Snakes and Ladders : Enamel and Linen necklace

For our final assessment in Enamelling we had to create something that was inspired by 'games'. The word could be loosely interpreted and I chose the Snakes and Ladders board game I remembered fondly from childhood.

Snakes and Ladders prototype 1

To begin with, I made two different prototypes, experimenting with combining metal and woven linen thread. The first prototype was difficult to wear as the metal lengths stuck into the skin.

Snakes and Ladders Prototype 2

Redesigning my idea, I changed the linen thread to be more representative of a snake that weaves its way through the ladder. The design also changed the way it was worn, and the metal lengths no longer stuck into the wearer.

Cutting holes in the sterling silver lengths 

The next step was to make the design in sterling silver. After forging lengths of wire, I then cut holes into the flattened surface.

Plique a jour enamelled sterling silver

Using Plique a Jour methods (French for letting in daylight) I applied transparent enamel onto the cutout surface of the sterling silver.

Detail of the final Snakes and Ladders piece

Using a finer width of white linen, I wove the Plique a Jour lengths into place.

But before doing so, I had to thread the linen through sterling silver metal tube, which was then forged prior to threading the linen on the loom.

And this is the final result. 

MFA exhibition: Progress in Work in Progress

Earlier this week, on a rainy Monday evening, was the opening for the MFA exhibition Progress in Work in Progress at the Anna Leonowens Gallery in Halifax. 

I chose to display a work that I had created earlier in the year Bush Telegraph. Made from a collection of vintage objects, manipulated domestic ware and machine embroidery embedded in resin, Bush Telegraph refers to my current interest in pioneering history and domestic spaces. I am particularly interested in exploring how many families were isolated, both in the sense of place (as both Canada and Australia were so far away from the mother country, England) and space as some families resided many miles from their nearest neighbour or town.

Bush Telegraph 2014

Thinking about this distance made me think about communication and how this occurred between countries. Often it would take 6 months for a letter to travel from one recipient and country to the other - and how it is this communication informs my work now. I am reading letters written in the 1800s by Elizabeth Moodie, British Canadian authoress, who wrote home to her mother in England about the trials and tribulations of living in a new land. 

Bush Telegraph 2014

The exhibition contains the work of the 17 current MFA students with works that range from a short documentary by Connie Littlefield, dying with and cataloguing local plants by Anna Haywood Jones to a performance piece about looking for a short term friend by Allyse Bowd. 

Bush Telegraph
photograph by Evan Rensch

Infront of my work at the opening

Gallery view of exhibition by Evan Rensch

For more information and pictures from the opening please visit the MFA blog. 

Enamel Lichen Necklace

Our second assignment for enamel class called for us to incorporate at least four enamelled components, which were to then be created into a piece of jewellery or an object.

With my current fascination into lichen I wanted to continue to explore these effects. I set about undertaking a lot of samples to achieve a similar result looking at the colours and textures in the image below.

Image of lichen used for reference for the project

Working with 0.3mm thick, fine silver 1" discs that were cut and then bent into a conical form. I first enamelled the inside with Orange Red Ruby enamel. I love this particular colour. Gold is one of the colorants in the enamel powder and depending on whether it is against silver or coper determines its colour. Sometimes it is a rich gold, like the images below, and sometimes it is ruby grapefruit. It is delicious!

work in progress: the cones prior to being assembled

The outside of the cone was enamelled with a black layer, followed by a fine sifting of 'Candy'. One of the things I enjoy about Candy is that is easily oxidises in the kiln, giving it a faint green tinge and is a little unpredictable in its results. Perfect for representing lichen. 

detail of the components necklace

I wanted to create a piece of jewellery that could be worn, but also exists by itself as a beautiful object, so I strung all the individual 18 cones onto silk cord.

Components necklace

The idea is that you roughly wrap one cord around the other and the enamelled pieces hang like a pendant. It needs a little refinement to be practical, and Im incredibly excited about its prospects.

SOFA Chicago 2014

I had the pleasure of attending SOFA Chicago 2014 with the assistance of Craft Alliance, who orchestrated and funded an education and research mission for Atlantic Canadian artists.

At the Opening Reception with Anne Pryde

SOFA is a gallery-presented, international art exposition dedicated to bridging the worlds of design, decorative and fine art. Works by emerging and established artists and designers are available for sale by premier galleries and dealers. The exhibition takes place over three days and attracts over 30,000 attendees. 

Fascinating perspex (plexiglass) sculptures by Regine Schumann at the Lausbery Contemporary booth.

SOFA features the work of over 1,000 contemporary artists represented by over 70 galleries from 11 countries. Contemporary fine craft shown at SOFA can range in price from $500 - $350,000. The exhibition also includes an exclusive opening night preview, a lecture series, special featured exhibits and individual gallery events. SOFA is attended by major collectors and collector groups from around the world. 

Amazing pots by Steven Young Lee at the Duane Reed Gallery booth

detail of Junghye Park's work. 
Hand stitched silk.
Stunning!

Enamelled sculptures by Naoki Takeyama at the Gallery FW booth

Clever sculptures assembled from objects found washed up upon the shore of the Thames River in London by Robert Cooper. 

There wasn't much mixed media on display at SOFA.

fabulous jewellery on display at Charon Kransen Arts booth

I have wanted to attend SOFA ever since I graduated with my Bachelor of Visual Arts from the ANU School of Art, so attending was a dream come true for me. 

I had the pleasure of attending with the following artists:

Bronwyn Arundel from Arundel Studios

Jade Ansley

Lydia Buxton

Anne Pryde

ToriXO

The event provided invaluable networking opportunities with like minded artists and entrepreneurs, and the opportunity to view world class artwork and meet with the galleries that represent those artists.

If you would like to see images of some of the amazing art on display, visit my FaceBook page.

Thank you to Craft Alliance and SUNSCAD who made this opportunity a reality.