Simply Silver
Saturday 5th July – End of September 2008
Simply Silver is a stunning showcase highlighting designers who use silver as their main material.
Concentrating on how this wonderfully malleable material can be worked into so many fascinating design concepts we aim to highlight the very best of innovative and contemporary work including jewellery and objects of desire. Nineteen designers take us on a journey of discovery as they highlight such techniques as press forming, coiling, folding, hand raising and hammering, to name just a few techniques.
Sian Matthews
Charlotte Brown
Joanne Thompson
April Neate's fascination with architecture has resulted in a quirky collection of photo-etched and press-formed jewellery using lettering and numbers she has observed from buildings. Also using text in her work is the beautifully romantic jewellery of Charlotte Brown who utilises punching techniques in her stunning collection. Gerlinde Huth's pierced and folded jewellery creates a bold collection, as too does the work of Stephanie Johnson, whose pleated and folded jewellery is a response to textures and forms observed from nature. Cath Hill's use of heat manipulation within her collection of jewellery has produced wonderfully organic textures and colours and is contrasted beautifully against the tactile work of Joanne Thompson, whose unit construction methods i.e. chain mail, showcases a collection that is durable and flexible. Coiling and wire forming techniques are highlighted in the jewellery created by Daniela Dobesova, whose spiral theme has become her signature-style.
Natalie Harris
Zelda Wong
Gerlinde Huth
Three of our featured designers will be showcasing both their jewellery designs and their objects of desire. These include Pamela Rawnsley; whose work combines different finishes and textures creating simple yet elegant designs, Rauni Higson; bowls and jewellery informed by the natural world and Annabet Wyndham; hand beaten and rolled utensils, candleholders and jewellery.
Shimara Carlow will be showcasing her functional and sculptural silversmith work based around the pod vessel, adding surface texture with hammering techniques. Also highly sculptural is the work of Angela Cork whose vessels can hold flowers, which create a sense of drama and movement to these wonderfully shaped objects. Showcasing bowls and vessels are designers Sam Maund and Abigail Brown, each bringing a unique sculptural take on the use of silver. Marion E Kane’s boxes, napkin holders and spoons highlight the simplicity of shape and form, as too do the bowls and candlesticks designed by Sian Matthews, fusing bold decorative patterns with elegant forms. Camilla Well’s tableware makes perfect wedding or anniversary gifts and her designs make use of the elegant curves in sheet silver. Emily Collins will be showcasing her silver boxes, which have simple geometric shapes often of an intimate size utilising various techniques. Finally, Rebecca Gouldson’s beautifully etched wall pieces show richly decorated surfaces, which she has successfully developed with areas of patination, electro-plating and metal leaf.
