarded two grants to help fund this stint O.S. Late last year i was one of five creatives to be awarded a British Council, 'Realise Your Dream' travel grant to the UK, and a month ago i was awarded an Ian Potter Cultural Trust grant to assist me in London. So, it's exciting and busy times ahead!

I wont be posting too much up on here while i'm away as i'll be concentrating predominantly on Scott's collections. I am however trying to get a sideline blog up and running that documents my time in london, problem is, so far, i haven't had much time to sit down and do it... but watch this space, i'll get there eventually...

http://piecesofeightgallery.blogspot.com/2011/03/workbench-of-week-natalia-milosz.html

WORKBENCH OF THE WEEK: Natalia Milosz-Piekarska

Natalia's studio, photography by Kim Brockett from Craft Victoria.

Natalia Milosz-Piekarska's work engages with the animist notion that inanimate objects can be imbued with a spirit, as she explores ideas of totemism, fetishism and the 'spirit' within objects.
Her contemporary jewellery practice revolves around creating whimsical artefacts from stories and mythologies untold. Steeped in fictitious folklore and superstition, these objects do not reference any particular form of belief, but rather the structure of belief itself.

Working from her shared studio Nicholas Building with fellow jeweler and buddy, Karla Way, (though they are about to move two floors up to share with a couple of other jeweler buddies), Natalia likes to think she works in a way not dissimilar to an alchemist. With boxes full of collected materials, paints, beads and bits and pieces, Natalia rummages through her apothecary, cutting, carving, painting, threading, constructing and assembling her spirited works into wearable treasures.

Natalia is also currently coordinating a fundraiser in support of the Red Cross Disaster Relief and Rescue Fund. This is an amazing project she has created, bringing together many very talented jewellers who have donated pieces for an online auction. Check it out and add to your collection whilst supporting a very good cause. You can find it here: Lucky Charm. Making Good Fortune.

Natalia is also about to embark on a 5 month internship in London with fashion jeweler Scott Wilson after winning an 2010 British Council, Realise Your Dream Award. We'll be sad to see her go but what a brilliant opportunity and really, we couldn't think of a more deserving person! Watch this space (or this blog!) for more news about Natalia and her overseas adventures, we know she has a very bright future ahead of her.

Detail of Natalia working on a piece in her studio, Photography by Kim Brockett from Craft Victoria.

Pieces of Eight Gallery

Have you been into the brand spanking new Pieces of Eight gallery yet?

We're into our 3rd week of being open, situated in the rapidly developing Russell Pl, Melbourne, (btw Lt. Collins and Burke St). I say 'we' as i am currently both stocked and working in the gallery a couple of days a week.

Gallery owner and director Melanie Katsalidis has fulfilled her vision of taking Pieces of Eight to the city and has done so with no holds barred. A jeweller herself, Melanie has an amazing eye for design as well as a heart for the whimsical and poetic, which in combination, brings to the CBD a contemporary jewellery gallery with an incredibly diverse, inspirational and fresh collection of work from Australia and afar.

Its a very exciting new addition to Melbourne's CBD contemporary jewellery community, though it's by no means new in the greater sense as it is now in it's 5th year of operation since opening it's doors in North Fitzroy. The original gallery is now closed to the public but still operates as a jewellery studio for 6 contemporary jewellers.

With a newly updated website, you can take a look at the current stable of makers, over 50 of them, as well as read up a little on the gallery and it's philosophy

http://www.piecesofeight.com.au

But most importantly, come by and visit us!

Check out the article in Melbourne's BROADSHEET for more info and images.

URBIS Magazine Issue #59

OOH!

Double page spread!

Issue out now.

This was a rather unexpected and pleasant surprise. I did the interview for URBIS a couple of months ago after winning Realise Your Dream and then promptly forgot about it. Only when i recently received an email from a shop in NZ interested in stocking my work after they'd ready this article did i realise that the interview must have been published. It took a little while for the mag to land on our shores, but today, after a last minute ditch at Christmas shopping, i popped into our local news agency, and there it was! YAY!

Bit of recent press...

JuJu Collection at Alice Euphemia

Earrings at E.g.etal

Threethousand.com.au did a great write up on a new little collection i did for Alice Euphemia, you can read it here:

http://www.threethousand.com.au/goods/juju-by-natalia-milosz-piekarska/

You can also find a mention of this collection on the Alice Euphemia site here:

http://www.aliceeuphemia.com/news/?p=2807

E.g.etal has put some new pics up on their website from my recent drop offs to them for Christmas. Check them out here:

http://www.egetal.com.au/collections/earrings/193-earrings-9.html

Artists create a workspace that nurtures each of them. THE AGE. Thursday 9th Sept, 2010.

THE AGE writer Megan Backhouse came by and interviewed myself and Karla at our Nicholas Building studio last week. The resulting article was published in yesterdays paper.

Click here to read online version of the article.

Behind the Scenes.

A sneak peek behind the scenes of a really exciting photoshoot we did last week. I've found myself recently in a rare situation of having a bit of work stockpiled in limbo between shows and new stockists, so I took the opportunity to hire the magnificent talents of stylist/general creative genius Sarah Trotter, outstanding photographer Ali McCann, hair and makeup wizz Hariett O'Donnell, trusty assistant Katie Clark and two divine models Lani and Chloe. The shoot took place in the frosty forests of Warburton outside Melbourne and the results are really quite magical. The shots are still tightly under wraps, but will be revealed in good time. In the mean time, here's some teasers.

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.

Penthouse Mouse Broadsheet.

Just a few pics of my pieces featured in the P.H.M broadsheet published in conjunction with the event.

Today in Michigirl.

This little gem was waiting me for me in my inbox when i got home. Michigirl featuring my work as part of FIGMENT, the upcoming Eg.Etal exhibition.

Click here to see the full page.

http://michigirl.com/newsletter/melbourne/2289/peanut-butter-makes-you-thick/

Penthouse Mouse is just around the corner...

LABELS

ACCESSORIES

ARTISTS

EVENTS

NATALIA MILOSZ-PIEKARSKA

Natalia is a Melbourne based studio jeweller with a strong focus on exhibition, and unique ready to wear pieces.Her main thread of inspiration comes from her research into the use of amulets and talismans throughout time and across cultures. Coupled with an interest in folklore and superstition, Natalia amalgamates her research in order to create abstract, mysterious pieces that are at once seductive, captivating and enigmatic. Natalia’s aim is create jewellery that strikes an intrinsic chord with it’s potential owner, to become a talisman of sorts, “Each piece has it’s own personality and character and it needs to make the right connection with someone for it’s power to be unlocked.”
Available at Penthouse Mouse, alongside her much coveted sterling silver charm range, Natalia has created an exclusive collection of one-off hand carved timber pieces.

GALLERY

ACCESS - ORIES

MECURIALIST

DOES NOT EQUAL

KYOKO OSATO

NATALIA MILOSZ-PIEKARSKA

ANNA MASON

GAIL SORRONDA

ESTELLE DÉVÉ

O.T.T BY LIA .T

KARLA WAY

Click here for all the details : PHM