A very brief visit to Bendigo was in order to see the Buda Contemporary Australian Silver & Metalwork Award at the Post Office Gallery (an arm of the Bendigo Art Gallery) – I’m given to understand that this is the first time the award exhibition has been held outside the home in Castlemaine.
photograph taken with gallery permission on condition of no flash
My favourite pieces were:
- Rei Minohara-Starke [site], Stream of Sunshine – drinkware, 2011; the satin finish and high-polish edges are gorgeous (right foreground in the image above)
- Tracy Pateman, (Travelling tea kit) Teapot #5, 2013 (centre foreground in the image above)
- Robin Bold, The Aunt, 2013 – as always, I love Robin’s work (far back right in image below)
- Sean Booth [site], Milk or Sugar?, 2011
photograph taken with gallery permission on condition of no flash
There was also a lot to like about:
- Kate Jungwirth [site], Flower Pins, 2013
- Angela Bakker, Finding Balance, 2012
- Jessamy Pollock [page], Fold Brooch, 2012
photograph taken with gallery permission on condition of no flash
Media: “This award is a unique biennial exhibition which aims to encourage, foster and promote excellence and innovation in Australian metalwork as well as cultivate an understanding and appreciation of silversmithing to a wider audience.”
I will spend some time reading up on the rules of selection; however I do admit to being surprised by the significant number of jewellery items compared to silversmithing pieces (ie. personal ornament vs object). Also a little surprised there were a number of pieces made of mostly non-metal materials.
I hope the next award will see more smithing pieces … perhaps it’s time I put my thoughts into action and get smithing and make some objects myself!!
photograph taken with gallery permission on condition of no flash
Award winners were most worthy indeed! (in my humble opinion):
- The Leviny Commemorative Award: Joung Mee Do, Reflection, 2013
- Arts Centre Melbourne Silver Award (Acquisitive): Karl Millard, The Ashlar Shuffle, 2013
- The Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Societies of Melbourne, Yarra & Central Victoria Emerging Artist Award: Tracy Pateman, (Travelling tea kit) Teapot #5, 2013
- e.g.etal Design & Development Award: Jo Hawley, Untitled, 2012
- P.J.Williams & Associates Award: Rei Minohara-Starke, Stream of Sunshine – drinkware, 2011
- The Gold and Silversmiths’ Guild of Australia Award: Jessamy Pollock, Fold Brooch, 2012
See the Bendigo Art Gallery page for gorgeous images of these awarded pieces.
photograph taken with gallery permission on condition of no flash
Finalists were (in alphabetical order):
- Helen Aitken-Kuhnen, Justine Austen
- Angela Bakker, Sylvia Ballerini, Carolyn Barker, Emily Becher, Vito Bila, Safira Blom, Rose Boddam-Whetham, Robin Bold, Sean Booth, Olivia Boyle, Ximena Briceno
- Melissa Cragg
- Julia deVille, Joung Mee Do
- Mark Edgoose
- Marcus Foley, Robert Foster
- Allona Goren, Wayne Guest
- Jo Hawley, Jill Hermans, Annelies Hofmeyr
- Sarah Johnston, Kate Jungwirth, Soo Been Kim, Saori Kita, Wendy Korol
- Carmen Lam, Bethamy Linton, Danielle Lott
- Trephina Mackay, Caroline McQueen, Lindy McSwan, Karl Millard, Rei Minohara-Starke, Christopher Mullins, Sarah Murphy
- Maria Natoli, Danae Natsis, Asha Nicholas, Larah Nott
- Tracy Pateman, Ellen Pittman, Nicole Polentas, Jessamy Pollock
- Stephen Robb, Jana Roman
- Beatrice Schlabowsky, Vicky Shukuroglou
- Janine Tanzer, Blanche Tilden
- Katherine Wheeler
- Katherine Yaroslavceff
The accompanying publication is only $15, an absolute bargain given the beautiful images in it.
Buda Contemporary Australian Silver & Metalwork Award 2013 is at Post Office Gallery in Bendigo until 28th July 2013.
It will also travel – selected works from this exhibition will be on display from Thursday 8 August – Sunday 1 September in Arts Centre Melbourne’s Smorgon Family Plaza.
[see also my posts on previous Buda exhibitions: 2009 and it seems I must have missed 2011 (sad face; most likely there was too much on!]
Melbourne Jeweller 