The end

We come to an end of a wonderful journey filled with laughter, intrigue, culture and of course jewellery. Have been awe struck by the works and talent of these contemporary jewellers, I have been pushed to broaden myself as a jeweller, and have been given the hope that the possibilities are endless when it comes to the creative mind. I am a dreamer, this journey has been my dream, an other world of experience, fantasy, imagination, absorbing itself into my mind, to be released throughout my life when it is needed, a bottled history of knowledge just waiting to be shared! Can not wait to see where this dream will lead me.....

Some unforgettable highlights:

Pforzheim - Schmuck Museum

Schmuck Museum, was most definitely a surreal experience for me, as I had never walked into a Museum, MUSEUM and seen it all dedicated to jewellery. I felt as if I was seeing something that had previously been forbidden to be displayed in such an historical way. In front of me were years of history within my chosen field that I had never in my wildest dreams thought I would be seeing in person. Mind boggling beautiful in their detail, even more so to conceive the mechanical age they were in when these intricate masterpieces were produced!! The skill levels were PHENOMENAL!!!

Pinakothek Der Moderne

Exhibitions and Events Today:
Pinakothek: Radical; Peter Skubic, Danner Rotunda - Modern Jewellery; curated by Karl Fritsch, 'All about Me'; Wendy Ramshaw and David Watkins. Baby Bling Bling.

'ALL ABOUT ME' WENDY RAMSHAW AND DAVID WATKINS

Was an incredibly packed lecture theatre, was very curious to see this as I only had a vague recognition of the names but could not remember the works associated with them. Wendy and David had a wonderful dynamic as they bounced stories and ideas off one another whilst recollecting there vast careers and history. Must say got a little frustrated with the slides, as there was a time limit for the story per slide, but as any one would, recollecting their past, things got carried away and we either had to flick back a slide as Wendy had not finished talking or stop half way through the story as to not run over time. Needless to say we didn't finish on time... 

Was amazing to see the portfolio's of these two Jewellery and Object makers, and to hear the concepts behind them and how the state of the society and culture of the time played significant roles in these.

My biggest achievement for today would be to realise my weird obsession with the street lamps over here, perhaps an inspiration for the project attached to this trip. I will share some of their loveliness with you all....

Day 3 of Exhibition Hopping

Exhibitions and events today:
Returning to the Jewel is a Return from Exile, Paradise Regained, Five of a Kind, Ladies Boxes, Animal Parade, or Jewellery without People, English Gardens and The Goldsmith Party

PARADISE REGAINED

Artist featured: Tanel Veenre

Absolutely loved this exhibition! :) Another great example of the endless possibilities and choices you have for an exhibition space and how to display your work. 

Paradise Regained was in what appeared to be an old antique shop along a side street, filled with brass objects, old doors and bits and bobs from a unique era. And displayed in the back room on the old double glass and brass doors are all these intriguing shapes/forms and colours of Veenre's work. The over all feel created is one of romanticism, exotic and contemporary. The jewellery invites a visceral response on wanting to touch the works, they look other-worldly, almost animal like, an intrigue of the sensory. It was like being transported to another time walking through the shop, then to be hit by these colourful glimpses of the future, you experienced a journey. 

Tanel Veenre
"Wreath of Victory" 2011.
Fishing Floats, wood, silver, cosmic dust

Tanel Veenre
"Wreath of Victory" 2011.
Fishing Floats, wood, silver, cosmic dust

Tanel Veenre
"Radiance" 2011
Fishing Floats Pearls, Silver and cosmic dust

Tanel Veenre
"Radiance" 2011
Fishing Floats Pearls, Silver and cosmic dust

Fun Fact

WARM UP DANCE

Karin showing us her "how to get warm dance" whilst waiting for Laura Deakin. Needless to say we all had the giggles (Soari), was a good spirited day!! :) 

Day Two of Exhibition Hopping

Exhibitions, Galleries and Studio's Visited today:
Helen Britton : Catalogue Book Launch, Wittenbrink Galerie, Laura Deakin's Studio, Henrietta Schuster Galerie, Bettina Speckner, Italian Jewellers Exhibition.


Highlight of the day for me:

LAURA DEAKIN'S STUDIO

We all have our own ideas and ideals when it comes to the studio we envision as young jewellery students that we could one day have. Though there is no conceived "could" it is all I "will" have a studio space like this! Ignored is the person that tells us we are fools in our daring to "dream" as I have the perfect example of how dreamers can succeed! Laura Deakin's Studio! 

It was an amazing experience to witness how a fellow Aussie girl has fared overseas in our chosen field of expertise! A boost to all us little dreamers that it can happen, and a well appreciated voice of experience, that perseverance is key, and an honest opinion that it will take sacrifice in most aspects of life to get there. I don't know how exactly Laura feels right now with her work and studio life but I certainly left there with a sense of satisfaction!   

Though admittedly going in there I was not too familiar with her work, Laura was more than happy to show us her works and candid in her answering of our tiring questions I'm sure, I can not stress enough how beneficial it was to me and I'm sure my classmates to experience such a studio space and a jeweller more than happy to answer any question we threw! Laura's work was amazing, it was exceptional to be holding the pieces themselves and see the concept behind them come into life in your hand as she explained everything behind them, from the concept, to the material choice, what worked, what didn't and how it was solved, to the honest opinion if satisfaction was acquired from the pieces or if a continued exploration is required! As we all understand the need to satisfy ourselves from an idea and concept and the limitless amount of works we are ever willing to make to acquire such satisfaction!

A small mention as I previously said I am a Dreamer, the music and tea served was the epitome of what makes me happy whilst I am making works in my "studio" (room) at home, it gave me a sense that I am really on my way to where my Dreams wish to take me.. student for now, but after visiting Laura Deakin and her studio, the future holds endless possibilities!! 

Laura Deakin
"Conuropsis Carolinensis" 1918
Brooch 2010
Polyester resin, steal thread and pigment

Laura Deakin
" Coua Delande" 1834
Brooch 2010
Polyester resin, Thread steal, Pigment

Laura Deakin
"Confused Necklace - Pearl Necklace"
Brooch 2008.
Pearl necklace, polyester resin and pigment

First Full Day of Exhibition Hopping

Exhibitions Visited:
Life's a Bench II, Finger and Hand Costume, LOOK, Ishakawa, Moljojoki and Steina, Micheko Gallery, Ruudt Peters -Anima and Under the Clouds.

LIFE'S A BENCH II

Artists Exhibited:

Tasmin Leighton - Boyce, Katharina Moch, Mikaela Lyons, Katherine Richmond, Elena Ruebel, Chuchart Sarunnayawatsin, Shadi Vossough and Nicola Turnbull 

"Magnetic Brooch"
Plastic (partly glow in the dark), CZ, Magnet.
KATHARINA MOCH

This was an interesting first real look at an exhibition that was part of Schmuck 2011. Most Jewellery Galeries and exhibitions we had been to thus far including in the Netherlands had still had a traditional sense to the way the works were presented and displayed (except for Rebels of Love). Life's a Bench II   gave me a whole other insight into the freedom and creativity an artist/s can have when setting up an exhibition space.

This exhibit utilizes the very object we as jewellers take for granted and often over look within our studios, that being the traditional work bench, without the fancy tools and equipment surrounding it of course.. The pieces were displayed inside drawers in the middle of the room, all layered over one another so that all drawers and the pieces they held could at least be seen from one angle or another. It wasn't until you panned out that you realized the items that were supporting these drawers were the 4 benches from which they came! Jewellers benches!! Has inspired me to think "outside the box" so to speak when it comes to deciding how to display my own works!

"Life's a Bench II" Exhibition Space

LOOK

Curated by Ruudt Peters

Artists Exhibited:

Tobias Alm, Sara Borgegard, Beatrice Brovia, Nicolas Cheng, Noemie Doge, Diana Dudek, Romina Fuentes, Carolina Gimeno, Adam Grinovich, Hanna Hedman, Hannah Joris, Ara Kou, Edgar Mosa, Malaika Najem, Seth Papac, Annika Pettersson, Estela Saez, Dana Seachugu and Nelli Tanner.

LOOK was another exhibition that pushed the boundaries of how to display an exhibition space. Everything in the room was drowned in darkness with blue/black lights the only form light for the exhibition. At first I was quite excited by this as it was a completely new experience physically and visually, like an other worldly feel. But as I tried to make my way round the table, the flashes from peoples cameras offered small distorted glimpses of the actual works, but played havoc on your eyes, two of our group had to leave as they were getting dizzy and headaches from the light. I chose to take the photos as I had interpreted they were wished to be seen?! Drowned in this light. 

However now going back and trying to identify whose work is whose and what they were made from, I realized I had set an impossible task (hence no blurb for the images above), whether it was my own doing or simply by the way the exhibition was displayed, I have yet to conclude.

Perhaps this was the intention? To ask the viewers what is it that you focus on most when walking into these Jewellery exhibits at Schmuck 2011? Is it the works, the environment, the socialising, is it through your own eyes or through the lens of a camera?  

An interesting experience LOOK, the jury is still out however if from a jewellery perspective, a beneficial one?? 

Fun Fact

Jami and Dale Chihuly Portrait 

Schmuck

Our first day of Schmuck! Went to the International Handwerksmesse where we saw Schmuck, Talente and Exempla!! Amazing show of today's up and coming designs and works in both the jewellery and object field. Got to see Galerie Ra and Marzee's set ups, which was really nice to revisit those works again... happy memories.

Met Karl Fritsch which was an experience (especially for Victoria). I found Dale Chihuly's "365 Days" book and i just had to buy (even though it weighed a tonne).


Saw some amazing works from Platina; Artists such as Hanna Hedman and Agnes Larsson. 

Hanna Hedman

Hanna Hedman
Loved the forms and shapes created by the many layers and light playing on the wire like structures! Very naturalistic in the appearance: like a dense bush or flowering plant. Scale of the works also helped emphasis the many layers of metalwork. Really enjoyed these pieces.

After Schmuck the days itinerary included: Peter Bauhuis: The Gallium Treasure of Obertraun, Czech Jewellery in Europe and Rebels of Love. 

Stand out for me was the Rebels of Love exhibition. The space was so uniquely set up. In one of the rooms there was a half pipe which the works were displayed on. Very cool! Noticed too that they were the first Gallery to allow photography!! Something that you are not used to coming from Australia, and that's in regards to all Museums and Galleries, not just those for jewellery. My camera battery ironically was dying but i still managed to get some shots of the works that spoke to me the most. 

The exhibiting artists included: Alexander blank, Stefan Heuser, Christian Hoedl and Jiro Kamata.

Stand out works for me were those by Alexander Blank , which consisted of large animal heads as rings. Amazing concept, simple in its obvious depiction of a specific animal, but pushing the boundaries of scale and subject for making jewellery. LOVE IT!! The series was called "Friends- Longing for Darkness". 

Alexander Blank
"Friends - Longing for Darkness"

Alexander Blank
"Friends - Longing for Darkness"

Alexander Blank
"Friends - Longing for Darkness"

MUNICH

Was extremely excited to be going to Munich, and seeing Schmuck. :) When we arrived it was a beautiful sunny day, the hostel was amazing and we had our own BATHROOM!!!! OMG. So excited.

Our first full day in Munich was a day off.. yay so Hannah and I embarked on some sight seeing around the neighbourhood. The highlight of the day was the MAX KRUG Cuckoo Clock Shop. :)

Fun Fact

On our Day Off in Amsterdam I ordered what I thought was a small pancake with strawberries, cream and chocolate sauce..... does this look small to you????
But was sooooo satisfying :)

Highlight of Arnhem Trip to MMKA

The True Colours: New Traditional Jewellery exhibition played host to one of my most favorite Jewellery pieces of our entire trip.
Though the line up included Carolina Gimeno, Ingeborg Vandamme, Fabrizio Tridenti, Denise Julia Reyton and Silvia Potente whose works were all incredible in their forms, colour and technique, the stand out piece for me was Annette Duburg's "Necklace Firework".

Annette Duburg (The Netherlands, 1942) Necklace Firework, 2101
Clay, Polymer, Felt and Yarn

 This to me as a colour enthusiast is the very essence of what inspires and drives me in my material choices, process and joy in making jewellery. There is such depth and form created by this work which is only enhanced more so by the use on the tonal red to yellow sequence. The material choices are not what you would expect when looking at something so evidently polished and complete. All these materials can be found in a Craft store, and being used with such a mastery, they have transformed into a Contemporary piece of jewellery. It is my inspiration from the trip for use of colour form and material!!!! :)

day 2 and 3

Day 2 was another amazingly busy day. GALLERIE RA and LOUISE SMIT!! Galerie Ra was FANTASTIC. The jewellery was so eye catching and inspiring, the whole set up down to the wall colour and shelving was absolutely perfect. Was incredibly inspired by many of the pieces.. especially those by Iris Tsante. the majority being made from pencil shavings and pieces of the pencils themselves. Very Colourful.

Day 3. BEST DAY EVA. Went to Nijmegen and Arnhem. to Visit Galerie Marzee and the New Traditional Jewellery exhibit at MMKA. Train ride was so relaxing. first class YAY. Marzee was full on so many beautiful contemporary pieces and practitioners works to soak in. bought myself a wonderful Orange swarovski set ring by an artist named Ilka Schmid. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.

On other notes our sink makes a curious gargling sound then proceeds to smell like rotten eggs...yum. Had a Pom apologise for his 'Smelly Bastard' friend who had been throwing up in the toilets all night... (imagine in a pommy accent and its hilarious) :) Bought a really cute bird in a cage necklace. had yummy pizza for dinner. and looking forward to SHOPPING TOMORROW..

(pictures of work and wonderful stuff ive bought will be posted later when i have uploaded the photos)

jami xx
:)

Fun Facts

After Galerie Ra , we went to a local street market, with produce, food, clothes etc. But all things Dutch! Bought an Amsterdam beanie! Karin made a suggestion that we try some of the local delicacies so we had some fries with mayonnaise on them (which is served in a paper cone), and a Stroope Waffle, which is a toasted waffle sandwich with a spicy honey caramel inside!!! Very intense! What a good day of experiences with both art and culture! :) 

Galerie Ra

Nel Linssen 

Iris Tsante

Noon Passama

Noon Passama

The entire layout of Galerie Ra was just a spectacular view,  every single artwork was so awe inspiring! The images above reflect a small percentage of what I found truelly memorable. The dynamic display of mediums used for the works , is something I had yet to encounter during a gallery visit back home in Aus. And so happy to say this was only the beginning of such mastery being witnessed whilst being here in europe. :)

Fun Fact: saw these incredibly amazing shoes in a shop window during our kill time in Amsterdam. They were so distracting that Jenny blinded by their beauty stepped in the path of an on coming bike rider. Swearing proceeded by tyres grinding on the pavement as he tried to stop in time, so as not to hit the unsuspecting tourist. He managed to stop... then decided to add a "Look with your eyes" remark, and thus begun our treacherous relationship with the bike riders in Amsterdam.. :)

Disappointing Fact: None of us bought a pair of the beautifully dangerous shoes...:(

Jami 

day one

plane flight was really tiring. but yay we are finally here. :)
weather is really cold, and traffic both car and bicycle is a little hectic some times even dangerous.
Saw Ted Noton's workshop (he was not there unfortuabtely) but Marcel was amazing. Very knowledgable and fun to see how that dynamic in the creative/design/business environment works.
really tired now..
sleep time...
jami :)