It's a Sign!

Two Signs

One Stunning Jewellery Studio

LURE

One of My Favourite Dunedin Places

A Treasure Trove of Exquisite Contemporary New Zealand Jewellery.

May 2010. Ajr

Downstairs to Design

In my opinion, a business can make or break itself with its entrance, with the way it launches itself on the public. And when it comes to just that, I'm a big fan of creativity, of businesses who think outside the conventional box and employ smart graphics, photography and whatever else it takes to gain attention in a way that supports their business philosophy and style.

I came upon this rather alluring entranceway in Melbourne - under Zambesi on the corner of Flinders Lane and Hosier Lane - leading to a new basement gallery and some rather gorgeous jewellery displays. You can see some of the fabulous works in their collection by checking their website - www.egetal.com.au

A Name Change

inform contemporary jewellery in High Street, Christchurch has re-branded.

It's now called The National.

A place of dreamy collections of handcrafted jewellery by some of New Zealand's top jewellers.

www.informjewellery.co.nz

On Stamp Collecting

I used to collect stamps as a kid. My grandfather was a passionate philatelist and every year every grandchild received First Day Covers. I wonder now what has become of my stamp collection. It’s possibly stored away in one of my cupboards with all my school books (and my father’s school books and my own children’s school books). (It’s safe to assume I am a hoarder).

All this was brought to mind last week when I saw these terrific new brooches by Auckland-based jeweller, Pauline Bern, which are part of a collection (called Collect) that includes thirteen brooches made from old postage stamps that are now showing at inform contemporary jewellery in Christchurch. Last year Pauline undertook the job of clearing her childhood family home and in the process, she discovered a large carton containing used postage stamps that had been collected by her mother and grandmother over five decades. They meticulously soaked them in water overnight, slipped them off their envelope remnants, dried them on trays, sorted them, labelled them and counted them. Most were passed onto charities for fundraising but it was perhaps fortuitous for Pauline that this one carton remained.

“That is the serendipitous story behind Collect, thirteen brooches that include fragments from the native flora stamp series, stamps that have travelled some distance within New Zealand, some time in the 1960s, arriving at an address in either Howick or Devonport,” she says in her artist statement. Collect follows on from Pauline’s earlier exhibitions, Gather, Sort, Scatter 2007 and Glean, shown at Fingers, Auckland earlier this year. All conceptually address the idea of “reconsidering and reconfiguring materials that have a former usage and meaning and shifting them into the jewellery genre.” In their new life, they gather new stories as they go out into the world adorning their new owners and ‘meeting new friends.’ Pauline is a senior tutor at Unitec NZ in Auckland and this is her first exhibition at inform. All images have been supplied by inform contemporary jewellery. www.informjewellery.co.nz

Twin Arts

I'm featuring these two terrific photographs - supplied by inform contemporary jewellery, Christchurch - not just because they feature Sharon Fitness's fun, funky silicon jewellery that's currently showing at the gallery; but also for the photographs in their own right - quirky, fun, imaginative images taken by Sharon herself, that perfectly convey the spirit of her jewellery pieces. These two glow-in-the-dark brooches, photographed amid frosted winter grass, are in stark contrast to the summery pieces I featured here last week - images (also by Sharon) that turn the brooches into 'wild flowers' poking out between blades of grass. Sharon's exhibition at form - Jiggle, Wiggle, Wobble, Bounce - continues until October 3. www.informjewellery.co.nz

Jiggle, Wiggle, Wobble, Bounce

So you thought jewellery was all about gold, silver and gemstones? Well, think again because Sharon Fitness is just one jeweller exploring a plethora of new materials that bring a whole new meaning to contemporary jewellery. I think these three photographs – courtesy of inform jewellery in Christchurch, where Sharon has her latest exhibition – say it all. Colourful, tactile, original and fun.

Sharon, who graduated from Auckland University’s Manukau School of Visual Arts with a Bachelor of Visual Arts majoring in contemporary jewellery in 2007, has already had a number of successful exhibitions in high profile galleries like Masterworks, Objectspace and Fingers Contemporary Jewellery. I’m not surprised. Her work is distinctly different. It’s new, fresh and fun and people are invariably drawn to it – whether it’s in a gallery display case or on someone’s garment. What’s it made of? Can I touch it? What does it feel like? All common questions when you wear a piece of Sharon’s vibrant silicon jewellery. “I create silicon jewels that are fun by design; encouraging the wearer to interact with the object, negotiating how it is worn and how it appears to the outside world. This in turn encourages play and interaction between wearer and observer. These floppy, changeable objects offer new possibilities for adorning and viewing jewellery, creating temporal art experiences for random audiences,” says Sharon. They’re definitely conversation starters and for Sharon, the pieces have a life of their own. “My practice revolves around play, fun and random happenings. I work with silicon because it offers the flexibility, changeability and tactility I need to produce playful wobbly wearable beings. I like that they have a life of their own, that they prompt the wearer to jiggle wiggle wobble and bounce along with them.” www.informjewellery.co.nz

Vintage Pendant for Anniversary Collection

Image Courtesy Jens Hansen Contemporary Gold & Silversmith To celebrate the anniversary of the late Jens Hansen’s birthday this month, the team at Nelson-based Jens Hansen Contemporary Gold & Silversmith are adding a vintage Four Square pendant to the Jens Hansen 40th Anniversary Collection. Jens Hansen set up his jewellery studio in Nelson in 1968 and word of his unique style soon spread. Gregarious and outspoken, he created edgy, experimental work that brought him worldwide recognition. His classically-designed jewellery is celebrated in the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa’s permanent collection; and in literature showcasing New Zealand art and design. Jen’s legacy includes his reputation as one of the founders of New Zealand contemporary jewellery design; and his celebrity as the designer of the Lord of the Rings One Ring. He received a Queen Elizabethh II Arts Council grant to work at the Goldsmiths High School in Copenhagen in 1975; he was a founding member of Details – the jewellers and Bone & Stone Carvers of New Zealand; and he helped establish Nelson Polytechnic jewellery classes. Jens sadly passed away in 1999 but his two sons are keeping the legacy alive. Thorkild Hansen was an apprentice jewellery designer in his teens and is now chief jeweller at the company’s Selwyn Place workshop; and Halfdan Hansen is business manager. Halfdan says the newly released Four Square pendant represents the very distinctive style Jens loved in the 1960s and 1970s. “Jens’ architectural influences were sometimes displayed through his asymmetrical shapes and geometric designs,” he says. “This silver pendant is quite a statement and surprisingly delicate for its size. When it was made in the early 1970s, it took the public by surprise as it was so different to the conservative jewellery available here at the time.” Today the Four Square pendant retails for NZ$999 and you can see the entire 40th Anniversary Collection at the Jens Hansen workshop in Nelson, or by visiting www.jenshansen.com It’s worth it – the rings in particular are stunning!

Silver and Gold

Stirling silver, gold, stone. Image supplied

Jewellery

By German-born Christchurch jeweller

Elfi Spiewack

of

The Filing Kabinett

To see more of Elfi's work, or to peek inside her studio, click on Elfi Spiewack in the label line below this post

Small Moments of Beauty

Bear Claw Earrings

By Auckland Jeweller

Jane Dodd

Click on Jane Dodd in the label line below to see other examples of her work

Crossing the Tasman

Six Australian Jewellers from Pieces of Eight, Melbourne. Images Supplied by Inform

Since my entire blog has virtually been Melbourne-based for the last two weeks, it seems only fitting to continue the theme (now that I’m home again), with this stunning show of Australian jewellery, which comes courtesy of Pieces of Eight Gallery – one of Melbourne’s newest galleries and artist workshops located in super-cool Brunswick Street, in Fitzroy. These six jewellers – showing in New Zealand for the first time - bring a diverse collection of gorgeousness to Christchurch’s inform contemporary jewellery in High Street. The exhibition opens on November 25th. If you can’t make the show you can read about the artists’ inspirations and see more of their work on the Pieces of Eight website. And if you're a jewellery fan, click on jewellery in the label line below to see several New Zealand jewellers and their work that I've written about recently. Works shown above are by: Top: Lucy Folk Second From Top: Rachel Gorman. Box of Four: Top Left: Melanie Katsalidis Top Right: Suzi Zutic Bottom Left: Nina Ellis Bottom Right: Krista McRae. www.informjewellery.co.nz www.piecesofeight.com.au

An Experiment in Interpretation

I’ve always loved the notion of taking a group of creative people from a range of artistic fields and giving them a single project – and then sitting back and enjoying the diversity, the similarities and the infinite creative possibilities that result. So I was delighted to read about “LIKE: An Experiment in Interpretation,” which opens at the Hawke’s Bay Museum & Art Gallery in Napier tomorrow night. It’s the brainchild of Nelson-based artist and curator, Stella Chrysostomou, who started the experiment with the selection of a simple, geometric object that was ambiguous in shape and function. The object was then described in written form by leading New Zealand poet, Bill Manhire and his description was sent to nine national and international jewellers, who were asked to interpret and ‘decipher’ the object based on Manhire’s text. Wonderful stuff and, as you can see from the three pieces here, the exhibition presents an intriguing display of creative thought and object making. The original object is also on display in a show that runs through to March 22, 2009. You can see all the work, the artists’ responses to the project plus the original object and Bill Manhire’s text at http://www.icebox.org.nz/ Works displayed here are by: top: Gavin Hitchings (silver); Centre: Fran Allison (silver); Bottom: Caroline Gore (oxidised silver and steel cable). Photographs are by Stella Chrysostomou.

www.hbmag.co.nz

Precious Metals

Prototypes by Tatyana Panyoczki

Today is the last day of Tatyana Panyoczki's gorgeous exhibition Prototypes at Christchurch's inform contemporary jewellery. You can see others I've posted here by clicking on Tatyana Panyoczki in the label line below. www.informjewellery.co.nz

Precious Prototypes

Prototypes. Tatjana Panyoczki. Photo supplied.

Northland-based jeweller Tatjana Panyoczki grew up in Switzerland but luckily for us she came to New Zealand bringing her talent with her. Trained as a wig designer and make-up artist for theatre and film, Tatjana now produces exquisite minimal jewellery and her latest show, Prototypes, is on show at inform contemporary jewellery in Christchurch for just a few more days. Key elements of Tatyana's work are the repetition of simple forms found in everyday life and the observation of the way things meet and join. How they relate to each other is an important source of her inspiration. The works in Prototype are the result of a 7-month design process.

Going For Gold

Prototypes. Tatjana Panyoczki. Photos supplied.

And here is Tatyana's silver and gold necklace exploring the same inspirations.

Both pieces are made from stirling silver and 18ct yellow gold

Small Moments of Beauty

One Pair

Bear Earrings

By Jane Dodd

Auckland

St.Silver, Mother of Pearl, Peal.

Bears and Dogs

Top: Bear Brooch - Sterling silver, mother of pearl

Bottom: Dog Brooch - Sterling silver, mother of pearl, pink sapphire.

Photos supplied by informa contemporary jewellery.

If you live in Christchurch

Get to inform contemporary jewellery

Before September 6th

To see gorgeous works

by Auckland jeweller, Jane Dodd

Donkey, Donkey, Beautiful Donkey!

Donkey Necklace, Jane Dodd. Photo supplied. I just can’t help myself, I HAVE to have another rave about the exquisite works of Auckland jeweller, Jane Dodd, who is currently exhibiting “A Wild Woods Winter” at Christchurch’s inform contemporary jewellery until September 6th. I adore this piece – Donkey Necklace – made in 18ct gold, mother of pearl and pearl - even more than my other favourite Eagle, which I featured here a week or so ago.

Elevating the Ordinary

Jewellery by Elfi Spiewack, Christchurch. Photos supplied.

German-born Christchurch-based jeweller Elfi Spiewack likes to develop new ways of seeing, wearing and maybe even defining jewellery. Working within the fascinating confines of her inner city studio, The Filing Kabinett, she enjoys the interplay of different values and scales - a diamond set in a pebble for instance. She has also mastered the art of combining unexpected materials and of giving an old idea a fresh contemporary take. These two pearl necklaces for instance, completely blow apart my theory that the traditional string of pearls is old-fashioned and passé.

Covetting Jewels

"Eagle" Jane Dodd. Photo courtesy Jane Dodd.

This time last week I made a note about an exhibition by Auckland jeweller, Jane Dodd at Christchurch’s inform contemporary jewellery; if you put “A Wild Woods Winter” into the blog search box above left you’ll be able to read it. This is another of Jane’s works – Eagle – and my favourite. It’s not part of her current show but it is thematically aligned. I love the notion of some mystical winged-thing flying about our skies with sparkly jewels in its claws.

A Wild Woods Winter

Top: "Bittern" Bottom: "Human". Images supplied by Inform Contemporary Jewellery.

When it comes to beautiful, interesting pieces of jewellery – especially anything sparkly – I’m the proverbial magpie. If it glitters I’m there! So this new exhibition – A Wild Woods Winter by Auckland-based jeweller, Jane Dodd, at Christchurch’s Inform Contemporary Jewellery - is a ‘Must Visit.’ I particularly like her bird-like forms with semi-precious stones suspended from their ‘beaks’ or ‘claws.’ Jane’s inspiration was the old Gothic form of candelabra called Leuchterweibchen – and if you can pronounce that you deserve a semi-precious stone. These carved sculptural figures (usually maidens or dragons) were attached to antlers and horns, studded with candles and suspended to light the grand halls of the old days. Jane has taken that idea and carved her own antler or horn shapes from fine wood or shell. Animal parts have been carved in wax, cast in gold or silver and attached to the antlers, sometimes with precious and semi-precious stones. The whole effect is magical – ‘very folk-lore/fairy tale;’ Medieval almost. I love it.