Art Mile- Auckland Art Week 2012
Talisman project Installation # 1
This installation is the first in a series of events leading up to a multi-media collaborative exhibition to be launched at Objectspace, Ponsonby Road in June 2014. 'Hanging Object # 1 is the first object made for the project, from black straws and hemp cord. You can wear it if you dare.
'Working mainly in the field of contemporary jeweller my practice to date has been focused on making smaller scale wearable works. I'm interested in how objects may over time be imbued with soul and meaning. These larger scale works continue this line of thought; expanding the scale to alter the object's relationship to the body, playing with space and material.'
Shown alongside Hanging Object # 1 is an unnamed construction of concentric circles cut from clear acrylic plastic strung on black elastic. This was made to contain, protect and display the object within while existing as a sculptural form in it's own right.
The object within. Also one of the first visual references for objects to be made in the Talisman Project.
The Great Samoan Volunteer Trip 2012
A two week volunteer trip in September 2012 within a group of 9, organised by NZ charity Spinning Top to improve children's shelters run by Samoan Victim Support Group.
Mural design references the 'Poutama' stepped pattern traditionally used in tukutuku woven wall patterns in Maori meeting houses. The pattern is also known as 'Stairway to Heaven' and refers to man's search for knowledge, growth and wisdom.
Winter Brooch 2012- Royal Jewellery Studio
'These brooches are made as a triptych, one leading to the other in a gradual collapsing of form. The de-structuring process adds an element of chance; with forms folding in on themselves, bending and twisting as they go.'
'The Stone Age'- Fashion Quarterly, Autumn 2012
Jewelism-Materials into Ideas ⁄ Ideas into Materials
Running concurrently with JEMposium, the international Contemporary Jewellery Symposium held in Wellington, this exhibition features two works from each of the selected artists, one based on 'Materials into Ideas' and one on 'Ideas into Materials'
Zeitgeist Shrapnel-Fingers Jewellery 2011
"When Fingers began in 1974 we were a group of people making jewellery. Some had more concerns with ideas in their work than others. 'Guaranteed Trash' in 1976 responded to the punk movement of the time. Shows such as 'Worn Out Art' in 1979 included visual artists and Daniel Clasby even wore a smoked fish as a necktie. Theme shows such as 'Bone' and 'Paua Dreams' in the 80's were largely material based however they did reflect the Zeitgeist of the time dealing with Aotearoa and Pacific identity. By 1989 'New Medals' was dealing with political issues.
Since those days some fine contemporary jewellers have graduated from Tertiary Visual Arts courses. I am delighted that the Fingers Shopgirls, all graduates from such courses, are honouring those early shows with 'Zeitgeist Shrapnel' moving on from the old and dealing with ideas from now."
Alan Preston, 2011'Neckware 8' Masterworks Gallery
Guest selected by Rhana Davenport with Eloise Kitson.
Broach of the Month Club 2011- BOM Masterworks
A collaborative year long project between 12 makers, 12 wearers and 12 brooches. 12 makers are chosen and asked to make/supply a brooch for the year long project. Each month one of the 12 wearers receives one of the 12 brooches to wear for that month and documents their experiences, observations and interactions while wearing the piece. This is documented on a blog and collated into a journal to be shared at the end of the year.
Model/jewellery 2011
Experiments into new materials and surrealist techniques resulting from a week long master-class workshop at RMIT (Melbourne) in February 2011 with acclaimed Dutch jeweller Manon Van Kouswijk.. Shown in the 'Jewellery Box' at Masterworks Gallery March 2011.