New Tastes – Twelve New Graduates, Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery
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Delectable jewellery, metalwork and silversmithing! Our annual pick of the most delicious new talents selected from all across the UK and Ireland!
Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery, which this year celebrates twenty years at Salts Mill, Saltaire, has selected and exhibited the work of new graduates since its inception. In numerous cases these emerging talents have gone on to gain wide acclaim for their work, and many continue to be represented by the gallery.
For the exhibition New Tastes Kath serves up twelve sumptuous collections cooked up by new graduates from all over the UK and Ireland, ‘Spotting and then supporting the work of cutting edge new graduates has always been extremely central to the ethos of the gallery. Forging a career straight out of college is really challenging. Now, more than ever, it is vital to exhibit and encourage these incredibly talented jewellers and metalsmiths at this formative stage in their careers.’
The Tasting Menu includes:
Wanshu Li, Edinburgh College of Art - ‘Go with the Glow’ is a taste explosion – sensual, soft to the touch jewels, in a riot of fluorescent UV reactive nylon wire, inspired by raves, laser light shows, and jellyfish!
Rob Anderson, Sheffield Hallam University - already a winner, bagging the prestigious 2016 Business Design Centre New Designer of the Year Award for his Japanese ceramic inspired ‘family’ of earthy steel vessels entitled ‘Heavy Hands’. Their meditative beauty arises from his carefully considered making process – a wonderfully tactile collection with great presence.
Hayley Brooks, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, Dundee - the peaceful expansive landscapes of the Scottish wilds are captured in her sensitive collection of chokers and bangles – microscopic details of lichen covered rocks appear in richly textured soft silicone contrasting with sleek silver – ‘a personal souvenir - enabling the wearer to carry with them something of the peace and solace found in the Scottish landscape.’
Chen Cheng, Birmingham School of Jewellery - inspired by ballet, Chen’s delightfully playful series of rings and brooches seem alive, dancing on the body – every element of her finely manipulated metal wire mini sculptures move as the wearer moves.
Sheng Zhang, Birmingham School of Jewellery – winner of the New Designers Goldsmiths’ Company Silversmithing Award 2016 is influenced by minimalist art and contemporary architecture. Shafts of light slice through finely crafted incisions in his series of supremely elegant geometric brooches and vessels – all darkly oxidised with glinting gold edges.
Darcey Skelly, National College of Art and Design, Dublin – ‘Voyages of the Starship Stetson’ - a collision of two iconic fictional genres, Sci-Fi and the Western, paired in a crazy creation of her own imagining. Her concept, if the Cowboys of the Old West found a way to propel themselves into Space to colonise a planet. Darcey describes herself as ‘an illustrative maker’, a storyteller who aims to show there is more to a piece than meets the eye!
Room for more?
We are also delighted to serve up collections by: Francesca Lobb, Manchester School of Art; Felicity Lynden, University of Edinburgh; Freya Alder, Glasgow School of Art; Stephanie O’Leary, Middlesex University, London; Michaela Murrain, De Montfort University, Leicester; and Amanda Denison, Winchester School of Art.
2020 Reflections
This year we’re celebrating 20 years since Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery first opened its doors. During that time we’ve exhibited the work of hundreds of talented contemporary art jewellers from around the world.
We’ve celebrated the work of new graduates and long established jewellers, we’ve worked with our customers to find or commission exactly the right piece often for special occasions or commemorations, other times just for the sheer joy of wearing an individually designed, handmade piece of jewellery.
Over this anniversary year we’ve been talking to twenty people who’ve been involved with Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery over the last two decades, makers, collectors, educators, journalists, and hearing from them what it is about the gallery that they love and appreciate. Here is a taster of some of our favourite 20/20 Reflections:
'Kath is really supportive of new graduates and emerging talents. She has an eye for exciting, fresh, innovative work – pieces that engage in more than just a visual way. It’s not just about pretty things!'
Sally Collins – Lecturer in Jewellery Design, Birmingham School of Jewellery
'20/20 is a gem of an exhibition demonstrating how the obsessiveness of making can result in spectacular but carefully observed work of quality and intellect.'
Rosy Greenlees, Executive Director of the Crafts Council
'In a very difficult market Kath keeps coming up with interesting ideas for exhibitions – they always have great titles! She challenges and encourages people to develop a wider view of what jewellery can be. I take my hat off to her!'
Corinne Julius – Critic, Journalist, Curator and Collector (Curator of Silver Speaks: Idea to Object, currently at the V&A)
Dates: 10th November 2016 - 29th January 2017
Open: Monday to Friday 10am – 5.30pm. Weekends 10am – 6pm
Venue: Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery, Salts Mill, Saltaire, Bradford BD18 3LA
