Recent work, Practice 5

I have around two weeks left of making until the end of Practice 5, and last week was a really positive one for me. I made good progress by expanding the materials I am using and being playful with my ideas. The whole project has been really refreshing because there is no final finished proposal, but a selection of ideas that could be progressed into finished work. With the pressure off to resolve the project now, I have been able to really get creative, not worrying about the finish of my test pieces too much and focusing on the concept and design possibilities.

Here is a selection of pieces starting with initial wire drawings, progressing to newer tests. The project is based around a 100 year old map of my birthplace, Pudsey, Leeds, and objects of navigation, space and time.

It was also one of my best friends birthday this week, and as she always wears hoop earrings I made her this pair in silver. Its the first time Ive made earrings as my designs are usually based around rings, bracelets and necklaces.



They feature hand-pierced floral shapes, soldered onto silver wire which I shaped. I bought the silver findings.

London Greenwich Museums and Lesley Craze Gallery

Recently I visited the National Maritime Museum and Royal Observatory in Greenwich. I wanted to look at the historic objects relating to navigation and time as part of my project research. The Maritime Museum has a fantastic display of globes, sundials and other intricate pieces of equipment that are beautifully made on the first floor. The pieces were really interesting and have furthered my investigation considerably.

Greenwich

Below are some photos I took as research and a shot of the view from the Observatory over London and one over Greenwich museums.

I also visited the Lesley Craze Gallery in Farringdon before heading back to Manchester. I think the jewellery on display there and changing exhibitions are always really current and exciting, I usually see plenty of beautiful collections of work that I havent seen before in craft fairs and other exhibitions.

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

Practice 5

I am currently in the middle of practice 5, which counts as half of my project work for my third year. It is an interesting time, the practice allows you to be experimental, following any new, risky or ambitious ideas you may have which can then be carried through into the second part of the year to be developed into finished pieces for the degree show and New Designers. At the same time as this I am trying to develop my extended essay, the title being " How does the traditional and cultural significance of the ring affect contemporary jewellery?"

I absolutely love rings, I feel that they are such personal pieces because of the way they are worn, always moving and in contact with the body. The history and culture of rings as symbols of marriage and status is an area I am finding fascinating to read about, and theres some great books out there on the subject. One of my favourites so far is "Rings: Symbols of wealth, power and affection" by Diana Scarisbrick.

At the same time I am putting the finishing touches to my nine message rings which are going into stock at MMU originals.

Liverpool

Today I went to Liverpool to source historical objects of inspiration for my recent practice. I visited the Merseyside Maritime Museum on Albert Dock, which had some really interesting exhibitions. The one I spent the most time in was ' Endurance: Shackleton's Antarctic adventure'.

http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime/ The photographs documenting Shackleton's attempt to be the first to reach the South Pole are stunning and if you are in Liverpool, it's definately worth a visit.

Following my research there I took the opportunity to go to Bluecoats shop again and have a look around the galleries. http://www.thebluecoat.org.uk/

I loved having the chance to look around a different city, half my family is from Liverpool so I have spent some time there over the years, but not much of it visiting the centre. I really like the atmosphere around town and being able to walk around the docks. 

Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair

My sterling silver message rings were exhibited this weekend at the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair in Spinningfields, Manchester http://www.greatnorthernevents.co.uk/

It was a brilliant experience for myself and the three other students I shared the Manchester School of Art stand with, as we could test our products on the market and get a feel for what exhibiting at a fair is like and the work involved.

The work is sold through MMU originals http://www.mmu.ac.uk/mmuoriginals/unique/ and is still available to purchase online.

Some photos taken of our stand and my work:

The final image is after the show, with the rings packaged and ready to be sold online via MMU Originals.