The material thought
The material thought initiates a dialogue surrounding what is known and what is unknown in the making process. By collating a small group of both local and international, early-career makers, we observe how risk is involved in their making processes. In particular, how these considerations materialise within the construct of the jewellery object.
Each maker is grounded in the physicality of process, methods and techniques of making through material, yet each approach is unique. Beyond the finished form, we look to the visual and material research, the planning and forethought. Is the sequence of making procedural and/or precise? Or perhaps processes may be more intuitive or variable, where pieces form naturally and may be entirely or in part, unpremeditated. In both approaches, to be made certain of material, trial and error and experimentation are required to understand its inherent qualities.
Each maker is grounded in the physicality of process, methods and techniques of making through material, yet each approach is unique. Beyond the finished form, we look to the visual and material research, the planning and forethought. Is the sequence of making procedural and/or precise? Or perhaps processes may be more intuitive or variable, where pieces form naturally and may be entirely or in part, unpremeditated. In both approaches, to be made certain of material, trial and error and experimentation are required to understand its inherent qualities.
a. Julia Obermaier, Release, brooch, 2016, agate, resin, pigment, stainless steel, 100x55x55mm. Photo credit: Julia Obermaier
b. Ruby Aitchison, Untitled, neckpiece, 2016, eggplant, mild steel, linen, 380x200x55mm. Photo credit: Ruby Aitchison
b. Ruby Aitchison, Untitled, neckpiece, 2016, eggplant, mild steel, linen, 380x200x55mm. Photo credit: Ruby Aitchison
About the Artist
Paul Adie was born in Scotland and after studying a degree in Russian and Spanish in Glasgow, he hopped around Europe living in Spain, Russia, Estonia and Lithuania, eventually settling in Barcelona to work as a translator. Paul then decided to study jewellery at the Escola Massana under Ramón Puig Cuyàs. Paul’s work has been selected for Talente 2016 (Munich, Germany), the Marzee International Graduation Show 2016 (Nijmegen, The Netherlands) and has also exhibited in Spain and his native Scotland.
Ruby Aitchison lives in Melbourne, Australia, and has completed her Masters of Fine Art at RMIT University. Ruby is interested in organic activity when juxtaposed with metal, and her process-based practice initiates a dialogue between materials to develop objects as a description of their making. Her work has been exhibited locally, interstate, and internationally, participating in the Marzee International Graduate Show 2012, Netherlands, and Talente 2013, Munich. She received the Future Leaders award at Fresh! 2014, was a selected finalist for the Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize 2015, and more recently awarded the 2016 Diana Morgan Postgraduate Award at RMIT University.
Katie Collins is a maker of jewellery and objects, based in Melbourne, Australia. Katie is a graduate of RMIT University with a BA in Fine Art (Honours), specialising in Gold and Silversmithing. Her work has been selected for national and international exhibitions, including the Itami International Craft Exhibition, Japan, Mari Funaki Award Exhibition, Australia and Talente, Germany. In 2014, Katie exhibited her jewellery pieces at Galerie Marzee in the Netherlands where she was a recipient of the Marzee International Graduate Prize.
Sara Gackowska lives and works in Międzychód, Poland. Sara completed Masters at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk, Poland, having also studied Jewellery at Saimaa University of Applied Sciences, Finland and BA in Design Institute at University of Technology, Koszalin. She has participated in collective and solo exhibitions in Europe, America, Asia and Canada. Her unconventional and surprising solutions have been recognized internationally: Mari Funaki Award , Grand Prix in Amberif Design Award 2012, and Schmuck 2017. Works in International Collection of Contemporary Jewellery Art of The Gallery of Art in Legnica, and the Amber Museum in Gdańsk, Poland.
Julia Obermaier lives and works in her own atelier in Kempten, Germany. She trained as a goldsmith at the State College for Glass and Jewellery Kaufbeuren- Neugablonz from 2009 to 2012. After that she graduated from her Bachelor of Fine Arts studies in Gemstone and Jewellery in Idar-Oberstein, Germany, in 2016. Creating delicate variations of jewellery, she engages in the idea of an object worn on the body. Her work concentrates on personal spaces, prompting fragile encounters of stone and metal. Her latest work has been exhibited at TALENTE 2017 and also internationally at 30th Marzee International Graduate Show 2016.
Paul Adie was born in Scotland and after studying a degree in Russian and Spanish in Glasgow, he hopped around Europe living in Spain, Russia, Estonia and Lithuania, eventually settling in Barcelona to work as a translator. Paul then decided to study jewellery at the Escola Massana under Ramón Puig Cuyàs. Paul’s work has been selected for Talente 2016 (Munich, Germany), the Marzee International Graduation Show 2016 (Nijmegen, The Netherlands) and has also exhibited in Spain and his native Scotland.
Ruby Aitchison lives in Melbourne, Australia, and has completed her Masters of Fine Art at RMIT University. Ruby is interested in organic activity when juxtaposed with metal, and her process-based practice initiates a dialogue between materials to develop objects as a description of their making. Her work has been exhibited locally, interstate, and internationally, participating in the Marzee International Graduate Show 2012, Netherlands, and Talente 2013, Munich. She received the Future Leaders award at Fresh! 2014, was a selected finalist for the Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize 2015, and more recently awarded the 2016 Diana Morgan Postgraduate Award at RMIT University.
Katie Collins is a maker of jewellery and objects, based in Melbourne, Australia. Katie is a graduate of RMIT University with a BA in Fine Art (Honours), specialising in Gold and Silversmithing. Her work has been selected for national and international exhibitions, including the Itami International Craft Exhibition, Japan, Mari Funaki Award Exhibition, Australia and Talente, Germany. In 2014, Katie exhibited her jewellery pieces at Galerie Marzee in the Netherlands where she was a recipient of the Marzee International Graduate Prize.
Sara Gackowska lives and works in Międzychód, Poland. Sara completed Masters at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk, Poland, having also studied Jewellery at Saimaa University of Applied Sciences, Finland and BA in Design Institute at University of Technology, Koszalin. She has participated in collective and solo exhibitions in Europe, America, Asia and Canada. Her unconventional and surprising solutions have been recognized internationally: Mari Funaki Award , Grand Prix in Amberif Design Award 2012, and Schmuck 2017. Works in International Collection of Contemporary Jewellery Art of The Gallery of Art in Legnica, and the Amber Museum in Gdańsk, Poland.
Julia Obermaier lives and works in her own atelier in Kempten, Germany. She trained as a goldsmith at the State College for Glass and Jewellery Kaufbeuren- Neugablonz from 2009 to 2012. After that she graduated from her Bachelor of Fine Arts studies in Gemstone and Jewellery in Idar-Oberstein, Germany, in 2016. Creating delicate variations of jewellery, she engages in the idea of an object worn on the body. Her work concentrates on personal spaces, prompting fragile encounters of stone and metal. Her latest work has been exhibited at TALENTE 2017 and also internationally at 30th Marzee International Graduate Show 2016.