NMIT graduates ‘Mettle’ @ Red Gallery

Hoorah for graduate exhibition season!

NMIT graduates are showing ‘Mettle‘ at Red Gallery.
I do like this space.

photograph taken with gallery permission

There is a lot of work here … as in all previous NMIT exhibitions actually …. and that’s a great thing, though I can sometimes feel overwhelmed with so much to look at.

photograph taken with gallery permission

Participating artists are:

• Christine Amery, Bianca Browne, Antonia Field,  Mehrnoosh Ganji, Jessica Gilbert
• Gemma Grace, Nao Hirata, Danielle Horseman, Joanna Hyun, Mel Jeffery,
• Michal Klimek, Rebecca Koster, Nicole Lawrence, Sisi Liu, Lisa Lubbock
• Philip Monk, Melrose Oh, Jan-Maree Oliveira, Shea Pinxt, Jane Reilly
• Pierina Sannia-Carbone, Emily Jayne Schilg, Benjamin Stiekema, Mimu Tabushi
• Marcelle Thomas, Mary Turner, Ann Welton, Callie Whelan, Ash Whitchurch, Robyn Wilson, Yokie Yatagai

It took quite a few turns around the rooms to somehow ‘get to grip’ with the works … perhaps I was a little low on comprehension power today!

Eventually I think I had a good look at all the groups. Again, as expected of NMIT, the quality of construction was mostly excellent; and I noticed more conceptual pieces and more exploration of materials than previously.

photograph taken with gallery permission

Collections I connected with and liked included:

• Jane Reilley’s smithed pieces; she has a very strong group in the first room (image in the ‘read more’ section below) and playful colourful works in the last room too (image above)
• Bianca Browne’s geometric works, exploration of an almost moderist aesthetic; her bracelet is very bold, I like it a lot (image in the ‘read more’ section below)
• Callie Whelan’s enamel collection (image in the ‘read more’ section below)
• Robyn Wilson’s earrings and shape combinations (wall panel in top image); in fact, I could see a pair on Margaret Pomeranz (and I mean that in the very best of ways!)
• Nao Hirata’s shapes and incorporation of plastics (right of second image)

‘Mettle‘ is at Red Gallery until 22nd November 2014.

—

2013 ‘33 Carat‘ @ Red Gallery

2012 ‘Kaleidoscope‘ @ Northcote Town Hall

2011 ‘Auteur‘ @ Northcote Town Hall

2010 ‘Forge‘ @ Northcote Town Hall

2009 ‘Mint‘ @ Northcote Town Hall

—

To save loading times, I’ve popped the individual photographs of the groups I liked below:

NMIT graduates ’33 Carat’ @ Red Gallery

In what may be a first, I’ve managed to actually visit an exhibition in its first few days. I know; it is excellent.

In a break from recent years, the NMIT Jewellery Graduate (Advanced Diploma of Engineering Technology) exhibition, ‘33 Carat‘, is being shown at Red Gallery.

It’s a lovely bright space; I like this better than the previous venue for its light and the partitions/walls make the experience less daunting or visually overwhelming.

photograph with gallery permission

First impressions include:

• more variety of materials
• less high-polish (that’s a good thing in my personal opinion)
• more lyrical pieces
• not as much enamel this year
• … and of course the high quality construction is still a constant of NMIT graduates.
• and most especially gorgeous, a few examples of opals as a gem of choice. Perhaps this has had something to do with last year’s Part B exhibition ‘Oh Opal!‘ and Kim Victoria’s recent collections.

photograph with gallery permission

Participating makers are (alphabetical by surname):

• Sally Balfour, Zoe Beman, Jeremy Bryant
• Samantha Carr, Linda Clark, Tom Corbett
• Adrian Dyson
• Sarah Gibson, Anna Maidment Gray
• Arlia Hassell, Imogen Hobbs, Verity J Hollingworth, Sian E. Horrocks
• Yu Ishito [site]
• Takako Kajiya [site], Michael W Kilner, Jana King
• Willem Asher Payten, Kim Bach Pham [blog]
• Claire Renehan, Meegan Roberts, Marie Rose
• Beth Sayer, Gabrielle Sharp, Carmel Sheehy, Lizzie Slattery
• Dale Williams
• Sally Zurbo

photograph with gallery permission

Collections I most connected with include:

• Jeremy Bryant’s bold opal pieces
• Sarah Gibson’s geometric pieces, some with synthetic opals used to amazing effect
• Sally Zurbo’s earrings using choum iybsa, the shapes are lovely
• Yu Ishito’s whimsical enamel pieces are beautifully displayed
• Adrian Dyson’s amazing objects

Photos of some of these works are below … click on the ‘read more’.

‘33 Carat‘ is at Red Gallery until 23rd November 2013.

—

2012 ‘Kaleidoscope‘ @ Northcote Town Hall

2011 ‘Auteur‘ @ Northcote Town Hall

2010 ‘Forge‘ @ Northcote Town Hall

2009 ‘Mint‘ @ Northcote Town Hall

—

Update (11th November): I thought it may be interesting to republish the comment I wrote on this post today (for the super-lazy, who don’t want to click the ‘comments’ link .. you know, I like being helpful!):

“To add to my post, this year I felt something that I’ve had trouble putting into words; but I’ll try here (comments are more forgiving I think).

I think there was a genuine sense of individuality and personality and personal expression … in that it felt like I could feel something of the maker in the works, that I could sense a little of who they are … not that it’s not been there in previous years, but it seemed very evident to me this year. This is a wonderful thing, walking away feeling like you’ve ‘met’ the makers to a degree … I’m not sure if any of that makes sense … see what I mean about finding it difficult to put into words.”

—

Golden Ink ‘Tapestry of Parts’ @ Edition X

The beautiful ladies behind Golden Ink Collaborative, Katherine Wheeler (see my artist profile) and Abby Seymour, have a new exhibition ‘Tapestry of Parts‘ in the window of Edition X (the previous location of Pieces of Eight, in North Fitzroy).

I popped along to visit on a late afternoon over the weekend … the lighting didn’t make for very clear images unfortunately. But I hope they give an idea of the gorgeousness!

installation image

installation image

installation image

I have loved their beautiful work from way back … see my review of one of their previous exhibition ‘Hidden Facets‘ and my collection pieces (Katherine’s and GoldenInk).

Take a wander past!

Correction & Apology: Edition X

CORRECTION & APOLOGY

I have made a terrible mistake in my previous post …

My understanding about artists committing on the basis of a city location was incorrect, and therefore misleading and disrespectful to the gallery.

My sincere apologies to Edition X and Pieces of Eight, and especially Melanie who has been very supportive of my blog.

I have corrected my original post; and take it as a lesson to ensure I do not misinterpret such important things in the future.

Sincere apologies again.
Make sure you tell all your friends that I was wrong and give them the right story.