Exhibition - Downsizing

There are exhibitions everywhere that showcase

unusual, beautiful and noteworthy objects.

Occasionally, along with the interesting items

on display, it's the purpose of the exhibit that

strikes us as extraordinary.

Pieces of Eight Gallery in Melbourne, Australia

 is currently showing a group exhibition

of jewelry artists who used

 to be interior designers.

The exhibition called "Downsizing" runs

 from July 26 – September 3. 

This gathering of recently-trained jewelry artists

 found their true calling in the field of metalsmithing

 when they each realized that their creativity

 would be better expressed by actually

 creating small -scale objects by hand 

rather than drawing their designs to be executed

on a large scale by other professionals. 

Changing their focus from the large spaces

of buildings, they now pour their creative energy into, 

and derive fulfillment by,

working on a more intimate level to adorn individuals.

The possibilities they explore in creating jewelry

are further enriched by the shortened amount of

time it takes to see results. Designing interiors 

can take enormous time, effort, stress, and funding,

but a metalsmith cam create a piece of work

 in a much shorter period of time.

The range of materials, ideas and processes

are thought provoking. 

 Here are examples of their work.

This ring by Kim Victoria Wearne is a real show stopper. 

 It's called "Ocimum basilicum: Hatred 2011" and

is made with sterling silver, basil,

floral foam, copper wire. 

(Yes, fresh basil!)  

The title refers to basil symbolizing hatred

 in ancient Grecian times. It's part of her ongoing

series that includes botanical elements in her

work - exploring what she refers to as

the 'Victorian Language of Flowers'

which is a system of encoding bouquets

with emotion and sentiment.

This cuff by Belinda Esperson is called "Paper Cuff 1"

and is made with sterling silver.

It's intriguing to see how she can make

sterling silver appear almost as fragile as paper.

This cuff made by Katrina Tyler is called

 "Cluster Fragment 2011" and is made

with oxidized copper.

And there are many other equally

interesting pieces on view.

The individual artists who are participating

in this exhibit include:

Tessa Blazey, Djurdjica Kesic, Suzi Zutic,

Katrina Tyler, Karen Hamilton, Kim Victoria Wearne

and Belinda Esperson.

The exhibit runs until September 3rd.