Makers Mark is closing

Only a quick update tonight…

A friend, who is on the Makers Mark Gallery mailing list, sent me the below this afternoon:

information from Makers Mark newsletter; used under the fair dealings provisions of the Copyright Act 1968 / c1975

It’s official then, Makers Mark is closing their doors on 14th August 2010.

I would expect that the larger discounts are not applying to artist works being sold on commission, as that would reduce their potential return; so perhaps the higher discounts are for the in-house pieces.

Also see the previous stories (first and second) and the comments left –  it seems store credit, gift vouchers and special orders are not being honoured; and that holders may simply be like any other creditors of the failed business.

I’d welcome comments about experiences and opinions of makers and buyers affected by this closure.

Calendar: August 2010

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RMIT Year 1, Semester 1, Silversmithing #1

It’s been a while since I last wrote about my RMIT projects… so, still looking at my first semester there, now on to silversmithing…

First year, first semester, Silversmithing, project #1: ‘Flatware’

This project was used to explore forging, and we were to produce two pieces of flatware (from the spoon or fork family). During the research into the history of flatware, I fell for Roman spoons and still think they’re lovely; those from the Mildenhall Treasure were favourites.

from visual diary of the time

Then, reading my visual diary, it seems I got carried away with the golden mean – the traditional proportion favoured by the Greeks. Not sure about the connection to the Roman spoon though – perhaps I was trying to understand why I was attracted to the shape? Anyway, in playing around with the golden mean mathematics, I drew the first spoon I ended up making from copper (it’s just over 7cm high).

from visual diary of the time; amended copyright notice: not to be reproduced without permission

copper spoon; original image by Mark Kral; amended copyright notice: not to be reproduced without permission

This started as a copper billet that had to be hammered (forged) and basically wacked into shape; there was no soldering involved, but there was certainly lots of filing.

The second spoon was a partner to the one above, but with a rounder form; and it is smaller, as it was made from sterling silver (from an ingot we cast ourselves from silver granules). Sterling silver is harder to work than copper, so I was happy that I’d decided to do the ‘simpler’ one in silver.

silver spoon; original image by Mark Kral; amended copyright notice: not to be reproduced without permission

I gave this spoon to my god-daughter on her christening in early 2006 … I’d like to think my brother understood how hard it was to give away something that took so much effort to make, but she’s pretty special and I hope she grows to treasure it.

… previous post in this series: RMIT Year 1, Semester 1, Enamelling #4 …

RMIT seminar: Jewellery Practice as a Site for Enquiry

Next Friday, 6th August, will see an all-day (9am – 4pm) seminar at RMIT: Jewellery Practice as a Site for Enquiry.

Media: “This seminar is designed to be an opportunity to examine how the parameters of contemporary jewellery practice are being tested, developed, challenged and/or contested by those makers researching or practicing in the field. Organisers are interested in reflecting the breadth of models for framing practice and opening the dialogue around recent concerns in relation to sustainability, relational or interactivity and the need to diversify practice in the face of globalisation.”

Speakers include:

• Christina Tatiana Miller and Susie Ganch
, Ethical Metalsmiths (USA)
• Susan Cohn (AUS)
 Jeweller, Curator of Unexpected Pleasures, Design Museum of London, 2010
• Dr Kevin Murray (AUS)
• Ilse-Marie Erl (NZ)
• Roseanne Bartley (AUS)
• Simon Cottrell (AUS)
• Caz Guiney (AUS)
• Renee Ugazio (AUS)
• Plenary session led by Dr Damien Skinner (NZ)

Register by following this link.