RMIT Year 3, Semester 2, Jewellery, even more

I promise, this is the last post about this project.

This collection had quite a number of components. I’ve already written about my most favourite ones, but thought I’d share some images of the other ‘minor’ pieces.

Exhibits 6 & 7 ; image not to be reproduced without permission

Exhibits 3 & 4 ; image not to be reproduced without permission

Exhibit 5 ; image not to be reproduced without permission

More below.

… last post in this series: RMIT Year 3: graduate exhibition  …
… see more projects from RMIT Year 3 here …

Calendar: May 2013

all month

• NGV ‘Top Arts 2013‘ [link]; “An annual event at the National Gallery of Victoria since 1994, Top Arts is an exhibition of outstanding work by students who have completed Art or Studio Arts studies in the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) in the previous year.“; see list of exhibiting students and images of their work here; until 7th July 2013
• NGV ‘Containment‘ 2012 Cicely & Colin Rigg Contemporary Design Award [link]; “The participating artists in 2012 are: Garry Bish, Robin Bold, Emma Davies, Mark Edgoose, Neville French, Titania Henderson, Marian Hosking, Richard Morrell, Ian Mowbray, David Pottinger, David Ray, Owen Rye, Yhonnie Scarce and Katherine Wheeler.“; until 21st July 2013; see my review post
• Heide Museum of Modern Art, Fiona Hall ‘Big Game Hunting‘ [link]; “One of Australia’s most prominent contemporary artists, Fiona Hall is best known for extraordinary works that transform mundane man-made materials into vital organic forms with both contemporary and historical resonances. This trans-disciplinary survey exhibition highlights her recent practice and her continuing focus on the political interface between nature and culture. Compelling new bodies of work appear alongside related earlier pieces…“; until 21st July 2013
• ‘Afghanistan‘ at Melbourne Museum [link]; Hidden Treasures from the Museum of Kabul; until 28th July

1st May: last day for application to Craft Cubed satellite events [link]

2nd May: Gaffa Gallery (Sydney), Rosanne Bartley ‘Seeding the Cloud‘ [link; blog]; workshops 3rd & 4th May; until 13th May

2nd May: COTA Gallery Launch (Sydney), ‘Breathe Into‘ group exhibition [link]; “will feature the work of Abby Seymour, Belinda Esperson, Blanche Tilden, Bin Dixon-Ward, Cesar Cueva, Cinnamon Lee, Diane Allison, Djurdjica Kesic, Emma Fielden, Helena Bogucki, Helen Mok, Justine Austen, Kaoru Rogers, Kate Dunn, Lawrence Woodford, Lauren Webster, Linda van Niekerk, Marina Antoniou, Mary Odorcic, Mitch Bailey, Pennie Jagiello, Peta Kruger, Robert Foster, Shan Shan Mok and Simon Cottrell.“

exhibition media

3rd May: last day for application to Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery ‘Contemporary Wearables 2013‘ [link]

3rd May: last day for application to Lord Coconut ‘Indelible‘ group exhibition [link]; “Jewellers were challenged to create a men’s jewellery piece which is inspired by tattoo art. They have been inspired by vintage tattoos, dragons, sailor jerry, roses, celtic symbols, anime, a loved one and a grand final. The jewellery pieces are as personal as your tattoo choice.“

6th May: last day for application to Viscopy John Fries Memorial Prize for Emerging Visual Artists [link]; “The John Fries Memorial Prize for emerging visual artists is a non-acquisitive award of $10,000. This annual prize is open to all artists resident in Australia and New Zealand who are not enrolled as a student and whose work is not represented in the collection of an Australian state, territory or national public art gallery.“

8th May: NMIT Jewellery Auction 2013 (thanks to Mel Miller for the tip-off!) [link]

event media; click on image for original source

11th May: last day for Hatch Contemporary Art Space, ‘Home: Reframing Craft and Domesticity‘ exhibition, artists include Robert Baines, Kris Coad, Susan Cohn, Gwynn Hanssen Pigott, Marian Hosking and Rosslynd Piggott [link]

11th May: last day for Studio 20/17 (Sydney), Betham Linton ‘Imprint‘ [link]; “Reflecting on history, place and the distortion of memory, ‘Imprint’ will be Linton’s first solo contemporary jewellery exhibition. Taking inspiration from antique lace work and natural science illustrations, she references the elevation and preservation of experience through the creation of motifs that allude to her encounters with the world.“

11th May: last day for Gallery Funaki, ‘new edition‘ curated group exhibition [link]; “New Edition is a curated exhibition; an exploration of the ‘multiple’ or editioned piece in contemporary jewellery. Works created as multiples are often overlooked in favour of the one-off, handcrafted piece, yet they form some of the most iconic and memorable statements in contemporary jewellery’s history. This exhibition features classic and recent editioned pieces from 20 Australian and international artists“

16th May: Square Peg Studio (Sydney), lecture by Helge Larsen and Darani Lewers [link; facebook]

event media

16th May: Artifice Store, Part B group exhibition ‘Noisy‘ [link]; “The traditional experience of a jewellery exhibition is primarily a visual one – work sits silently, seen but not heard. And yet, when actively worn and given half a chance, jewellery just loves to make noise! In this new installation, Melbourne-based research jewellery group Part B is reuniting jewellery with its sound in the gallery environment. See the pieces, hear their sounds… join the jewellery cacophony!“; opening 15th, until 29th May

17th May: last day for application to Artist in Residence at The University of Edinburgh School of Design [link]; I want to do it SO much!! maybe another year…

18th May: last day for Bilk Gallery, ‘Chained‘ group exhibition [link]

18-19th May: Northcity4 workshop, Kathryn Wardill ‘Lamp Working Hot Glass‘ [link]

event media

20th May: last day for Worth Gallery (Adelaide) ‘365 Cups‘ [link]; “A group exhibition including 73 artists working in ceramics, glass, metal, textiles, wood and found materials.“

exhibition media; click on image for original source

22nd May: last day for application to Stanley Street Gallery (Sydney) ‘Red to Wear‘ wearable art exhibition [link]

25th May: last day for Pieces of Eight, Pia Murphy ‘Saccade‘ [link]

…

please tell me of other exhibitions or events
also check out Melissa Cameron’s excellent informative blog (especially for competitions)

…

Plan ahead:

30th June: last day for application to Art Jewelry Forum’s 2013 Emerging Art Jeweler Award [link]

14th August: last day for application to MAC-ITAMI International Craft Exhibition, Theme: Jewellery [link]

…

… last calendar post: Calendar: April 2013 …

Claire McArdle ‘Gilty’ @ No Vacancy Gallery

I was really looking forward to seeing Claire McArdle‘s ‘Gilty‘ exhibition. The exhibition opened on Monday night (22nd April), but I wasn’t able to visit until the Saturday.

Exhibition media: “If an illusion deceives your perception does it make the first understanding invalid?
Does a gilt object betray us in some way or does it possess a truth of its own?
A skin of gold matches the contours of the bead in precise detail. It masks the underlying material of the piece which makes up 99% of its volume and 0% of its surface. How do you value the piece?
Is this piece pretending to be something else or is it exactly what it is and we have deceived ourselves with visual assumptions?
If you know the chain carrying the beads, the chain which is almost fully covered, is made of 18ct gold, how do you value the piece now?
Is this a truth wrapped in a deception? Or is it just a piece to be perceived with available knowledge and accepted for its form and known materiality?
Is this work guilty for being gilty?“

Together with the magic exhibition image below, you can understand why I was fascinated and was looking forward to seeing the show.

from facebook; click on image for original source

I was imagining necklaces just like the one above, in my eyes referring to ancient works, lining the walls and challenging us to wonder how we value them if they’re plated and not pure gold … or even a mixture of both … and how do we know …

Instead there were chains on black circles, accompanied by photographs of what must have been there before.
It was incomprehensible to me and my friend.
We were both incredibly disappointed.
What had gone wrong with our understanding of the exhibition media?

installation; 27th April

We sought out comfort (for me, churros and chocolate) and sat down to chat about it. It was only then, when I spent time reading the little take-away booklet from the exhibition, that it became clearer.

*Spoiler Alert*

In the booklet: “an exhibition experienced twice …
Neckpieces experienced once as wearable gilt forms. Experienced again as edible gilt beads revealing the true gold chain beneath. The pieces have not changed, they are as they always were. But the circumstances of perception have shifted. …
Objects once untouchable, displayed on gallery walls are now free to be consumed. Something on the body to become something of the body.“

Oh, so the beads were edible-gold-covered chocolate on gold chain. So the beads have been eaten at some point. Which explains only the chains remaining.

This is a fantastic and genuinely intriguing shift in perception and a great idea for an installation/performance, and it’s understandable why this was not obvious in the media as the surprise is the whole point.

However, if I knew that the there was to be a one-off ‘reveal’ of kinds, I would have made every effort to make it to the opening night. Perhaps it would have been best as a one-night-only event? With a week-long exhibition, it has left those of us not seeing the original work (well, at the very least me and my friend) really very sad.

Claire McArdle’s ‘Gilty‘ was at No Vacancy Gallery from 22nd – 28th April 2013.

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Update (2nd May): please do also see Claire McArdle’s blog post (posted yesterday), and it has so many incredible images of her work and Zoe Brand’s excellent essays; and I love how Melissa Cameron describes it. You cannot imagine how much I wish I could have been there for the opening night – it looks like so much fun. AND there’s a video!

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‘Signature Style’ @ Craft

The flu has had me in its grip for so long now that I nearly missed ‘Signature Style‘ at Craft, only catching it on the last day.

exhibition media

Exhibition media: “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.“

Meredith Turnbull & Manon van Kouwijk

The combination of pieces by Meredith Turnbull and Manon van Kouswijk is stunning; their display gorgeous and sympathetic. I noticed though that their collaboration was more a conversation, as there didn’t seem to be any pieces with both of their names against them. This differed from other artists collaborations, as most of these were attributed to both artists.

installation; Katherine Wheeler & Polly van der Glas

I also loved the work by Katherine Wheeler and Polly van der Glas. Even though hair and teeth are not really my thing, and the fingers freaked me out initially, it must be said that their materials seemed well-matched. Katherine has written on her blog about the collaboration, with some lovely images; I especially enjoyed reading that: “We have both found the most successful pieces within our installation are the ones that have been made together- and taken on the 3rd entity through the collaborative process- not entirely either artist’s signature style, but a successful merge of the two.“

Tessa Blazey & Alexi Freeman

Thirdly, the dress by Tessa Blazey and Alexi Freeman is arresting. The shadow it creates on the wall is too beautiful.

Participating artists are:

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

installation

Karla Way has written about her work on her blog too, and has some amazing images of her incredible work with Dylan; while I found the sheer number of objects to look at a little overwhelming, my friend loved LOVED it [see her blog post here].

Natalia Milosz-Piekarska has also written about her work on her blog too. Her body piece is incredibly beautiful and the video shown alongside it, worn by dancer Katherine Doube is mesmerising.
Update (30th April): also see VettiLiveinNorthcote’s post for some lovely images of the installation.

Bridget Bodenham has also shared an image of her work with Nina.

‘Signature Style‘ was at Craft 8th March – 27th April 2013.

Another diamond; plus a more interesting auction

Another big diamond has sold for lots of monies.
News says: “5.30 carat “fancy” diamond, set in a Trombino ring, for £6,201,250“.

news media; click on image for original source

The image on the auction house website shows a slightly lighter colour stone, and in its original ring setting.

auction media; click on image for original source

I browsed through the whole auction result list, but my eyes quickly glazed over … big stones, little creativity or interest.

However, I did find that Bonham’s has a more interesting auction coming up: it’s listed as Antiquities, and there’s jewellery to be had! I’m not sure if I’m genuinely serious enough to actually do any purchasing (not only because it’s pretty difficult to buy sight-unseen), but these have definitely piqued my interest:

• (lot 118) Four Egyptian repoussé gold sheet mummy amulets; Late Period – Ptolemaic, circa 664-32 B.C.
  

  click on image for original source

• (lot 119) A group of Egyptian glass and glazed composition amulets and beads; New Kingdom – Late Period, circa 1550-30 B.C.
  

  click on image for original source

• (lot 141) A collection of Ancient glass beads; Phoenician – Islamic Period
• (lot 169) Three Greek sheet gold diadems; Hellenistic, circa 2nd Century B.C.
  

  click on image for original source

• (lot 224) A Roman green jasper intaglio ring; Circa 1st-2nd Century A.D.
  

  click on image for original source

• (lot 253) A pair of Roman gold earrings; Circa 1st-3rd Century A.D.
  

  click on image for original source

• (lot 262) A group of Roman gold jewellery; Circa 2nd-3rd Century A.D.
  

  click on image for original source

I could continue … but I shall stop and you can see more yourself.

More detail on ‘My Australia’ pieces

I had such fun making three brooches for the ‘My Australia‘ exhibition.

As I mentioned in my previous post, the construction was a little different to work I’ve made before. The adaptions to construction were due to these being brooches, not pendants – so I needed to find a way of incorporating the brooch backs / pins.

in progress

My Australia group; image not to be reproduced without permission

My Australia group; image not to be reproduced without permission

They were essentially made upside-down, with the bezel set on the back. I could probably refine the method with more practice.

I added a single thread of fine gold cloisonné wire to the back of the ‘Sunrise‘ brooch … I love surprises just for the wearer.

I’d love to see the exhibition in its entirety – the collection of makers looks diverse and interesting!

‘My Australia‘ is at Seven Spirit Bay Eco Resort until November 2013. [see update below]

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Update (26th April): The exhibition was originally to open in April and go through to November; however I understand that due to unforeseen circumstances, the exhibition will be moved to a new location and will open in a few months.

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My pieces for ‘My Australia’ exhibition

I have some pieces in the ‘My Australia‘ exhibition, curated by Jasmine Matus and held in the Seven Spirit Bay Eco Resort in the Northern Territory [see update below].

Some sneak peek images were shared a little while ago; and it’s my practice to wait until an exhibition is up before showing in detail images.

Jasmine put the call out for artists to join her exhibition: “Create a body of work that details ‘your Australia’, what Australia holds true to you with a focus on the natural landscape.” Naturally, my thoughts immediately turned to my little collection of opals; and to expand my exploration of combining opals and woven paper panels.

I felt it was time to reduce reliance on (or perhaps the prominence of) the woven paper component … so my three brooches show a progression seeing a large portion of the weave to seeing very little of it.

My Australia; group; image not to be reproduced without permission

From left to right: ‘Sunrise‘, ‘Rockpool‘ and ‘Riverbed‘.

My camera / photography set-up isn’t too fancy, and as such I find it pretty tricky to find the best way to photograph the incredible beauty of opals.

Sunrise; image not to be reproduced without permission

Rockpool; image not to be reproduced without permission

Riverbed; image not to be reproduced without permission

These were constructed in a manner a little different to previous work … I’ll detail in another post tomorrow.

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Update (26th April): The exhibition was originally to open in April; however I understand that due to unforeseen circumstances, the exhibition will be moved to a new location and will open in a few months.

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