1 » be more punctual.

2 » improve my corporate ID.

3 » write more.

4 » better posture, less posturing (with the exception of resolution number 2).

5 » acquire at least 5 national stockists.

6 » purge some possessions.

7 » make more gifts.

8 » read one novel per season.

9 » less teevee, more music.

10 »  sew at least one garment a fortnight (using only my fabric stash)

11 » take better care of my skin and teeth.

12 » use my car once a week or less.

I’m holding myself to this… Lets see if I can’t check them all off by December.

I am starting to develop the conceptual framework for my honours thesis. The thesis consists of a body of work, plus an exegesis (studio report). I have been reflecting on my previous body of work, seeking a tangible link between the conceptual and aesthetic aspects.

In the series Precious Things, I was exploring the concept of preciousness through material and form. The symbol of the gemstone (in this case, in faceted, crystalline forms) was satirised, being made weightless, becoming essentially empty. In the series Picnic Gems, the symbol of the gemstone was used to exalt banal materials (in this case, plastic crockery) to the state of precious object.

Picnic Gems are created by layering old plastic crockery between layers of resin, such that the profiles of the plates and bowls and cups become like geological striations. I like the idea that this becomes a metaphor for the life cycle of objects (broadly speaking): materials are extracted from the earth, used  by humans, only to be discarded back to the earth via landfill.

I’m not by any means saying this process is ethical or beautiful – on the contrary, by treating these discarded objects as precious material, I am attempting to comment on the way in which we assign value to materials and objects, and the point at which that value becomes defunct (ie, when it is discarded)

This led me to consider the reasons why we assign value (I mean ‘worth’, monetary value) to certain materials. Before introducing the massive complications of economics and social politics, I think there are three prominent factors at work:

1. Rarity — consider gold. Supposedly, there have been a mere 8,333 cubic metres of gold mined in human history, equating to the volume of a cube with sides just over 20m. (I wont mention the figures on the amount of earth rendered dead in mining that.) It is also estimated that there is less than half of that amount remaining in the earth.
2. Functionality — Again, gold is a prime example of this. Gold is an amazing metal to work with. Disregarding its aesthetic qualities, gold is the most malleable, ductile, alloyable metal. The ductility of gold means makes it ideal for the electronics industry. In goldsmith terms, gold is the ideal material. It is so malleable that one gram can be beaten to cover a square metre. (in number terms, gold has a density of 19.3g/cubic cm, compared with water at 1g/cubic cm – so 1g of gold has a volume around 1/20th of c cubic cm. Tiny!) Gold can be beaten so thin that it becomes translucent. It will strongly reflect red and yellow light, making it highly effective filter of infrared light waves. I probably don’t need to elaborate more.
3. Aesthetics — I don’t know whether this would come under a socially-driven value, but I’m going to say that there are some fairly universal perceptions when it comes to the aesthetic value of a material. Having said that, there are some amazing variations in what different cultures value and what is highly prized. Sadly,  I think these differences are becoming more scarce – the instantaneously-propagating phenomenon of western media (referring particularly to the internet and the *ahem* art/culture/fashion blogging trend of late), in my opinion, has lead to a kind of homogenization in aesthetics. (I’m not saying this is a bad thing, nor is it an absolute thing – the web 2.0 phenomenon has also enabled access to information and ideas which may have been previously all but lost – but this is an argument for another day…).

Wheww… So my theory is that these factors combined – each aspect coalescing with each other – help to define the value of a material.

I hesitate to define a fourth category to this — that of symbolism. A material develops a symbolic value over time, which is influenced by (and subsequently influences) its value, as derived by the three point above. Think of the gold, silver and bronze medals of the Olympics. Think of diamonds as the symbol of marriage or ‘eternity’. To push this point even further, consider the trend of remodelling old jewellery into new pieces, or even having the ashes of a loved one turned into a diamond.

It is here that my interest lies – the complex ways in which we comprehend and attribute symbolism to objects and materials.

In the course of preparing this post, I had been reading some work of Jean Baudrillard, French philosopher and cultural theorist. Turns out, he had a similar approach to “object-value” theory. More on that next post, but you can check out the wiki page for a brief overview. Presently, I am reading bits of his 1981 book “For a Critique of the Political Economy of the Sign”.

And yes, that is a made-up word.

I am pleased to announce the launch of my work into the Craft ACT shop!

For those Canberra locals who haven’t seen or heard of this exciting place — I urge you to visit! Located in Civic Square on London Cct, Craft ACT exhibits some of the region (and Australia’s) most amazing makers. They have an exciting and dynamic exhibition schedule within their two gallery spaces, and have recently launched the new Craft ACT shop! The shop features works from local makers — textiles, glass, ceramics, jewellery, objects and publications. All products are designed by talented craftspeople and handmade, so by buying up you’re supporting independent makers.

I have submitted some teacup rings and wireframe neckpieces, the latter including stainless steel, sterling silver and 24k gold plated brass, all on oxidised sterling silver chain. You can see some examples of this series here, and learn about the teacup rings here.

My works will be in the ‘crucible showcase’ at the entrance to Craft ACT until Saturday 22nd May, at which point they will enter the shop. They are available as “cash and carry” so you can buy one from the display and take it home on the spot! What more could I ask or??

I made an extension to the Picnic Gems series (of early 2009) and created some more wearables derived from my earlier experiments with wireframes and goatskin parchment.

I apologise that the shots aren’t great — most of the pieces were sold (hence the little sticker dots everywhere) and I didn’t get a chance to shoot them using the flash. Thanks to all of those wonderful buyers out there! This really renewed my working vigour.

I’ll shortly be sending out pieces to a few suppliers, so stay tuned! I’m also working on some more costume-y pieces for my etsy store, which includes a bit of an overhaul/rebrand.

In 2010 I’ll be completing an honours years at ANU, so my next major project will involve refining a concept and further material explorations. Watch this space…

Having previously worked with melamine teacups, I resigned myself to explore further design possibilities using vintage melamine crockery, which led me to the technique of embedding layers of material (i.e. stacked plates or bowls) in coloured opaque resin. Finished with sterling silver, I produced a range of brooches and earrings for the show. These “picnic gems” are hand cut and carved from the large ‘rocks’ of material.

Currently, I am working on some new rings using this technique in combination with grenadilla wood and reclaimed Corian.

Below are the images of the works I submitted. Freshly Sealed runs until 18th October, at Galerie Agnes Raben.

For the maker, this opens up a niche – handmade pieces from independent designers at a reasonable price point are now more desirable to the market.

The exhibition has 9 student participants, mostly final-year or masters students (which makes me more than amateur…) who are each developing their own marketable range of products – wearables, accessories or decor pieces.

So how can we make a coherent exhibition out of this broad range of work? It seems that the contemporary jewellery scene is the only place where it is commonplace to exhibit production pieces. Of course, the dichotomy of exhibiting jewellery is that it almost negates the function of the pieces themselves — what is a piece of jewellery if it is behind glass, without a body, a wearer, a life? It becomes and empty object, the dialogue of the piece is changed, overlooked.

To me, these pieces need to communicate something about their context. For me, there is a constant struggle to justify my making production pieces in a world that is already flooded with products. Empty objects, only given purpose by the consumer, to be returned to emptiness once the next-gen designs appear.

The concept of inbuilt obsolescence in products keeps me awake at night. Perhaps this is why a can empathise with the works of makers like Karen Ryan, Marc Monzo and Denise Reytan.

In order to deal with these anxieties, I find myself drawn to forgotten objects as a basis for my work. Jewellery, being a highly personal and communicative medium, seems an apt place for re-contextualising these ‘lost’ objects. At the same time as making production pieces, I want to subvert the concept of mass-production itself. But how?

For the last 3 years or so, I’ve been working on an ongoing production series of ‘Teacup rings’. These rings are constructed from the handles of second-hand melamine teacups which were in production in Australia between the 1950s-1970s. During this time, melamine was a fashionable material for kitchenalia, picnic ware and crockery. I buy the cups from op-shops, garage sales and estate sales. Each wearable piece is hand-carved and unique. The shapes in the pieces reference the original lines of the products from which they are derived, as well as the natural movements of my tools when I carve. If you are interested, the pieces are available from Workshop Bilk.

I’ve decided I will keep working along this theme, using vintage plastics from abandoned mass-produced objects. Aesthetically, I like the concept of referencing the original forms. I have begun a few experiments, but more on that soon.

I’m also in charge of the graphic design/marketing team for this exhibition, this means there’ll be logo/identity design, packaging, promotional material, website and installation work to follow, too. 

Materials: Control vs dialogue, [pt. 2, explorations]

I realised there is something inherently destructive about the way we all approach materials. There is something destructive in all methods, all attempts at change. 

As humans, we once revered things – places, materials, objects. Once mountains were sacred places, trees were the work of gods, the natural order of things was acceptable, beautiful, illuminating. But through our attempts to control things – materials, processes, places – we have reduced the world to the sum of its parts. We move mountains on a daily basis.

Of course, innumerable advantages have come from our explorations – tree becomes wood, wood becomes house, house adds 50 years to the life expectancy of a man. An overly simplistic model, of course, but the approach has almost certainly been about control and destruction in order for creation to take place.

My explorations, arguably, have also involved destruction. But I have tried to move this process away from destruction and more towards deconstruction – allowing the material to decide it own form through my interactions.

I consider the larger context of this work, relative to the original form of the material and it’s intended purpose. The fabric, made of unbleached cotton fibres, is usually used for clothing, to envelope the body and protect it from the elements. the fibres themselves are natural, harvested from a tree, combed and carded and spun into strands. So then, what becomes of this deconstruction of the material?

*      *      *

I start to think about what to put inside the fabric shreds. I have some pig knuckle bones from the legs I skinned for my Konfrontation project. I had boiled them down from the flesh, further deconstructing the object. The bones are smooth with undulating, irregular forms. They vary only a little in size, and when moved around in my hands, they tend to nestle in one another’s forms.

I make a little installation on my wall with magnets and these works. I meditate on the forms and their materiality.

These bones, remnants of life, of a form and an ‘else’, evoke a sense of loss in me. I think that maybe this process, wrapping these remnants is a kind of mourning. My work with animal remains for my Konfrontation project has taught me that there is a profound and significant association of loss and loneliness with these things.

In these works, I am cradling these remnants. I let them decide the forms through gravity, through their own weight and physicality. They change the form of the fabric, creating tension as they drag it downwards. The softness and fluidity of the fabric envelops the bones, trying to understand their complex geometries, keeping them close.

*      *      *

I think about the format of these works. Should they be wearable? An installation? Their context changes when faced with a living body. The viewer will interpret them in a different way when they appear as a wearable. There is always an element of choice, decided communication between wearer and viewer.

Conversely, as an installation piece, there is a larger dialogue between maker and viewer, and between viewer and object.

I kind of want to make an installation which includes a body. A body not adorned with mourning pieces, but a mourning adorned with a body. More thought required.

We are instructed to choose a material we have a kinship with or would like to further explore in this class. I know I would like to explore the properties of textiles, and I have two in mind: one is silk organza, a light, fine woven fabric with little drape and a fair amount of body (I have some in black and in white); the second is an unbleached cotton jersey – standard knit, soft, light and drapey with a one-way stretch. Both of these fabrics are made of natural fibres and each has its own inherent qualities.

I begin with the black silk organza. It is stiff, strong and light. It is semi-translucent, and has a visible warp and weft. It has a small amount of give on the bias,  but almost none along the grain. I can easily pry fibres from the raw edges of the fabric, each thread long and even.

The second fabric is very different. It drapes; caresses and folds over the surfaces it touches; it stretches and flows with ease. It’s colour is flaxen, off-white with flecks of brown and grey. Using the crochet hook, I begin to unloop individual stitches from the raw edge of the fabric. I tug gently at the column of stitches, which form ladders in the fabric, perpendicular to the raw edge. Adjacent stitches merge into one gap. Entire rows become hanging threads, crinkled from their previous formation. Making ladders in the fabric change the tension, the flat plane of the fabric that existed now has more volume, more surface, extending beyond it’s previous borders. Further work makes an intricate, delicate kind of lacework. The drape becomes cascading shreds and threads. 

There is something missing from the equation. There is a kind of emptiness, the strength, the fragility, and lightness of the material is undefined. The stretch and tension is now latent. I take some glass beads, and bind them into the fabric, one by one, creating a huddled mass, weighty and finite. The material is pulled taut around the beads, parallel lines in the ladders warping around the beads, creating rhythmic concentric patterns. The remaining fabric trails behind, given a new quality purely by contrast. 

Here are some illustrations I’ve been looking at as inspiration for a basis for my scrimshaw and pyrography work.

Amanda Nedham

Lisa Solomon

Nic di Genova 

After some experiments with hand techniques, I got thinking that it might be nice to try some mechanical engraving (perhaps in combination) on my bone pieces. I have designed some engraving patterns to be CNC milled into some bone pieces – more next post on that. 

I stumbled across this Dezeen article on Karen Ryan last week, and I can’t get her work out of my head.

Ryan uses ‘used’ objects to create amazing graphic-inspired objects which make a strong social comment about consumerism and the obsolescence of products.

She manages to find a place as a product designer amidst a sea of mass-over-production. Very poetic and thought-provoking, whilst being aesthetically very edgy and fresh.

Her personal website has a link to her Flickr photostream, showing objects and process from previous collections.