METRO
1 July 2003
A county show of design
EXHIBITION
Great Yorkshire Talent
If the thought of spending the afternoon admiring all things agricultural
at the Great Yorkshire Show is a bit green welly for you, then the
take on country matters from 13 of the region's jewellery designers
could be more up your street. Taking categories from the show such
as Housewives' Choice Cattle Competition and Wool On The Hoof, as
their themes, the 12 jewellery designers and textile artist showing
in Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery's Great Yorkshire Talent exhibition
have each produced a competition piece.
With the category names as a guide, and the only limitations being
the size of the piece (lOxlO cm) and a selling price of under £200,
the designers have taken inspiration from sources as disparate as
vintage agricultural equipment, bees and the Yorkshire landscape.
The pieces range from literal interpretations to work that veers
into more abstract realms. Exceptional designs include Fiona Mackay's
beautiful choker, Flowers, which features an intricate ball of enamelled
blooms, and Genevieve Broughton's honeycomb ring (above).
The most attention-grabbing pieces, though, are Halifax-based Sara
TunstaIl's pair of silver sheep brooches (left). Tunstall, who grew
up in Calderdale's sheep-farming area, usually makes pared-down,
minimalist jeweIlery, but applied similar techniques to the creation
of wittily cartoon-like beasts with stylised rectangular bodies.
Showing alongside the competition pieces are collections by each
of the featured designers. To further reinforce the link between
art and agriculture, the pieces will be displayed in the Art Pavilion
of the Great Yorkshire Show between July 8 and 10.
Tina Jackson
Today until Aug 31, Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery, Salts Mill,
Victoria Road, Saltaire, daily 10am to 6pm, free. Tel: 01274 599790.