Kim Victoria Wearne ‘Orogeny’ @ Pieces of Eight

Kim Victoria Wearne continues her love affair with opals, and carving textures, in ‘Orogeny‘ at Pieces of Eight.

photograph with gallery permission

Exhibition media: “Orogeny – the geological term for the structural deformation of the earth resulting in mountains – is a collection inspired by the wondrous natural environments Kim has experienced over her past year of travel. From the arid plains of Coober Pedy to the mountain peaks of Patagonia, imaginary fantastical landscapes merge to form a collection of roughly hewn, delicately embellished jewellery. Employing her signature carved forms, intricate engravings and opulent gemstone colour palette, ‘Orogeny’ merges the geological wonders observed on this journey with her internal emotional landscapes.”

There is an opal ring in this collection that is truly stunning – however I haven’t yet been able to find an online photograph of it … will keep an eye out.

photograph taken with gallery permission

‘Orogeny‘ is part of Radiant Pavilion and is at Pieces of Eight until 11th October 2015.

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Other posts:

• 04Oct12: Kim Victoria Wearne ‘Volcanic Opulence‘ @ Pieces of Eight
• many blog roundup posts

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Natalia Milosz-Piekarska ‘Immortal Morsels’ @ Pieces of Eight

Natalia continues her exploration of the contemporary representation of ancient amulets in ‘Immortal Morsels‘ at Pieces of Eight.

photograph taken with permission

Exhibition media: “Throughout time and across cultures, folk have made use of an endless repository of enigmatic edibles, administering and worshiping them with the belief that they may house magical and medicinal properties. They have been used to heal, protect and alter our physical and mental states.
Whether flora or fauna, garnered from land or sea, some ingredients take on such divine eminence that the question could be asked, are they food of the gods, or are they gods in themselves? ”

The white paper landscape is evocative and whimsical … almost like a children’s book illustration. I initially wondered whether colour may have been more vibrant; though of course that would surely have overwhelmed the smaller delicate jewellery pieces.

photograph taken with gallery permission

The vitrine shows the smaller jewellery, and the window housed the large-scale and very colourful neckpieces.

Natalia has also decorated the high front windows – they look like marine flora!

photograph taken with gallery permission

Also see the Pieces of Eight blog with photographs of the opening night.
And read an interview with Natalia on Craft blog.
Make sure you visit Natalia’s website and tumblr.

Natalia Milosz-Piekarska ‘Immortal Morsels‘ is at Pieces of Eight until 21st June 2014.

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17th September 2010: Karla Way and Natalia Milosz-Piekarska ‘Bad Beasts Do Not Harm Me‘ @ Craft Victoria

Mentions in other posts

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Belinda Esperson ‘Raw Detail’ @ Pieces of Eight

It was a strange coincidence to visit this beautiful exhibition on the day after the beginnings of the worst bushfires in NSW for a decade or so… the colourings of Belinda Esperson’s ‘Raw Detail’ ghostly display immediately connected in my mind to the devastation after a bushfire – the white ash, the blackened edges…

That’s in no way meant to take away from the beautiful work – it’s just the way my mind was working today.

photograph taken with gallery permission

Gum nuts are my favourite Australian flora, and are used to exceptional effect here. Sometimes the pieces were so camouflaged and hidden that the only way to find them in the vitrine was to use the identifying item-number near the ledge as a location pointer. I liked this aspect; I became a little more engaged with them, and the viewing became more like a kind of bush treasure-hunting.

Even prior to reading the exhibition media description, the inspiration and importance of the bush to Belinda’s practice was clear.

Exhibition media: “Raw Detail shows Belinda Esperson’s work in the context of its inspiration – the stark beauty of the dry Australian bush. Her jewellery captures the essence of the bush: the detail, fragments, tones, forms and textures and a sense of weathering integral to this environment, without replicating specific objects.”

“This exhibition has been inspired by two recent experiences: a camping trip to the outback of the dry tropics of Cape York Peninsula and the photographic exhibition Aftermath by John Gollings at the McClelland Gallery near Melbourne, depicting graphic aerial images of the devastated landscape left by the Black Saturday fires of 2009.”

I hadn’t read the above before writing my introduction text to this post; I now understand why the connection was so immediate for me, and in a way it’s a relief that my interpretation wasn’t out of line.

exhibition media; click on image for original source

Lately I’ve found myself tending towards delicate jewellery, those with a light touch … and so I was most attracted to the little forged and wrapped rings.

The neckpieces are quite lovely and displayed with impact in the windows of the gallery (unfortunately I found it difficult to get a good photograph due to reflections and such).

See the Pieces of Eight site and blog for more images of the work.
The exhibition also been written about by HandMadeLife.

‘Raw Detail‘ is at Pieces of Eight until 9th November 2013.

Tessa Blazey ‘Romancing the Stone’ @ Pieces of Eight

Oh please, you must must MUST visit this exhibition! Tessa Blazey’s ‘Romancing the Stone‘ at Pieces of Eight is beyond beautiful.

photograph taken with gallery permission

The exhibition design is completely gorgeous. A number of tableau with pyramidal and octahedron forms, minerals and little people exploring their landscapes – blue, white, black, dark silver, gold, bronze, pale green.

photograph taken with gallery permission

Exhibition media: “In this exhibition Blazey explores the geometric structures and landscapes of crystal and mineral specimens through mimicry and transformation. Utilizing raw curiously cut and mounted stones she frames each piece to mimic the stone that inspired it. To individualise each piece within the context of its miniature wonderland, Blazey has personified each piece by naming them after an iconic heroine.”

photograph taken with gallery permission

For more images, see the Pieces of Eight blog.

There were many triangles in this exhibition, which I (unexpectedly) loved and wanted to take home. The rings especially were delightful, with their file marked metal surfaces contrasting to the sheer planes of the cut stones (though the uncut stones were in fact my favourite!).

photograph taken with gallery permission

For more Tessa, see her website and also my review of her previous exhibition.

There’s not a whole lot more I can say about this show – I loved it!

photograph taken with gallery permission

Tessa Blazey ‘Romancing the Stone‘ is at Pieces of Eight until 17th August 2013.