Tuesday 30 August 2011

Fruit Loop Bagues

Peaches and Keen's upcoming exhibition has reminded me that I was going to post about Fruit Loop Bagues...



Fruit Loop Bagues was an exhibition of rings at First Site Gallery in 2008 with Nina Oikawa, Lucy Hearn and Nicole Polentas. Together, our colourful work created "a rainbow of rings to brighten up the world...a treasure trove of tasty delights!"

The work was displayed on brightly coloured mini-plinths suspended from the ceiling at varying heights. The air conditioning in the gallery space made them sway slightly in the breeze, adding to the effect of lightness and colour. The overall result was that the installation as a whole became something on its own, more than just a place for displaying the work. A gallery filled with colour!

Mel Miller, "Remember When..." (object with removable ring)
Nina Oikawa, "Placious Rings #1: Bird"
Lucy Hearn, "White Ring, Pink"
Nicole Polentas, "The Place I Lost My Head" (ring with stand)
Fruit Loop Bagues Catalogue, designed by Lily Daley

Monday 29 August 2011

Peaches and Keen



Lucy Hearn and Lily Daley are holding an exhibition of new works from their new project Peaches and Keen. The show opens at 4 Cremorne Street, Richmond at 6pm Friday 2 September and runs through the weekend only, so be sure to get in quick!

Friday 26 August 2011

A Jewellery Adventure


New Zealand jeweller Jacqui Chan is holding a unique performance/exhibition in Christchurch entitled Host a Brooch that will be launched tonight. The project is hosted by Christchurch contemporary jewellery gallery The National , which lost its gallery space in the devastating February earthquakes, and is now holding pop-up exhibitions throughout the city.



Jacqui has created a series of brooches made from found detritus of Christchurch and invites the public to "host a brooch on an urban adventure," in a system operating like a bike-sharing system. Jacqui says, "Just as a bicycle transforms our experience of a city - producing new sensory experiences, routes and encounters - jewellery also alters how we encounter a city."

Host a Brooch will take place over the next six weekends in Christchurch. You can read more about the project on InDesign Live

Jacqui Chan also has work in the current exhibition Close to Hand at RMIT School of Art Gallery in Melbourne.

images from the Host a Brooch blog

500 Felt Objects


Look what came in the mail! A copy of 500 Felt Objects, featuring my work Object Reminiscent of Things Past, No. 5, an object with a removable wearable brooch exploring the layers of memory, in sterling silver, enameled copper and felted wool. 500 Felt Objects will be on sale everywhere from 6 September.



photo by Jeremy Dillon

Thursday 25 August 2011

Close to Hand


The exhibition Close to Hand, featuring work by RMIT postgraduate students in Gold and Silversmithing and Ceramics, is on now at the RMIT School of Art Gallery.There are whimsical ceramic figures by Robyn Hosking (pictured above) resembling a political cartoon, delicate enameled brooches by Artist in Residence Naoko Inuzuka, a video/brooch installation by Nicole Polentas and more. On until 1 September. 


Wednesday 24 August 2011

Output to Paths


Precision meets lyricism in Output to Paths, an exhibition of new works by Simon Cottrell which opened at Gallery Funaki last night. Through unique and complex construction methods Simon creates bold, intricate forms that seem to have many stories to tell. The exhibition runs until 17 September.

Tuesday 23 August 2011

Hybridity

Today I went to the second annual Practice as a Site for Enquiry seminar held by RMIT's Gold and Silversmithing and Ceramics departments, which will merge next year. 




This year's topic was Hybridity. A thought-provoking talk by visiting French contemporary jeweller and artist Benjamin Lignel posed questions about the importance of authorship and the outsourcing of production, and original works as opposed to repetition: does uniqueness equate with authenticity? 

Dutch ceramicist Anton Reijnders spoke lyrically about knowing and not knowing, creating a dialogue with works in progress, and the "logic of wonderment," while contemporary Dutch jeweller Manon van Kouswijk presented her jewellery, ceramic and object-based work dealing with the souvenir, tableware, maps and the beaded necklace. Manifesting in diverse ways as a collection of plastic butterflies hand cut from tableware or the intersection of a teacup and a pearl necklace in "Pearl Grey", Manon's disciplined approach is clear throughout her work.

New Zealand Art Historian Damien Skinner stirred the pot presenting some contentious questions about the direction of craft practices. Is there a "third wave" of hybrid popular and community (DIY) craft focusing on the creation of social relations that is replacing traditional skills-based craft created by artist-craftspeople? How do we define ourselves as craftspeople, within our field and the broader fields of art and design? Lively group discussions and a panel session addressed the positions and directions of contemporary craft and notions of hybrid practice.

The seminar was held as part of Craft Victoria's Craft Cubed events throughout August. Benjamin Lignel will be holding a workshop at RMIT next week.

There were two exhibitions opening after the seminar, but those posts will have to wait until tomorrow!

Monday 22 August 2011

Dave Pimentel

I'm teaching a silversmithing class starting on Wednesday, and while putting together some images for the class I came across this post by Lynette Andreasen about my undergraduate metalsmithing professor at Arizona State University, Dave Pimentel. Dave was the head of the metalsmithing department at Arizona State University until he passed away in 2004.


Dave was a talented silversmith who could raise complicated forms (like the one above) from a single disk of metal through just the use of hammers and stakes. He taught me virtually everything I know about silversmithing. His office was lined with shelves stacked full of his work, which Lynette has taken some great photos of. Thanks, Lynette, for keeping a record of Dave's work and the ASU studio and sharing it!

Friday 19 August 2011

A drop of ocean

A new ring... The ocean in a little cup, on your hand

Wednesday 17 August 2011

Little Things

Sometimes I spend all day looking at little things... Usually it's half-made brooch fittings and silver sheet and maybe a few bouncy balls, but sometimes there are other little things to look at, like these tiny snails building a tiny civilisation in the garden.



Tuesday 16 August 2011

A rainbow of rings


A rainbow of rings...

Actually this is just two rings, so far. This was the process of deciding which colours they will be.


These colours remind me of a small group exhibition I had with Lucy Hearn, Nina Oikawa and Nicole Polentas a couple of years ago. It was called Fruit Loop Bagues, and we exhibited a rainbow of rings...

A post about Fruit Loop Bagues will be coming soon.



And here is what they look like in the dark.


Friday 12 August 2011

Frosting


One of my Urban Landscapes neckpieces is featured in the latest issue of Frosting Magazine, on sale today.


Check your local newsagent... 

The frosting is the best bit!

Sunday 7 August 2011

Urban Landscapes


A new urban landscape neckpiece, in sterling silver, bouncy balls and Peruvian opal.

Saturday 6 August 2011

BUDA Contemporary Silver at the Arts Centre


Selected works from the BUDA Contemporary Australian Silver Exhibition will be on display at the Arts Centre, Melbourne from 10 August - 17 September. The exhibition will be held in the Smorgon Family Plaza, near the Box Office.

Friday 5 August 2011

On the bench today


Lots of projects on the bench today... I've been working on two landscape brooches and a chain.


My handy drill bit organising system: kept in line by strips of Scotch Brite.

Tuesday 2 August 2011

A Thousand Facets


  

My work was featured today on A Thousand Facets' blog. (Click the 'Next Post' link on her blog to see more images of my work.) 
So many gorgeous pieces on her blog

Here are a couple more of the animals with removable, wearable rings from the Remember When... series.



photos by Jeremy Dillon