clueless

[joella]

Hi everyone, Not sure if I'm posting this in quite the right place but here goes, bumbling around in the dark here, with my unusual question.
I've been doing a history of art/art appreciation course, and I'm nearing the end - but my current assignment is to pick any art work of my own choice from the last 20 - preferably 10 years. There are any number of well known artists work that I could pick, but due to a perverse nature (needing to make things more difficult than they need to be), I would love to pick an item of jewellery. It would need to be a piece that there is plenty to say about, and plenty to say about its maker, their own life, a body of work, their 'ethos' if they have one, a context for their work etc. but I'm struggling to even find out where to go for information regarding any renowned jewellers of the last 10-20 years, let alone finding one that fits the bill and researching them for my assignment. If anyone has any ideas where I could source this kind of info, I'd love to hear from you. I know I could choose a more usual item of art work, but I'd love to do this assignment on an item of jewellery in order to put jewellery in it's proper place - it is, after all, art as well as craft. Any ideas for pointing me in a useful direction would be much appreciated. I have had a bit of a look at Ilgiz Fazulzianov (thanks to, I think it was Dennis who recently posted a link), but I'm not convinced I can find enough out to write enough of a review/essay about him and his prize winning piece.
Thanks, in hopeful anticipation. Sue.

[Goldsmith]

Sue, you have chosen a difficult subject. I would suggest you start at the Goldsmith's Company, check out; http://www.directory.thegoldsmiths.co.uk/designers/ also you could perhaps contact The Institute of Professional Goldsmiths; http://www.ipgoldsmiths.com/
One problem you might find is that if you find a well regarded piece of jewellery you like, it will have a well known name attached to it, but it is likely that the well known name did not actually make the piece.
If you cannot find a jeweller.
There are a few living silversmiths who have good current artistic history. The likes of Chris Lawrence; http://www.styles-silver.co.uk/acatalog/Christopher_Lawrence.html
Grant macdonald; http://www.grantmacdonald.com/

Good luck
James

[CJ57]

This isn't jewellery but metalwork but I think she's extraordinary and there is a lot about her online http://www.junkomori.com

[Vos]

The only name I know from that period is William Llewellyn Griffiths. Do a Google image search for his work, it's astounding. Check out his cathedral rings that go for 15k upwards. His couture works are works of art. Not sure how much biog info you need but there's reasonable info on his history, depending on the level of your course.


Hope this gives you some ideas

Vos

[metalsmith]

This isn't jewellery but metalwork but I think she's extraordinary and there is a lot about her online http://www.junkomori.com
Exhibition on in Rochdale, not too far from me; would be worth a look over the festive period: http://www.link4life.org/news/2384-a-common-ground

[CJ57]

Exhibition on in Rochdale, not too far from me; would be worth a look over the festive period: http://www.link4life.org/news/2384-a-common-ground

Ooh lucky you, too far for me I'm afraid!

[metalsmith]

Took me a while to find, but I really liked www.franceswadsworthjones.com/ Thieves collection ... not so sure about heaven sent!!

[joella]

Thanks for all your responses everyone, I think this is something I will have to give some thought to over the Xmas break, and maybe have a practice go at someone's work just to see if there is enough information available to go at. A good point James that the well known person may not have actually made the piece. I love Ricardo Basta's 'sea treasure octopus' ring, but don't know if this may fall into just that category.
http://static.squarespace.com/static/5285526ee4b0e717450bc56a/53dc0f9ae4b091e33fbb4517/53e50a52e4b0206c1efe2536/1407519352268/BDGS_00197.jpg?format=500w
Thanks again everyone.
Sue

[Didi]

Hi Sue, What about our very own James?
Didi

[metalsmith]

A couple of images from the above exhibition

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7319/16484848232_b190334444.jpg Kayo Saito Sprout Broach
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7397/15865682613_acc520ce56.jpgJunko Mori sculpture
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8609/16484069821_7f478da1ca.jpg Super-Jumbo-Propagation Wave - Junko Mori

[metalsmith]

I love Ricardo Basta's 'sea treasure octopus' ring, but don't know if this may fall into just that category.
http://static.squarespace.com/static/5285526ee4b0e717450bc56a/53dc0f9ae4b091e33fbb4517/53e50a52e4b0206c1efe2536/1407519352268/BDGS_00197.jpg?format=500w

Sue


Normally I find this style to be a bit too gaudy for my taste (taste being subjective after all), but I love this and my eldest son has been pestering me to make him a squid ring. Admittedly something like this is a great leap from my just-budding abilities, but I have to say I do like it...

[joella]

I have to admit, it's not a piece I would wear, but it is beautiful and interesting in its own right as a piece of art, and as such I do think it would be a good piece for a written critique. Having said that, I don't think I will use it after all - I'll probably go with something that fits the criteria for my course better.

[CJ57]

A couple of images from the above exhibition

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7319/16484848232_b190334444.jpg Kayo Saito Sprout Broach
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7397/15865682613_acc520ce56.jpgJunko Mori sculpture
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8609/16484069821_7f478da1ca.jpg Super-Jumbo-Propagation Wave - Junko Mori

You made it to the exhibition, was it great in the flesh?