November 4 - 15, 2003
Fingers Annual Group Show
October 13 - 25, 2003
TIN YEARS
Workshop 6 celebrates its ten year anniversary
As part of the first group of jewellery graduates from the Polytech-based Craft Design Courses, Workshop 6 represents the next generation of contemporary jewellers after the Fingers group, and Fingers congratulates them on a very successful first ten years.
September 29 - October 11, 2003
Kobi Bosshard
'Ten Special Rings'
"As a boy of 10, I looked for the first time at gemstones in my father's workshop.
I was intrigued by them, excited by both their colour and sparkle. And from then on I tried to be present whenever a gem merchant called to offer his wares.
I always wished that my father would choose the largest and most precious stones. Sometimes he did, but more often than not, his choice was pragmatic.
On becoming a goldsmith myself, I learned many facts about stones: their chemical composition, their physical build-up and properties, their crystal structure and optical effects.
I went to the mountains myself and found perfectly formed crystals.
Now, after nearly 50 years of working with gems, I have not lost my initial wonder at their colour and sparkle. Gemstones are very old but they don't age, a ruby today is as red as it was thousands of years ago and as it will continue to be in thousands of years.
Its extraordinary hardness protects it from decay. Amazing.
After retiring from regular work over a year ago, I was offered some gems of extraordinary quality. I could not resist. I did as I had always wanted my father to do.
I bought the most beautiful of them and added them to a small collection of special gems that I had acquired over many years. Making the appropriate rings for these special stones has become my main jewellery project this year. I try to make rings that are sympathetic to their stones, enhance them, but are not completely dominated by them and retain their own character of being "my" rings.
I have now completed a number of these rings. I am pleased with the results and am happy to exhibit them and offer them for sale in this small display at Fingers.
I invite you to view these special rings, and hope you derive a similar pleasure from them as I do."
Kobi Bosshard
September 2 - 20, 2003
M A N
A Group Show of Jewellery for and about Men
August 11 - 26, 2003
Shelley Norton
"Over the last year I have been making jewellery that is colourful, with a Dr Seuss like fun quality. I wanted the viewer to experience the same feeling one has at an enjoyable fancy dress or hat party.
Whilst in this relaxed playful mood, if the observer wishes to contextualise the work, I undertook to draw their attention to the process of making meaning. I did this by making pieces that combined multiple fragments of signifiers in abnormal formats and materials - my intention being to disrupt the possibility of any one actual meaning being applied to the work.
By disrupting the manufacture of meaning, the viewer is encouraged to engage with the pieces, to become aware that they are involved in their own process of constructing meaning."
Shelley Norton 2003
July 28 - August 10, 2003
Alan Preston
'Walking along Muriwai Beach'
May 19 - 31, 2003
'Haberdashery'
New jewellery by Joanna Campbell
"I graduated with a Bachelor of Design from UNITEC in 2001 majoring in Jewellery. Since then I have been making and selling work for sale and exhibition. Prior to studying I worked in the Clothing and Textile industry. I use my experience and knowledge of clothing and textiles as a constant resource for my practice of jewellery making.
This new work responds to the aesthetic of the humble dressmakers aids;
pins, needles, sequins, bugle beads, tape measures, pin cushions, elastic and lace trim.
I like the idea I am exalting these easily overlooked objects by interpreting them into fun and wearable jewellery."
Joanna Campbell 2003
March 3 - 31, 2003
Peter McKay
Peter McKay lives and works in Akaroa on Banks Peninsular.
Peter's first solo exhibition at Fingers was in 1986.
Utilizing the rare technique of chasing, Peter manipulates art historical references and romantic symbolism to create pieces of exceptional beauty and meaning. In this new series of work,
Peter explores the rendering of form using chased lines in sterling silver.
February 17 - March 1, 2003
Lynn Kelly
Lynn Kelly presents new work featuring maps and images printed directly
onto metal. This superb series of works is exquisitely made and very
beautiful.
November 4 - 24, 2002
Fingers Annual Group Show
October 1 - 12, 2002
Ruth Baird
'New Work'
Ruth Baird is one of Fingers founding partners and a central figure in the organisation and creation of Fingers reputation for innovation and excellence.
In this exhibition of recent work Ruth crochets and knits unusual materials like titanium and enamelled wire to create her trademark delicate jewellery.
September 16 - 27, 2002
Ben Beattie
The carved stone pendant is perhaps Aotearoa's most precious form of adornment. Literally a unique piece of home, it travels with us identifying us to others and ourselves as 'kiwi'.
Ben Beattie's carved pendants are abstracted natural forms drawn from his Te Henga environment. He has meticulously shaped the soft greens and greys of argillite, the hard blacks of volcanic basalts and granite, and the more unusual colours of pounamu which he has rescued from the discard bin of he tourist industry. Included in this new work Ben uses the colourful translucency of locally made glass as well.
Ben's extraordinary attention to detail puts his work amongst the very best in the country. He lovingly finishes every aspect, including the complicated splicing of the woven cords.
This is Ben's first solo exhibition since winning the national Pounamu Carvers Award in 1998.
August 20 - September 7, 2002
Jane Dodd
'Straw into Gold'
"As children we are enchanted by the talismans, charms and objects
represented in traditional fairy tales. We fervently believe in the magical
powers and mysterious properties within the myriad animals, plants, people,
furniture and everyday objects portrayed.
As adults this belief is hidden more than discarded or replaced and we are
surprised and thrilled when certain words or images provoke memories, and
the veiled beliefs within us are revealed.
An aspect of the stories that particularly interested me is the
significant role of the objects and animals. These fetishistic elements
suggest the jewellery tradition of charms and amulets, which like folk
tales, imbue inanimate objects with magical qualities."
Jane Dodd. 2002
In this exhibition of new work, Jane Dodd turns the alchemy of her
metalworking skills to the magic of story telling. In presenting these
fantastic objects as a collection of charms, Jane offers us sanction to hold
them, own them and wear them. By making them attachable to the body through
a variety of means Jane invites the wearer to construct the amulet most
suited to their needs, and in doing so to tell their own tales.
17 - 28 June 2002
Anna Wallis
'New Work'
Anna Wallis presents a new series of brooches using her favourite method of construction building with discs, domes and tubes. Still focusing on pieces which are large in scale yet have a feeling which is light in weight, Anna has taken the loose round shapes visited last year and given them figurative structure.
Simple patterns are beginning to take on ambiguous pixilated forms.
Anna's use of industrial surfaces and colour transform cold silver into vibrant reds, slick blacks and institutional whites, layering and accentuating the structures beneath.
July 9th to July 28th 2001
Fingers Annual Group Show
'Anonevent'
No-names show with invited artists
Feb 12 to Feb 26 2001
Fran Allison
'Assorted Titbits'
An Exhibition of Badges about Biscuits
"chocolate curls, white buttons, cherries, melting moments,
pains d'epices with gilded edging, custard squares, treats nesting in ruffled
paper, small comforts, warm icing, fascinating fancies, sweet temptations...
"
Jan 21 - Feb 9 2001
Lynn Kelly and Julie Blyfield
'traces'
Australian jeweller Julie Blyfield and Dunedin's Lynn Kelly exhibit new
work that explores their family histories. This superb exhibition portrays
the ways that objects handed down to the jewellers through generations have
contributed to their sense of place and identity.
First exhibited at The Jam Factory, Contemporary Craft and Design Gallery in
Adelaide, Australia, traces will be exhibited in New Zealand at Fingers.
"In the exhibition 'traces' I specifically referenced my grandmothers
embroideries as a starting point: and metaphorically 'unpicked' her designs
and reinvented them through my own medium, jewellery... "
Julie Blyfield
"My family has always been very important to me. My parents came to New
Zealand from Belfast before I was born, so I've traced my family history
partly from photos and letters from 'home', partly from the stories my
mother told us, partly from the jewellery which has been handed down,
each piece holding traces of family memories."
Lynn Kelly
Nov 27th - Dec 2nd, 2000
Areta Wilkinson
'Recent Work'
16th - 28th October, 2000
Ann Visser
'Cameo of Spring'
18th - 30th September, 2000
Ann Culy and Rainer Beneke
July 2000
Fingers Annual Group Show
12th to 24th June 2000
Steph Lusted
Steph Lusted is an artist jeweller who is committed to the steady evolvement of her eye, her personal style.
" I'm influenced by nature," says Lusted. "I grew up in the Lower North Island with lots of nature around me. My Mum spent a lot of time helping us to see what was around us, to be familiar with the bush. We were encouraged to explore our artistic selves. There definitely is a strong link between my work and nature".
Lusted likes to research topics and pulls in influences from many areas.
"I'm drawn to opposites: the organic form with the industrial, I look for visual stimuli/striking elements that evolve in the sketching planning stage into a 2D representation of the final product, I am a perfectionist with my working processes, but do enjoy the revelation side of my work. This exhibition is a cross section of my work with areas of science transported to art/insect elements and nature and features a selection of brooches and neckpieces created in resin, silver and rubber."
February 10th - 22nd, 2000
Lisa Walker and Karl Fritsch
"Butterflies wrapped in silver absolutely funk rare New Zealand meat with a bit of German spice domestic royalty contemporary jewellery from
Munich the European center of jewellery Ribena"
Nov 29th - Dec 11th, 1999
Elena Gee
'Scratching the Surface'
Brooch. stone, gold leaf, paint - approx 60 x 70 mm
"For some years I have been making jewellery from beach debris,
using the random shapes found in seaworn stones and shells.
My new work for this exhibition started with a similar concept
but using chunks and slabs of semi-precious stone selected for
their symbolic or expressive potential.
These shapes were then minimally altered to enhance the form
and make them wearable as pendants and brooches.
Colour, gold leaf and scratched words, titles or comments were
added."
Born in auckland in 1949, Elena Gee began making jewellery in
1967 and is largely self taught. She was a partner in Fingers jewellery
gallery from 1987-90, the curator of the first Dowse Art Museum
national contemporary jewellery exhibition 'Open Heart' in
1993, and has exhibited in many one person and group shows including
'bone, stone, shell' in 1988, and her work has acquired for public collections in
New Zealand and Australia. She is currently living and working in Auckland New Zealand.
November 8th - 27th, 1999
Fingers Silver Anniversary Group Show - 1974 to 1999
25th October - 6th November 1999
Cynthia Cousens - UK
4th - 30th October 1999
Tracey Clement
'repetition/variation/obsession'
'R/V/O 1.1'
monel, sterling silver, hematite, 24k gold -
'repetition/variation/obsession' is an exhibition of limited edition
neckpieces by Sydney-based jeweller Tracey Clement
As the title suggests this series of work is born from a single unit which is
explored and expanded, repeated and subjected to variations and combinations
to the point of obsession. The result is a series of striking neckpieces that
are both large in scale and elegantly graceful.
'repetition/variation/obsession' reflects Tracey Clement's primary interests
in form and mechanism. The work also examines in a subtle way our
perceptions of the masculine and feminine by juxtaposing voluptuous swelling
forms with precise mechanical moving parts.
6th - 30th September, 1999
Fran Alison
'Out of the Wash House'
2nd - 22nd August, 1999
Kobi Bosshard
'Cutouts'
Swiss born third generation jeweller and silversmith Kobi Bosshard came to
New Zealand and settled in Dunedin over thirty years ago. Here, in
partnership with Stephen Mulqueen, Kobi Bosshard started the influential
gallery and workshop 'FLUXUS'.
Kobi Bosshard's distinctive European modern aesthetics and often
controversial ideas have exerted significant influence on contemporary
jewellery practice in New Zealand.
Kobi Bosshard's exhibition of his most recent work will include ten large
brooches set with brightly coloured glass by Gregg Smith of Punakaiki.
Exploring ideas surrounding the flower Kobi describes these brooches as 'not
overly contrived ... they are what they look like'.
In contrast with the large bold colours of the flower brooches Kobi Bosshard
will be exhibiting the series of bar brooches. These linear constructions are
set with sapphires and rubies.
Also of a more controlled and precise nature are a series of rings in which
Kobi Bosshard has set precious stones. This is a large body of work from one
of New Zealand's leading jewellers.
5th - 25th July, 1999
Fingers Annual Group Show
8th - 26th June, 1999
Ilse Marie Erl
Necklaces of Coiled Silver and Gold
"It is tempting to attach ideas of performance to objects.
Inevitably they change over time ... Bodies will be marked by their existance."
12th April - 8th May, 1999
Deborah Crowe
A series of collars and neckpieces
"Collared I", handwoven nylon monofilament,
coated copper wire and linen nylon
Crowe's personal work continues to straddle art, fashion and
object design (in 1998 she was was nominated in the Object
Design category of the Seppelt Contemporary Art Awards).
The exhibition works reference garments, extending ideas in some
of the Fraser Crowe accessories currently available throughout New
Zealand and in Sydney.
Works feature the unique textile that Crowe weaves from nylon and
copper wire that was first seen in a fashion context when Fraser and Crowe
won the Evening Post Flair Avant Gard Award and the Supreme Award at
the 1997 Smokefree Fashion Awards.
The exhibition pose questions that blur the boundaries
between jewellery, Fashion and art.
10th May - 6th June, 1999
New Work by Mary Curtis
Mary Curtis has been making jewellery since 1986. She is
currently a lecturer in jewellery and 3D concerns on the Bachalor of
Visual Arts at Manukau Institute of Technology.
"This body of work is a continued development of the 'trap' series
shown in the Dowse Art Museum Jewellery Biennial, and this new series of rings explores issues of
ornament, embelishment and ostentation in the traditional jewellery
object.
The objects are wearable but their delicate nature makes it diffucult for
the wearer to use their hands, rendering the ring an item of dress
jewellery. As in the traditional counterpart a piece that functions as an
object for show, status and ceremony.
I am interested in jewellery that surrounds ceremony, celebration and
occasion. For this exhibition I have concentrated on the neck as site,
creating pieces that evoke a sense of presence and ritual through the use of
material, process, scale and weight.
The neck as a site for ceremonial objects has cross cultural references,
from the lei to African tribal wear, to the mayoral chain. Apart from the
known social and symbolic readings these necklaces carry, they have
structural similarities; - significant scale in relation to the body -
contain repetition of form - the weight, scale and placement may effect the
stance and posture of the wearer.
I want the wearer to be conscious of the object around their neck. To place
the object on is to go through a sense of transformation, to enter into a
ritual, the wearer takes on a presence and sense of occasion."
Mary Curtis, Sun 7th March 1999
2nd - 21st November, 1998
Crochet Collars by Ruth Baird
A variety of collars crocheted from fine silver thread.
7th - 26th September, 1998
'LUSH'
Victoria Jane
Elaborate constructions combining richly coloured glass and silver
producing sensual and fluid jewellery.
"In making this jewellery I was focussing on the physical
sensation of wearing, emphasising the role of the body. These
pieces are primarily concerned with the sensuousness of tactility
and weight; the lush saturated colour is to underline this.
Tactility. Weight. Sound. A celebration of the body."
27th August - 15th September, 1998
Tania Patterson
'NEW WORKS'
Intriguing works incorporating working mechanical elements to produce jewellery of exquisite beauty and function.
13th A- 25th April, 1998
Frances Battersby 'CHOKIN'
Catherine Truman (Australia) 'INVISIBLE PLACES TO BE'
An exhibitions of jewellery in conjunction with the conference
"Korero a te Whatu - The Persuasive Object".
3rd - 15th November 1997
'PAST PACIFIC'
new jewellery by Niki Hastings-McFall
I asked Niki what I can say about her work.
She says, "... it comes from, but goes a bit beyond, my Pacific influences.
Like for example I use traditional shells and things as well as computer parts.
You could say 'from seashells to CD-ROM' ... (grins) nah, better not."
13th - 25th October, 1997
'EMBRACE'
new works by Mary Curtis
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