Melanie Katsalidis, NINE 3, 2019, 18ct rose gold with a hexagonal step cut parti sapphire and a halo of round brilliant champagne diamonds, 12.5mm x 11mm x 6.5mm. Photo: Arini Byng

NINE

Tessa Blazey
Carla Maxine Germann
Melanie Katsalidis
ManiaMania - Melanie Kamsler 
Natalia Milosz-Piekarska

Amy Renshaw
Kim Victoria
Karla Way
Suzi Zutic

10 September – 5 October 

Mon– Fri 10am-6pm
Sat 10am-5pm

(OPENING)

Thu 12 September, 6-8pm

at 

Pieces of Eight Gallery 

28 Russell Place 
Melbourne 3000 

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

Kim Victoria and Tessa Blazey, NINE 1, 2019, 28mm x 20mm x 9mm, Australian Sapphire, diamonds and white gold. Photo: Andrew Barcham

Pieces of Eight celebrates the radiance of the Australian Sapphire in NINE. In reference to the gem’s hardness of nine on the Moh’s scale, Pieces of Eight has invited nine Australian jewellers to produce a series of works that pay homage to the Australian Sapphire. We are excited to showcase works that champion this special gem from the heart of Australia, exploring its raw beauty and spectrum of blues, greens and parti colours.

@po8gallery  #po8gallery   #australiansapphire

Julia Storey, NINE 2, 2019, 9ct yellow gold with blue and teal Australian sapphires, 9.6mm x 7mm x 4.5mm. Photo: Andrew Barcham

(ABOUT THE ARTISTS)
​
Between 1993-1999 Tessa Blazey completed Bachelors of Fine Art (Sculpture) and Interior Design (Hons) at RMIT University, and in 2008 completed an Advanced Diploma of Engineering Technology (Jewellery) at NMIT. Blazey has exhibited her work both nationally and internationally and is the recipient of two arts grants from the Australia Council for the Arts; she also has work in the permanent collections of the National Gallery of Australia. She has held three solo exhibitions at Pieces of Eight Gallery; Fabrication, 2009, Romancing the Stone, 2013 and Heroes and Villains, 2016.

Karla Way began her jewellery studies at NMIT TAFE in 2001 and went on to complete a Bachelor of Arts (Honours - Gold and Silversmithing) at RMIT University in 2008. Her graduate work was short listed for the Fillipo Raphael Fresh! Award at Craft Victoria in Melbourne, 2007, Hatched at Pica in Perth and Design Now: Object Gallery in Sydney, 2009. Karla has participated in group exhibitions nationally at Craft Victoria, Courtesy of the Artist and Pieces of Eight, and internationally at Gallerie Marzee in the Netherlands and Velvet da Vinci and Gallery Loupe in the USA. 

Melanie Katsalidis is the director and founder of Pieces of Eight which she established in 2005. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Melbourne University (2000) and Bachelor of Fine Arts, Gold and Silversmithing, RMIT University (2003). Her work is held in many private collections and is often commission based. She has exhibited widely, and in 2014 collaborated with Melbourne fashion label Alpha60 on an exhibition using Australian opals which culminated in an exhibition entitled UPALA, and in 2016 collaborated with New York based sculptor Phillip Low on CHROMA. In 2017 she presented NEO Cuts at Pieces of Eight.

Natalia Milosz-Piekarska is a Melbourne based jeweller who works across a variety of mediums and projects. Moving between exhibition work, limited series collections, precious pieces and personalised commissions, Natalia’s love of material, colour, detail and storytelling filters through every handmade creation.
She completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) in Gold and Silversmithing, RMIT in 2008. Career awards and grants include the 2013 Australian Arts Council New Work grant, 2010 British Council ‘Realise Your Dream’ award and 2011 Ian Potter Cultural Trust grant.

Completing a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Interior Design at RMIT University in 1998, Suzi Zutic took a new direction and in 2005 completed a Bachelor of Fine Art in Gold & Silversmithing (RMIT). With an interest in gemstones, she pursued further study and attended the G.A.A (Gemological Association of Australia) where she completed a Certificate IV in Gemological Studies 2008 and won The Suzette Fairly Scholarship for Gemology. She has also taken part in Diamond Grading studies with the GIA (Gemmological Institute of America) after being awarded an international scholarship.

Designer Kim Victoria draws inspiration from the stark and fascinating Australian landscape, geological topographies and the built environment. With a love of artisanal handcrafts, Kim creates precious and semi-precious collections, both beautiful and original. Kim honed her craft with a Bachelor of Fine Art from RMIT in Gold and Silversmithing. Armed with an additional degree in Interior Design, Kim has developed a design language that balances conceptual practice and quality craftsmanship. She has held two solo exhibitions at Pieces of Eight; Orogeny, 2015 and Monumental Love, 2017.

Carla Maxine Germann was born in South Africa, and has been designing and making jewellery since the age of 14. Her first jewellery business was already exporting to the UK & USA by the time she was 16. Carla has completed a Bachelor Degree in Visual Arts (Creative Jewellery Design and Metal Techniques), with Masters, at Stellenbosch University, while also interning at the Galerie Louise Smit in Amsterdam. After graduating in 2014, Carla created her own jewellery label in Cape Town, and is now based in Sydney, Australia.

Founded in 2009, MANIAMANIA has long been one of the most-talked about jewellery labels, with a cult-like following for their uniquely symbolic jewellery and directional style. With studios in New York and Sydney, MANIAMANIA focuses on fine jewellery, bespoke and alternative commitment jewellery, with each piece lovingly hand crafted using precious metals, ethically sourced diamonds and custom cut gemstones.

Amy Renshaw is a Melbourne based maker and designer of contemporary jewellery. Since graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Art: Gold and Silversmithing at RMIT, Amy has worked in Melbourne and London refining her skills and techniques and developing her distinct style. She has received a Sapphex Affiliated Award for Concept and Execution and a Tanzer Holdings Award for Excellence in Silversmithing Design.
Amy's work is recognised by its uncomplicated, refined simple form and geometric shape, often with an asymmetric detail. Colour plays a strong part in her work and is a constant source of inspiration.