Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery

FINDINGS - The Association for Contemporary Jewellery's quarterly newsletter.
June, 2007

Wood You? - an Exhibition of Thirteen International Jewellery Artists previews on 19 July at Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery in Salts Mill, Saltaire and runs until 30 September. The redoubtable Kath Libbert sends us a trailer for her next blockbuster summer exhibition. We asked for it since the timing means we can't review the show until our December issue, but thought you should know about it. Volunteer reviewer welcomed!
Kath explains: "As the title suggests, the exhibition poses a challenge to its viewers to consider 'branching out' in their taste in contemporary jewellery! I asked the participating artists to say something about why they chose to work in wood which produced some interesting replies which will be included in the exhibition."
Mette Jensen, Denmark, spoke of the myriad of "possibilities the material holds... some are good for carving, others for burning, others for bending... the list just goes on and on." She currently focuses on the bending of mainly beech into elegant sculptural bangles and neckpieces. Beppe Kessler, Holland, takes up the burning and the carving potential, with her unique jewels fashioned from feather light balsa wood often intricately stitched. Julia Harrison, USA, and Ulrich Reithofer, Austria, work the wood through carving and colouring to wonderful effect. Harrison finds wood, "to be convincingly fleshy... smooth and slightly warm, and like our bodies, can be bruised or marred by experience." Her 'lips' brooches carved from maple and cherry are unnerving testament to this.
Ramon Puig Cuyas, Barcelona, contributes two collections with new pieces in carved cork specially created for Wood You? and his more recognisable colourful collage brooches in wood and other found materials. Terhi Tolvanen, Finland, creates jewellery that comments on the interaction between man and nature, and fungi and flora, what she calls the "jewellery of the forest," become incorporated into her wondrous brooches.
All the artists taking part in Wood You? are internationally renowned and many have work in museum collections as well as in private collections. The exhibition will be accompanied by a special event for collectors and curators as well as a talk for the interested public. For further details please contact the gallery 01274 599790 or info@kathlibbertjewellery.co.uk
The artists taking part are:
Grace Girvan, UK, Katy Hackney, UK, Ulrich Reithofer, Austria, Marie Uhlirova, Czech Republic, Mette Jensen, Denmark, Terhi Tolvanen, Finland, Stephanie Jendis, Germany, Marianne Schliwinski, Germany, Beppe Kessler, Holland, Ramon Puig Cuyas, Spain,
Yu-Chun Chen, Taiwan, Marielle Ledoux, Uruguay, Julia Harrison, USA.