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.

Inspiration- Photo from the Hobart Allport collection.

Plastic - Perspex Jewellery LOVE

Jewellery as art

Artical by Kirsty Mate INDESIGN

Bricolage photos and Interview

The product is called “Mine is bigger than yours” Jewellery Range. This range includes items such as necklaces, earrings, cufflinks and brooches all utilizing plastics saved from going into landfill. Each jewellery item is Handmade and unique (Each image being one of a kind). The title of the range is a play on words bringing together the concept of mining and its impact plus highlighting the ultra desirability of jewellery with the notion ‘bigger is better’ and ‘more is never enough’.Check out the Interview here:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2010/07/30/2969537.htm

Bricolage Enviromental Design Awards

Industrial waste reused to create chic, new products

11/06/2010

Exquisite jewellery created from recycled silver has won this year’s Bricolage Design Prize.

Hobart jeweller Shauna Mayben combined 100 per cent recycled silver with perspex offcuts and old magazines to produce a range of stunning necklaces and earrings.

The annual Bricolage competition challenges Tasmanian designers to transform industrial waste destined for landfill into useful, marketable products.

Environment Protection Authority board representative Wayne Petrass said the entries in this year’s competition showed great innovation and helped throw the sustainability spotlight on industrial waste streams.

“Mining precious metals has a very high environmental impact and it is essential that every effort be made to recover and reuse these finite resources,” he said.

“Shauna Mayben’s jewellery not only gives these valued commodities a second life, but lends industrial waste a chic new perspective.”

The $4000 Bricolage Major Prize was complemented by the $500 Bright Ideas Prize which encourages designers to think laterally and produce an object that could potentially be developed over time.

Mr Petrass said Ellen Rae’s winning entry featured a range of baby clothes created from woollen jumpers.

He said the 'repurposed' clothing was original and durable, and reduced demand for resources required to manufacture new material.

“This year’s Bricolage entries highlighted the use of a combination of materials to produce great designs, often with interesting results,” Mr Petrass said.

“One entry combined medium density fibreboard with used envelopes to produce fun magnets. Another used offcuts of beautiful kimono fabric with wood waste to make stylish neckpieces and another combined waste plywood with coreflute to produce contemporary lamps.

“Bricolage also attracted larger scale entries including extremely practical worm farms and compost bins submitted by a team from Kingborough Council’s yspace youth project.”

Bricolage entries are on display at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens until 16 June. Visitors are encouraged to vote for their favourite exhibit in the People's Choice competition.

Bricolage is sponsored by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), Cadbury, Replas and Futago.

Terrariums!!

Little Gardens.
Terrariums are great for people on the go because they are so easy to maintain. They are self-contained, and they require very little care.

A terrarium can be very hardy and only needs moderate amounts of water and sunlight. The water will pull up from the rocks and form a mist on the top of the terrarium then drip back down and water the plants. This closed loop system is very similar to what happens in the real world. Maintaining a terrarium is simple since neglect is the best care you can give. A finished terrarium will not need additional watering for a few weeks.

Check them at on THE MARKET website

http://themarkethobart.com.au/profiles/shauna-mayben/

New work in Handmark Gallery in Evandale!!!

Precious Pendants at Object Gallery

If your in Sydney go and check the exhibition Precious Pendants at Object Gallery.

http://preciouspendantsatobject.blogspot.com

www.object.com.au

What Is Your Story

We all wear little stories about the people we love, the moments we have had. Jewellery is powerful and emotive, and is much more than decoration for the body. On Saturday the 3^rd of January 2009

I spoke to 25 people about there Jewellery, and these are their stories.

Aquamarine Pendant

My great uncle sent this pendant back from Egypt during the Second World War, he never returned. It was the last gift sent back, it's an early 40’s design. My Grandma gave it to me, and it has become a family heirloom.

We Three Kings

There are three bracelets all together, each one of us friends has one. It was an 18th birthday present. All our initials together, all of them the same. But they came from three different stores, we went to great lengths to get them.

Wedding Band

The wedding band was my great grandma’s sisters. They lived in Hungry, my family came out during the war, it was there to begin with and has been passed down gradually, it was to her first marriage, she actually got married twice, but terry and myself got married 13 days ago, I’m hoping it will bring us more luck, I haven’t had it for long.

Rose Gold Heart

I bought my rose gold heart when my mum was diagnosed with lung cancer and I became her full time carer. I had her name inscribed on one side Bev , and my name on the other side Reb, so she is always close to my heart.

Three Rings

The first I acquired that only five days ago, it was a ring that belonged to my grandmother, who recently passed away, along with the ring I obtained a hole lot of other costume Jewellery. Its just fun, glitzy glass as far as I am concerned, very Rococo glitzy glass, I really like it.

The next ring, I got from a market place, I have just been at the falls festival I was staying at the art village, it was suggested that it was a ring of power, that I could have super powers with it, he felt, so its now my new super power ring,

The one of my little finger is a claddagh ring, my father was Irish, the heart you have facing inwards when your heart is given to someone, and outward when you’re looking for love……and I’m out there looken for love honey :)