Sydney 27 - 29 January, 2006
Location 1: Powerhouse Museum, Ultimo
Location 2: Sydney College of the Arts, Rozelle
Location 3: University of Sydney, Camperdown
12th Biennial Conference website

Rosa Scissa - 2004 (brooch)
basalt, paint, silver (925)
81x85x9mm
Margaret West

Now Emu with Ruudt Peters (the Netherlands)
Venue: Sydney College of the Arts, Rozelle & Taronga Zoo; 5 days Pre-conference

Nature and animals are constantly present in NOW EMU, but as the title may already indicate, not in a romantic manner. The national bird the EMU from Australia is the thread running through the workshop whereby nature versus personality is questioned. To what extent can Australians relate to the EMU? What does the EMU tell about their identities? And how do you relate such a strange bird as an EMU? Without even considering what kind of jewellery you could make for an EMU. . .

We will enjoy the beauty of EMU, visit the zoo and its environment; then consider and formulate our own positions, and translate this into our work. NOW EMU is about taking another look at our contemporary experience of nature, making a statement about how one can relate to nature NOW. Artists and students are stimulated to produce work around this idea. In doing so, it is important that not only rational reflection, but also the subconscious enters into the work process. Ultimately, jewellery remains a frame of reference.

The course is based on the concept of step-by-step education, in which the end product is not the most essential consideration. "The goal is the means and the means is the goal" (M. Gandhi). The emphasis lies on personal guidance and development. Students will gain the tools to proceed further in this process for themselves. By means of direct action, participants learn to take the necessary steps.

Ruudt is presenting the keynote address and his survey exhibition CHANGE will be held at Sydney College of the Arts. He is currently Professor in the jewellery studio at the Konstfack in Stockholm and for several years headed the jewellery department at the Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam. In 2000 he was awarded the prestigious international Francoise van den Bosch Award for recognition of his practice. Examples of his work can be seen at http://www.ruudtpeters.nl

Transportation with Rian de Jong (the Netherlands)
Venue: Sydney College of the Arts, Rozelle; 5 days Pre-conference

How does a designer go from one level to another? As designers we transport thoughts, formulated concepts, and transform these into materials and 3 dimensional forms.

But in between there is something mysterious. How is it possible that something immaterial as a thought chances in a 3D form. How aware are we of this process and is it necessary?

Rian, like Ruudt, is from the Netherlands, and is presenting an exhibition at Object. As well as being invited as guest teacher in many colleges across Europe she taught at the Art Academy in Utrecht. Her work incorporates natural and found materials as well as, more recently, porcelain though much of her jewellery and objects have developed while travelling. Her work carries a gentle and poetic feel impression. Examples of Rian,s work can be seen at http://www.riandejong.nl

Cell to Structure facilitated by Sean O'Connell
Venue: Design Centre Enmore; 5 days, Pre-conference

Cell to Structure is a workshop that will be delivered by Biologists, Jewellers, and Architects, aiming to look at jewellery from three different perspectives - within the body, on the body, and around the body. Over five days, participants will be given talks by leading professionals in their fields, informing participants of inspiring new viewpoints of the body in alternative contexts. These talks will be complemented by minor practical workshops throughout the week. The last two days will comprise of supervised time within a fully equipped jewellery workshop to prototype ideas into working models.

Workshop presenters

Sean is a Sydney based artist who has been an active exhibitor in Australia over the last four years. He has currently teaches at the Design Centre Enmore and is an assistant to artist Robin Blau. He has achieved considerable attention recently for his robust kinetic works and in 2001 won the Contemporary Wearables Award at the Toowoomba Regional Gallery.

Textile Techniques in Metal with Erika Leitner (Austria)
Venue: Design Centre Enmore, 5 days Post-conference

Precious and non-precious metal wires, ranging from 0.5mm to 0.8 mm gauge can be knitted in such a way to achieve a beautiful 3-dimensional form which can then be transformed into a piece of jewellery or object. The constant strain of bending the wire will make it hard and difficult to work with, thus it will have to be annealed from time to time to make it soft and pliable again.

This textile technique in metal doesn't require much former metal experience of the students. It only requires creativity and the desire to work with their hands to make beautiful pieces of jewellery.

The objective of the class is for the students to walk away with at least one piece of jewellery or object and to have an in depth knowledge of the textile technique which they can continue to explore on their own after the class

Erika work is a distinguished artist whose work is held in many European collections including the Government of Austria, the Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna, the Treptov Museum, Berlin, Norma Copley Collection, New York and the Collection of the Royal Family in Kuwait. In 2002 she was awarded the title Professorin by the Government of Austria for services to the artistic community. She was the first Austrian jeweller to receive such an honour.

Where does sculpture end and adornment begin? with Caroline Gore (USA)
Venue: Sydney College of the Arts, 2 days, Post-conference

Planning and making with internal and external environments/site influences...

Is there a difference between sculpture and sculpture for the body, and if so can it be defined? Just as the landscape is seen as a site, can the body itself be interpreted similarly? Can the wearable art object/s and the surrounding space become integrated into a more complete experience - either static or transient in implementation? Is it possible for work in our field to be temporary and still have an impact? We will investigate these questions and search for individual answers through responding to our environments throughout the conference time weaving a narrative through the act of observing and making.

With the use of cameras, digital or analogue, drawings, and collections, workshop participants will document their experiences in Sydney. On the first day of the workshop we will sort through the visuals and address how to respond to the content and spaces, following this discussion we will then create in response to our materials. During the making process there will be time for one on one dialogue, and discussion with the group on the progress of works. Outcomes of this workshop could be jewellery scale or much larger in implementation. The reactions, interpretations to sites can stem from internal or external influences. In other words, structurally or emotionally based on the makers own experience of being "on Location" in Sydney.

Vessels and Containment with Darlys Ewoldt (USA)
Venue: Sydney College of the Arts, 3 days, Post-conference

Angle raising, forming, fabrication, and patination. This workshop will focus on the vessel form and the concept of containment. Each participant will form a small vessel through the process of angle raising. Inspiration, design, and construction will be discussed. Patination methods will be demonstrated with everyone completing a series of patina samples.

Darlys teaches at Columbia College, Chicago. Her work has been included in numerous exhibitions and collections throughout the USA. She has been the recipient of multiple grants and awards, including Ford Foundation Fellowship and Project Grants and the Governor James R. Thompson Award for Excellence in Craft. In her work, the vessel is an object of containment, protection, or shelter and creative influences are derived from landscapes, movements and objects observed in nature, poetry, and random voyages of the imagination.