'What Came First?' Exhibition in Copenhagen

I took my work with me to Denmark after the Graduate Show for a small window exhibition at Iron Inc. Gallery in Northern Copenhagen. It was so wonderful of Mari Keto to accept my work and let me have a little show for family and friends.

Straight from the airport to gallery to set up

Opening Night

Mari and Nicolai, Arni and I

Pictures from the Exhibition

I'm really holding on to that champagne!
I loved my time at NMIT. Studying jewellery was one of the best things I ever did.

Yes, there were other people at the exhibition, not just me.

Retrospective Seven

This was my 'Product Range'. A series of 6 Sterling Silver pendants - 2 with acrylic inserts on Silk with glass beads. 2 with felt beads on ribbon, 2 with ebony and gold and silver leaf on leather.

Retrospective Six

Ok, now I got really serious. The Piece De Resistance!

a proto type.

The Almost finished piece. It was made from two brass discs hand raised into top and bottom. I don't know how I managed. I remember endless nights of hammering, sore hands, achy head and many of the other students getting tired of me making all that noise! Soldering the two halves together took two large torches and an enourmous amount of flux and solder. My face was red for two days after with the after-glow!

I could not have completed this piece without the patience, enthusiasm and hands-on help of Chris Sherwin. I think it's a great loss to NMIT jewellery that he has left. He's my hero!

The Finished piece!

Photo by Terence Bogue

Retrospective Five

2006 was an exciting year for me. It was my final year at NMIT and I really got to play and be creative creating a body of work for the End of year Exhibition.

Below is the necklace called 'DOZEN'. It was made from a dozen eggs, painted black and some decorated with gold leaf. I strung them on black silk thread.

The Work in progress....

Finished piece. Photo by Terence Bogue

This bowl was made from gilding metal and copper, soldered with silver solder for a three colour effect. It was a real challenge making this. I got really good joins, but then when I would try and raise the bowl with my hammer, the seams would come apart. I was so relieved when it was finally finished!

I oxidised the inside for even more effect.

The Symbol was from the front of a vintage transistor radio.

Retrospective Four

Then I got into some hard-core felting.

I made these little hearts for a range for Valentines Day called 'heart felt'. Pretty cute...

I made many different colour-combinations in necklaces and from 2005 to 2007 I stocked FAT, Milly Sleeping, LUFT, Self Preservation and Where The Fox Lives (Christchurch NZ).

Retrospective Three

I started making Felt Beads in 2004, I just taught myself and invented my own technique. For Fashion Week 2005 I entered into a competition called 'Handworked to Wear' and didn't win, but got a good spot at Melbourne Town Hall.

This piece is called 'The not so perfect circle'

Retrospective Two

These pic's are from Emergi Two, which was held at Charles Smith Gallery in Smith Street Fitzroy. My work got more refined in the 6 months since Emergi One. All pieces were made from Sterling Silver and with 18K Gold detail.

Retrospective One

I have spent the morning going thru my old photos. To try and create a little retrospective of the things I've made in the last 7 years since I started. There are so many pieces that have passed thru my hands and into other people's possession without a photograph to prove it. Note to self: Always photograph your work!

In 2005 I organised 2 exhibitions with a group of friends.
We called them Emergi and the first one was at Rose Street Artist Market.
Here are two of my pieces:

The Egg Necklace made from Aluminium, reticulated and on a Silver Chain

Clouds Neckpiece made from Aluminium and with Sterling Silver Chain -

I could not afford silver back then!