Ive decided to try and define "Street Jewellery", in the hope that such a definition existed and that it would create some grounding based on the type of Jewellery, i am involved in.
I tried to google Street Jewellery, and found nothing. There seemed to be no pages relating to jewelry. I then changed the word search to "underground", and "Hip hop" Jewellery, and i kind of knew what was coming, but deep down i hoped that someone was making work that spoke about an urban landscape.
As expected i was faced with knuckle dusters,and diamond impregnated Bling that im afraid does not speak into my world. I was hoping for, forms, textures, gadgetry and objects that make up the urban aesthetic of the street.
I then changed the word search to "Urban Object Jewellery" and discovered the work of Melbourne based contemporary Jeweller Caz Guiney…
When reading her artists bio, i identified aspects of her approach which i can identify in my own work. Yet another key word arises, "Public Space"
Her work engages with a public space attempting to establish a dialogue between the landscape, the object and the body. Her work draws on the urban fabric as a source of material and inspiration for Jewellery and objects.
I applaud her of her approach for helping me understand relative issues taking place in my own works.
Her work can be seen here.
Hi Glenn, I'm on the same hunt myself - and actually just sent out an email today to a bunch of people for leads on urban jewellers / jewellers who engage the city.
ReplyDeleteIn the meantime here's what I do:
It's very situation-specific - using materials from a location, but also exploring how the work produces new experiences/encounters with those situations:
http://hostabrooch.blogspot.com.au/2011/09/brooches.html
http://materialmigrations.wordpress.com/
and older stuff at
www.jacquichan.co.nz
good luck on the hunt...
jacqui
Hi Jacqui, I appollogise for only seeing your comment now. Ive more recently come to the conclusion that my work is inspired by street art.
ReplyDeleteThis does deal with using materials from within an urban space, and how the viewer or wearer, re experiences those encounters from the relative materials. In a discussion with my supervisor, he felt that Site dealt with the notion of wearing bold pieces within a public space, and that this type of jewellery was not worn under a shirt, hidden by the traditions of jewellery. To extend this view of site, i thought it was relevant to point out that site may also relate to the location from which materials are sourced. They were once the detritus of a public space, urban, then transformed to be worn on the body, returning from a space they once occupied. And then their are sensory issues whereby a viewer is connected to an object, as an experience they are reliving due to the relationship that object has with that individuals culture.
I really liked the title of your Jewellery profile, Urban metabolisim.
I hope you find what you are looking for...
Cheers
Glenn