Worshop was a sucess!!

Had a wonderful time taking the two day workshop here at the Cultural centre King Island. Great food brought in by the locals, King Island clothed smoked Cheddar, smoked lamb, wonderful cakes and quiches. Everyone in the workshop was a hoot! lots of laughing, creativeness, innovations and of course beautiful jewellery made!
It was so nice to meet such a wonderful group of people, more planes have been made to meet while i am here and i cant wait. 

4th day!

OK. 4 days; Gail force winds, workshops, great food and company  and a new car and dog! What ? Go to www.facebook.com/maybenjewellery for more info......

King Island, Day 1

Its my first day here on King Island. I am here for four weeks as a part of a Arts Tasmania Cultural Residency. I feel so privileged to be here, as it truly is a remarkable place. My plan while I am here is to develop a new body of work that will be shown at Handmark Gallery (http://www.handmarkgallery.com)  in September this year. I hope that I can use the time to reflect and build upon my current work...... I really need this time because as we all know how consuming everyday activity's of life can be. I need the time to slow down, reflect and resolve allot of idea that are buzzing around my head, and what a place to do it!!

That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun.

How to steel like an artist

Walking with the dogs- Fresh air for the brain.

Great minds - the work of Mary Hallam Pearse

Mary Hallam Pearse

Pulling away from old photographs.

It’s been a hard decision but after long thought I have decided I will put the old photos away to rest. For many years now I have been particularly interested in jewellery and sentimental values that are usually associated with jewellery. I have looked into and collected many objects like hair jewellery, tintypes- Daguerreotype and glass negatives but most of all the Locket (LOVE). I am drawn to these objects and will no dought keep collecting them for many more years to come, there is something quite beautiful about a worn photograph, the detail, the expressions, the darkness.

I stumbled across the amazing jewellery of Bettina Speckner who I feel has really captured the essence of these objects, her work is stunning, dark and other worldly, something I was always trying to achieve, yet somehow feel I always missed the mark a bit.

Coming across her work I was delighted, but also felt that rush of wretchedness that someone else was using old photographs and found objects in a similar manor to me. I have learned that sometimes rather than press on with the fear of people thinking “Well Shauna is just copying” that I will move onto something else.

Really, I have exhausted my journey of the sentimental, and it is time to take a new path. I have had to take a step back, deep breaths and long walks to really find what it is. That thing…..

Saying all of this... i may find the path may lead me back to the photo once again? Who knows.