August 13th - September 5th, 2022

Sam Kelly and Jennifer Laracy

» EXHIBITION PROGRAMME

» ENQUIRY

» ARTISTS

» INDEX

Sam Kelly

Sam Kelly is a bone carver. In order to source her material she engages in an intense and sometimes gruesome relationship with the bone, and the physicality of the transformation has made its clean, white surfaces even more precious to her. For years, this perfect whiteness was Sam's aim for the bone, but recently she has also started to appreciate its beauty in a variety of shades.

Drawing inspiration from patterns in the everyday and from details in the urban landscape, she continues to apply her jewellery background and tools to working the bone. Understanding that the aims of her practice are both aligned with and different from those of her peers who are working with traditional Oceania forms and techniques, has been particularly freeing for Sam.

In 2018, Sam Kelly and Jenifer Laracy joined forces to create The Jewel and The Jeweller, a workshop and gallery in central New Plymouth. As a teacher and maker at the studio, Sam’s practice has matured and shifted. The duo found that the bone work was not conducive to the shared shop-front/ teaching space environment as the dust was an all-pervasive menace. Sam subsequently re-located her making practice to her garage. With the time constraints of raising three young boys on top of running a full-time business, her bone work quickly became a sacred practice.

Rainbow Pendant, 2022. Cow bone, nylon cord $560

Spiral Pendant, 2022. Cow bone, nylon cord $560

Square Pendant, 2022. Cow bone, nylon cord $560

Wiggle Pendant, 2022. Cow bone, nylon cord $560

Cloud Pendant, 2022. Cow bone, nylon cord $680

Beaded Necklace, 2022. Cow bone, nylon cord $990

Section Necklace, 2022. Cow bone, nylon cord $865

» ENQUIRY, Sam Kelly

Jennifer Laracy

Souvenir of a Souvenir

Jennifer Laracy has a story to tell. Souvenir of a Souvenir, the working title she has used to refer to the work in this show, is a tribute in objects to her late grandfather and jeweller Morris Lionel Win, born in Waimea South, Nelson, NZ in 1915. Morris served as a private during WWII in the 22nd Battalion as a Bren gunner, he was badly wounded in Crete and sent to Stalag VIIIB as a prisoner of war. Due to the impact of his wounds, he was repatriated to New Zealand by the Red Cross in 1943 and re-trained as a jeweller at the Disabled Servicemen's League in Wellington. At that time, the paua souvenir trade was regulated, dictating that paua must be set in silver or gold and sales of paua souvenirs were restricted to registered makers. Working under the mark Handmade in New Zealand, he developed a high level of skill producing paua shell jewellery throughout his career. He supplied work for sale to the League shops as well as accepting private commissions for collectors. He produced various designs by Ida Hudig who commissioned Win to make a silver paua shell bracelet which won Jewel of the Year in 1976. Win also worked with the Maori Queen, Te Atairangikaahu, in a professional relationship for over 26 years to produce many beautiful pieces inspired by her traditional designs. Throughout his practice, he made trophies, souvenirs, inlaid crib boards and team badges for the National Rifle Association. A number of these pieces are featured in Elly van de Wijdeven’s publication Vintage Paua Shell Jewellery.

While studying to become a jeweller at Whitireia in Porirua, Jennifer spent time in Morris’s workshop learning about his life and work. At one point he made a sketch of a necklace that he thought she might make. After twenty years she has accepted the challenge.

In a gesture of tribute, Jennifer is echoing her grandfather’s palette by restricting her usually broad material library to paua shell, silver and gold. Jennifer is letting her hands do the thinking as she makes peace with the complex paua history. Acknowledging that the act of making was therapy for Win, Jennifer is using the same techniques to commemorate this pivotal mentor in her life. Despite traversing tricky emotional terrain, she has used her extensive skill as a maker to build a joyful body of work that honours the memory of a very special man.

Jennifer’s work is currently in the exhibition Paua: A Contemporary Jewellery Story on at The Dowse Art Museum in Wellington.

Souvenir Bracelet, 2022. Paua Shell and silver, 205 x 25 x 5mm $1,610

Paua Shell and Silver necklace, 2022. Chain 510mm long, pendant 400 x 400mm $1,360

Big Twist brooch, 2022. Paua Shell and silver, 65 x 65 x 10mm $555

Suits brooch, 2022. Paua Shell and silver, 85 x 85 x 10mm $620

Domino Pendant, 2022. Paua Shell and silver and cord, 35 x 80 x 15mm $620

Spoon Pendant, 2022. Paua Shell and silver and cord, 120 x 20mm $435

Big Charm bracelet, 2022. Paua Shell and silver. 240 x 15mm $1,115

Cake Tin ring, 2022. Paua Shell and silver, Paua 30mm diameter, size S1/2 $435
Block Ring, 2022. Paua Shell and silver, size P1/2 $435

Cab Ring x 5, 2022. Paua Shell and silver, size S   $370
Cab ring Ring, 2022. Paua Shell and silver, size O   $370
Big Cab Stud earrings, 2022. Paua Shell and silver, 15mm diameter   $435

» ENQUIRY, Jennifer Laracy

» BACK TO TOP