‘Art of the Cuff’ @ Lord Coconut

What is it about me and exhibition visiting lately?! I cannot seem to manage to get to all the shows I want to see … and those I do manage I’m there on the last days. Sigh … I really will have to try better.

Anyhoo, I did make it to Lord Coconut today and ‘Art of the Cuff‘ is a visual extravaganza!

photograph with permission

You can see mine way up there in the top corner.

Many of the cuffs have been used as canvasses for painting, drawing, intervention with other materials; some also have coordinating cufflinks … see Lord Coconut’s page for detailed images of each piece and also the Facebook album.

photograph with permission

Unfortunately it was a bit of a rush visit and I didn’t have the chance (nor sadly the artistic fortitude on this particular day!) to inspect each piece. There’s so much to see, and because of that I’m glad for the excellent photographs taken by Lord Coconut – allowing more thought and consideration at a later time.

photograph with permission

Also check out last year’s exhibition page and Facebook album too.

‘Art of the Cuff‘ is at Lord Coconut as part of Melbourne Fringe 2013 until 5th October 2013 (extended to) 16th October 2013.

My piece for ‘Art of the Cuff’

As I did last year, I am once again participating in Lord Coconut‘s ‘Art of the Cuff‘ exhibition.

I like the premise and last year some amazing works were created by a diverse range of artists and makers – I can’t wait to see what is submitted this year.

Cuff; image not to be reproduced without permission

My work for the exhibition is titled ‘may the protection of the ancestors be yours‘.

The text is taken from my favourite poem ‘Beannact (for Josie)‘; which was also an inspiration for work in my RMIT years. One of the verses is:
“May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
may clarity of light be yours,
may the fluency of the ocean be yours,
may the protection of the ancestors be yours.”

Cuff; image not to be reproduced without permission

The black dots represent the text in braille. And again yes, it is on woven paper and silver, which just makes sense to me to combine with textiles (for that was the original inspiration for the weaving).

The reference to braille was brought about by the proximity of the cuff to the hand … this has been in my ‘ideas archive’ for quite some time, so I am happy it has finally made it to physical form.

I decided to bind the cuff together instead of making a cufflink … by way of binding the protection and making a wrist amulet of sorts.

[After making this I went back through the photographs from last year’s exhibition and saw that another artist also made the connection of cuff to braille; I wasn’t consciously aware of that object when I was making mine, but the convergence of ideas always fascinates me.]

And I love how the silver scatters the morning light…

Cuff; image not to be reproduced without permission

‘Art of the Cuff‘ will be at Lord Coconut from 18th September to 6th October 2013.

‘Art of the Cuff’ opens this week

A group exhibition ‘Art of the Cuff‘ opens Friday night at Lord Coconut.

I have a small piece in the group; along with many many other makers / artists.

in construction; image not to be reproduced without permission

Judging by the exhibition media (here), there looks to be some absolutely amazing contributions!

exhibition media; click on image for original source

‘Art of the Cuff‘ is at Lord Coconut now until 14th October 2012.

Later this month

In just over a week, an exhibition ‘Art of the Cuff‘ will open at Lord Coconut.

Exhibition media: “The select group of Melbourne-based contemporary artists, jewellers & designers involved in the exhibition were each given a French Cuff to customise. The collected cuffs will reflect the contemporary jewellery in-store at Lord Coconut and how it links to their own artistic practice.”

I thought the idea was fabulous, one that I could have fun with. And so I did. I approached this concept with more play and less seriousness than I think I’ve done in a long long time (and that’s a good thing).

‘Show-off’ cufflink and custom cuff; image not to be reproduced without permission

I’m looking forward to seeing in alongside the cuffs interpreted and customised by other artists (hopefully I’ll make it to the gallery to see it!).