Just Rings invitation

Can you spot another of my rings here?

30th Anniversary ring

Past, Present & Future Makers Celebrate 30 Years at Manchester Craft & Design Centre

28 April to 30 June 2012

Student research requests....again

Okay so this is becoming a regular subject......

I would start by saying it is nice to know that students are interested in my work, and I am keen to help where I can. In an effort to cut down the repetition on my part with my email responses I thought I might post some information here.........on the assumption students interested in my work will look at my blog as well as my website and on-line profiles.

You are clearly a very clever bunch out there and wish to pose some interesting questions; but answering them does take time! Given that I appear to attract a fair few enquiries (all of which are appreciated) I have decided that probably the best course of action is to restrict my responses to those of you who are working on final year degree dissertations. In doing so I aim to balance a desire to help you achieve your goals with making the best use of my own time; something I know you will understand. My apologies to other students.

A Thousand Facets blog includes me.....

http://athousandfacets.tumblr.com/page/2

More from Collect 2012

Alongside the international galleries at Collect, was the Project Space; where Crafts Council selected artists showed installation work with an emphasis this year on textiles and furniture. Two of my favourites were pieces by Louise Gardiner and Nahoko Kojima.

http://www.lougardiner.co.uk/

Beautiful textiles not really done justice by my photographs, but Louise's lovely website is full of better pictures and lots of information about her work. Louise created a series of canvases which took 6 months to complete. There is a great video which gives the background to her work at

http://gu.com/p/37c6e

http://www.solokojima.com/

'The Cloud Leopard' by Nahoko Kojima is a fantastic 3D paper sculpture which has been entirely hand cut by the artist. It was interesting to speak to Nahoko and her studio partner Shari Solo and get an insight into the process behind this work. It is unimaginable to me to have the patience and vision to create such a complex and fragile sculpture. Even the logistics behind the movement and hanging of the piece are a mammoth undertaking, and I can only imagine the stress of watching months of work being handled by someone without the personal investment such a piece requires.

Collect 2012

Yesterday was spent down in London at the Saatchi Gallery, visiting Collect. As in years past there was an amazing array of work on show from galleries all over the world.

It is always hard to pick out favourites because the exhibition brings together some of the best international talent; but from the jewellery artists, the work I loved came from 

Jacqueline Ryan represented by the Scottish Gallery

http://www.scottish-gallery.co.uk/artist/jacqueline_ryan/

I love her subtle palette of enamels and the amazing technical ability that brings movement to her work.

Emmeline Hastings represented by Lesley Craze Gallery

http://www.lesleycrazegallery.co.uk/index.php

http://www.emmelinehastings.co.uk/#

Emmeline's work really has to be seen to be fully appreciated. She combines perspex with various metals to create work inspired by movement and wave patterns. These amazing pieces have the look of glass and specifically made for the exhibition was a necklace similar to this; however it had the most fantastic graduation of shade flowing round the piece in a beautiful colour not dissimilar to that of smokey quartz.

Giovanni Corvaja represented by Clare Beck at Adrian Sassoon

http://www.adriansassoon.com/index.php

http://www.giovanni-corvaja.com/

Giovanni is a goldsmith producing some of the most stunning work I have ever seen, and no description of his work can prepare you for the sheer mesmeric beauty of these works of art. Characteristic of his work is the use of drawn down hair like wire which could so easily be mistaken for textile fibres. His website gives a fascinating insight to his work, but if you ever get the chance to see his work 'in real life' it is an absolute must see!!

Past Present Future Makers ring

Well tomorrow is the launch of  'Past, Present, Future makers Celebrate 30 Years at Manchester Craft & Design Centre'.

This is a small glimpse of my ring...........

This piece has been inspired by the craft centres history; and its previous life as a bustling Victorian fish market. Combining imagery associated with its past and jewellery skills found here today, the piece embodies the craft centres transition from past to present.