Katherine Wheeler

2012

2012-01-18T01:37:00.000-08:00

So, it is 2012.

crochet hook collection. Finally all together in the one place :)

Bits ready to be made into something new.

The bench, in it's new position, preparing for lots of use this year!

I could not resist these mushroom jars.

one paperweight was a lovely thoughtful Christmas present, and one, I had to buy to keep the first one company!

uh oh, I see a collecting obsession coming. Plus, three would sit better together than two right?

Golden Ink Collaborative in Craft Victoria's Window space

2012-01-18T01:21:00.000-08:00

Pic of small window during installation last week.

Golden Ink Collaborative have just installed a landscape of new work in Craft Victoria's Window space. Sneak peeks below taken during installation.

It will be up until the 29th of Feb. We have also dropped some new pieces in to the shop.

SOFA Chicago, hollow ware represented by Charon Kransen Arts

2011-11-09T02:51:00.000-08:00

Recently I sent some hollow ware work to NY to Charon Kransen Arts to be shown at his booth at SOFA Chicago. Charon's Gallery along with 2 others were shown on abc in the US. The work of Australian artist Julie Blyfield was also featured, and she also traveled over and spoke at Chicago SOFA.

Moving

2011-11-09T02:41:00.000-08:00

Most of this year we have been renovating and preparing to move to Castlemaine. We are nearly there!
here are a few details from around the allllmost done house.

It wouldn't be home without some clay making!

Golden Ink collaborative news

2011-11-09T01:42:00.000-08:00

Edition X

Tomorrow night : the Edition - X showroom opening.

Golden Ink Collaborative have put together a small

window installation tapestry of parts, that will be

the first exhibition in the new space. Hope to

see some of you tomorrow evening at

the launch of the store! 'edition x'

- Thursday November 10th, 6-8pm.

635 Brunswick St, Fitzroy North, Vic.

We are also making making making for the

November 27th markit at Fed square. Keep a

look out for our colourful stall.

These are some of the raw pieces ready to be

painted..

Also at the end of this month, keep a eye out for an amazing

event that we are lucky enough to be taking part in :

The Design Files Open House.

Very exciting.

2011-10-06T07:06:00.000-07:00

amazing.

fishy pics from our recent melbourne zoo trip.

Spring & Gink shop update

2011-09-06T06:36:00.000-07:00

We have updated the golden ink collaborative shop! www.goldenink.com.au for some new spring/ summer colours.

Also, golden ink is donating this neckpiece to the social studio spring fashion gala - on this thursday night. They will be auctioning jewellery made by some great and ethical Melbourne designers. You can get tickets to the event here..

http://www.thesocialstudio.org/The_Social_Studio___Remixed_Design/Gala_Tickets.html

....which unfortunately clashes with Katherine Bowman's exhibition opening : Locutions ( the loved object) new work by Katherine Bowman‏‏

-necklace donated for auction on thursday night at the social studio fashion gala-

The Places and spaces exhibition opened on Fri 2nd of september at the Cudgegong regional art gallery.
Check out the blog for some exhibition images and other artists works - Unless you live near Gulgong NSW, and you could go and check it out in person!

-This is the group of work we sent to the Cudgegong gallery. This time (because of the distance issue) we left the installation in the hands of curator Zara Collins. So looking forward to seeing images of the work set up in the gallery. This image by:liza likes photography-

So we at golden ink collab have been, and will be in the near future, quite busy.

I have not had a lot of time to make any new work- though thinking time and taking a step back is sometimes a good thing.

Renovations are taking a lot of time and thinking/preparation time also, and the house is getting nearer and nearer to being ready to live in.

The kids, and I, have been sick for what feels like the entire winter- which has really made things hard, and there have been lots of 'lost' weeks feeling unwell. Is all this sickness one of the joys of us now having a school aged child??

I am glad it is spring and the sun is out again.

Speaking of spring and lovely bright colours and green foliage.. it is too late to see in person now, but jeweller Lucy Hearn has posted some great images of her and Lily Daley's Peaches and Keen exhibition that was on over the weekend. Congratulations Lucy and Lily.

Love Lace catalogue

2011-08-25T07:02:00.000-07:00

It was so nice to receive a copy of the Powerhouse Museum's Love Lace Exhibition catalogue in the mail last week.

'Playful and inventive, these works represent a provocative challenge to traditional concepts of lace. Artists from 20 different countries push lace techniques in surprising new directions — knitting human hair into sculptures of human organs, crocheting steel wire into a ghostly motor engine, carving lace patterns from the body of a rusty old truck.

The book includes an essay by Powerhouse Museum curator Lindie Ward and an in-depth look at the creative process of 10 artists. Love Lace will be launched at Sydney Design 11. The 188 page paperback features over 200 images in full colour and black and white.'
It is very beautiful and full of amazing work. You can purchase a copy Here.

2011-08-15T17:47:00.000-07:00

Abby and I have just finished making an exciting installation of new work for places and spaces. It is all being photographed at the moment, so pics to come later..... ..or you can see the real thing at Cudgegong regional art gallery on the 2nd of September!

Also Here is a sneak peek at some of the new jewellery that we are busy uploading to the goldenink shop! I will post when it is all ready to go.

Photos by: Liza likes photography
If you didn't get to Castlemaine to see Contemporary Australian silver and metalwork 2011, works from the show are now displayed at the melbourne Arts Centre, until the 17th of september.

Rmit auction donations...

2011-07-29T08:52:00.000-07:00

The RMIT jewellery auction is on next month. August 11th at the Bella union bar. The proceeds go towards producing a graduate catalogue and exhibition. More details on their blog

I am donating this neckpiece, made from fine silver and thread.

and from Golden ink collaborative, this ring. Size is between O&P.

We (goldenink collaborative) have just un packed the kiln, and have some beautiful new porcelain works. A lot are designated for exhibitions, and we are working on getting a new selection of work up in our shop. The shop will soon be updated with a series of domed rings, painted with intricate lace design details (all original), and I have just put the finishing touches on a new range of colourful faceted bead neck pieces.

here is a sneak peek at a couple of the exhibition pieces we have made..

more press..

2011-07-16T23:11:00.000-07:00

I have made the pages of the local paper of the area I grew up in, (and soon to be a resident of again). So here I am, looking tired and FreeZing, in our overgrown Castlemaine backyard, on a cold weekend, talking to Viv Markham from the Tarrangower times. The Tarrangower Times team do a great job reporting on news and events in Maldon, Newstead, Baringhup, Castlemaine, Walmer, Muckleford and surrounding areas.
Thanks Viv!

TL mag article and goldenink update

2011-07-12T06:02:00.000-07:00

Compiled by Jasmijn Verlinden, TL magazine, issue #11,

July 2011

‘Fetish-like objects and nature inspired conceptual pieces have replaced diamonds as a girl’s best friend. Finding inspiration at the Collect fair in London and at online community Klimt02, tl.mag presents a selection of favourite contemporary jewellery designers.”

I received this article in my inbox today. wow Some amazing work. I was contacted by Jasmijn from TL magazine a month or so ago, sent off some images, and it is exciting to see the finished article. It is in the current TL mag issue #11. Tl mag facebook page.

It is available for sale here.

an update on goldenink....
we have a few exhibitions coming up, and we are working to put new work in our online shop. (www.goldenink.com.au)
to see our Upcoming shows and stockists you can click here:http://goldenink.createsend1.com/t/r/e/judkijt/othtriukd/r/

...and if you would like to join the golden ink mailing list- for updates, and first looks at our new stock for the shop you can Subscribe herehttp://www.goldenink.com.au/ (at the bottom right of the page).

(:

in the age, Life and style today!

2011-07-01T19:46:00.000-07:00

The article on my work, written by Gina Morris, is in today's life and style section of The Age..The art of Hollow ware.
.http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/true-to-natures-form-20110701-1gukl.html

True to nature's form

Gina Morris

July 2, 2011

Katherine Wheeler's Amoeboid Teapot. Photo: Rodger Cummins

KATHERINE Wheeler is an artist motivated by simple things. A piece of textured rock, a beautifully shaped teapot, lichen growing on a tree branch or weeds sprouting from concrete. Mostly, though, the motivation for her jewellery and hollowware comes from the simple, pure pleasure of ''making''.
''I just enjoy it,'' Wheeler says. ''The thrill of changing pristine and mundane mediums into something totally unique and pushing different ideas or methods keeps me interested in making work.''
Her beguiling and spectral pieces, made predominantly from metal melded with porcelain and crochet thread, reflect and explore what she calls ''the fragility and ephemeral nature of life, mortality and the cycle of life''. Her hollowware, while alluding to the notion of a functional vessel such as a vase or a teapot, often references extinct marine life and intricate, ancient fossils.

Katherine Wheeler in her studio. Photo: Rodger Cummins

''The forms I make have an anthropomorphic nature,'' Wheeler says.
''The textures and characteristics remind the viewer of the amazing creatures we share an existence with.''
In nominating the one item she is most proud of, Wheeler elects her Amoeboid Teapot from 2009. ''It was shown at Galerie Marzee in the Netherlands and then purchased by the director, Marie-Jose van den Hout, for their permanent collection,'' she says. ''To me, it demonstrated that my work has the capacity and standard to be valued internationally.''
Though her sculptural objects are intended for ornamental enjoyment, much of her jewellery is designed for daily use. She is now producing an even more practical, functional and ''fun'' range of porcelain jewellery (as well as a series of small bowls). Though she aims to keep the two separate, last year she co-founded Goldenink Collaborative with her friend, artist and printmaker Abby Seymour, to forge one-off pieces of ''wearable art''.
Since discovering silversmithing in 2004 and mastering ''the language'' of soldering metal (her lecturer's term), Wheeler has continued along a devious path of spontaneity. ''There is a real kind of preciousness about planning, technique and doing things the 'right' way in gold and silversmithing,'' she says. ''Which I respect but once I realised that it was OK for me to 'break the rules', I felt much more freedom.''
■For commissions and inquiries, see katherinewheeler.com.au.

first shim teapot.

2011-06-25T07:21:00.000-07:00

I found one image of one of the first larger shim teapots I made in 2007. It is on display in this image in the exhibition fresh 2007 at Craft Vic.

This morning Zoe and I went to ACMI to see the Kids Program in the Melbourne international animation festival. My Uncle's film was screening - Lizard, -the only Australian animation in the program. It was also screened at the st Kilda film festival last year.
I have a framed still from the animation which I am looking forward to putting up in the house when we have finished renovating!

It was great to hear the kids reaction to the films. The Gruffalow (An animated film based on the classic children's picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler) was screened right at the end of the session, and was highly anticipated by all the kids in the theater!
Zoe also got to colour in a lantern afterwards at fed square, and it was hung amongst the many on a huge structure.

2011-06-21T06:37:00.000-07:00

A couple of pics on a freezing Melbourne day to remind me of summer holidays....
I'm really just procrastinating now...

Golden ink collaborative news

2011-06-21T06:19:00.000-07:00

Abby and I entered this selection of works in this years Brunswick Street Gallery Small Works Exhibition, which opened on Friday night- we won an acquisitive award! The exhibition is on till the 29th of June.

This is a selection of work that we are sending up to Sydney for the 'Curio' cabinet showcase,(will post dates soon, but around 14th of July) it will be a small exhibition (with the difference that you can take away purchases) as part of Gaffa's shop, Sterling.

New works in the making for Places and Spaces.

Business cards :)

2011-06-21T06:02:00.000-07:00

I just received the business cards I had printed by Print Together in Nth Fitzroy. So good (they look better in person -this is a scan as my camera battery charger is missing. : ( ..).
They are printed on 100% post consumer recycled paper, and printed with vegetable based inks. Not only environmentally friendly - they were fast too. I ordered them early Friday (e-mailed artwork etc) - and they were delivered today. I also love the cute little boxes. Thanks Print Together!

2011-06-15T08:45:00.000-07:00

This is the front and back cover of a small look book/catalogue of some of my recent work- including mainly hollow ware work.
The images are of two of my most recent pieces, part of a series which I plan to add to. These works came together in a very organic and spontaneous way, even though I did have some idea of how I wanted them to look in the end. They were a lot of fun to make..
Now to get the catalogues bound together and finished off!

tea set 2007

2011-06-15T08:28:00.000-07:00

Tea set 2007, copper, paint, polymer clay, cubic zirconia

This is one of the first complete hollow ware series that I made using shim. There is another teapot that I made at the same time that is really representative of what I make now, but I can't seem to find an image of it. I remember thinking how ugly it was at the time, and possibly didn't photograph it especially. I had also blackened the inside, and painted the outside white- maybe something I will try again. But looking back it was one of my best works from 2007.

Not sure what blogger has done with the other posts on my blog homepage?, but they are still there if you go to older posts.

Love lace

2011-06-13T20:01:00.000-07:00

The Powerhouse Museum 'Love lace" is coming up soon (well soonish -Opens 30 July 2011), and they have updated some images on their website. Looks great.
I particularly like this piece. Detroit’s shadow (sculpture) by Anne Mondro, USA, 2010, thin
steel wire crochet; (W500 x H750 x D500 mm)
Lacie Lorrie by Ingrid Morley looks amazing too. A whole truck.., the metal body cut out with a lace pattern. wow. definitely makes my entry look very small...; )

I have spent the weekend not feeling great, playing in the sun with the kids, and staying up way too late making boxes of new clay pieces for goldenink.

no news today :(

2011-06-10T22:56:00.000-07:00

Today there was no article on my work in the age. (I had been approached to answer interview questions about a month ago).
I have not had a reply from the interviewer as to why it was not in this weekend's life and style section as she had told me it was booked for.

Normally, I would not be so worried, but this time, I had a catalogue "look book" of my works printed - including an exert from the article and date on the first page.
so now it is mis-information? another cost that the artist just accepts as part of the job?
I would normally be more cautious, and I guess this is why.

Has anyone else had this kind of thing happen?

I feel like we as artists have a really hard job as it is. It is great, yes, and we all love doing what we do - or we would not be doing it.
But it is hard work, lots of hours, and more often than not our work is unpaid, and unrecognized.

*I have now heard back from the writer, who did not know that the paper had changed the format of the life and style section- and the article will most likely be in next sat...
Will keep you posted.

I have had a nasty head cold all week (maybe why I am feeling so cynical?) - and my daughter has drawn me a rainbow picture to make me feel better... which I will add when I get the scanner to work :)

******

2011-06-02T18:02:00.001-07:00

The top image is the finished work which I posted images of on my late night soldering post...
and Image 2 a recently finished work.

Castlemaine was lovely today for the Buda silver award. Congratulations to Melissa for winning the Arts Center award!

Mel Miller has a list of the awards and an image of her works entered in the exhibition (her hollow ware piece was one of my favorite entries) on her blog.

A bit of Goldenink news: Abby has updated her blog with some of the goldenink publications we have been in lately- including Design Quarterly magazine top ten forces and faces in design 2011, and in the lovely New Zealand mag 'Extra Curricular' (blog)- Autumn 2011 issue we have an interview with Ellie.

Also we are working on some pieces that are going to be in the exhibition "Places and Spaces" at the Cudgegong Gallery in NSW in September. It looks like it will be a great show, curated by Zara Collins. She has started a facebook page here, and a blog, on which we are featured this month!

And,,,,,If you get The Age on the weekend, sat the 11th- look out for an interview I did about my work with Gina Morris in the Life and Style section!

Buda Contemporary australian silver and metalwork exhibition 2011

2011-05-18T07:37:00.000-07:00

The Buda invitation for 2011.
It is exciting (being a former local) to have hollow ware works in the silver exhibition for the first time at Buda in Castlemaine.
I was hoping that we would have finished renovations on our house, and could have walked over to Buda for the opening in June, but it looks like it is not to be this year...... an hour's drive is not so bad.

Late night soldering

2011-05-14T20:40:00.000-07:00

I do love to solder, though hopefully one of these days I will be able to do so at a reasonable time of day! Late last night's efforts resulted in a mass of burnt out matches, extremely messy workspace (not really unusual), a cut finger, a stabbed leg (with hot soldering tweezers, twice), and.................... most of a hollow ware piece.

pen, brush and ink

2011-05-13T19:11:00.000-07:00

..............some new ideas forming- for hollow ware objects. ideas of groupings and estimate sizes of works in relation to each other and as a whole group.
I have already made some pieces and sometimes drawing helps me to decide if the first piece needs a companion. Sometimes I just get sidetracked.....

Has anyone seen this blog? bijoucontemporain.unblog.fr
A great international catalogue of jewellery artists and exhibitions, so much information and work -
Wow it is an overload of colour and information....will have to go back and have another look, can't take it all in at once!

I really like Bettina Dittleman's work (link to the compiled feature) .

.........more out of the kiln.

2011-05-05T17:22:00.000-07:00

So I haven't posted much or been on the computer much at all in the last few months, but have been busy busy making, thinking, also making lots for goldenink, looking after the kids, as well as renovating our new house, which turns out to be taking a lot of time and effort. This is some porcelain work I have made lately.

new web site

2011-05-02T19:35:00.000-07:00

...........oh and I have a new (well newish) website, which I have been planning and thinking about for a long time.

www.katherinewheeler.com.au

funded by the Australia council as part of my artstart grant project.

So I will be adding pics of finished works on the site.
The site was designed by Louisa from weedworks, and she was great. So fast and very helpful. and I can self up date which is great.

Prev Next

And a pic from the site which I can't seem to delete from this post..

May beginning.

2011-05-01T00:12:00.000-07:00

What to wear?!
This year is disappearing so fast - the first of May today, and getting closer to winter.
Melbourne Jeweller has her wonderful May calendar post up on her blog.... ahhh, to be so organized!
*note: to make a trip to Geelong Gallery to see Robert Baines - metal this month.

A few ceramic components, made recently for possible use in some new hollow ware pieces I am making/ planning/ drawing.

Beads and bits in pic 3, at the top some rings that I have made.. for me to wear for a change. Favourites so far are the rough grey stony looking ones. And the bottom, pic of an (at that time) unfired sushi set that I made for my sister in law.

And have just learned that Craft Australia now have a blog...

new wearables, and Goldenink online shop launches!

2011-02-20T07:35:00.000-08:00

So a few pics of some new production works, some of which will be sent to Studio 20/17.

And also exciting news - Goldenink Collaborative have launched our online shop!
Free shipping in Aus, and we also ship world wide.
Beautiful photos by Olga Bennett
Thanks for all the hard work Ben and Abby, it looks great!

Lace details..

2011-01-25T01:58:00.000-08:00

Some details of the work for the love lace award.
The work is all made in Porcelain and fine silver - and needless to say fairly fragile.
Melissa Cameron has posted images of her lacing in progress Here

Touch Pause Engage - The Art of Engagement @ Objectspace New Zealand

2011-01-16T01:01:00.000-08:00

What a start to the year, My thoughts are with all of those affected by the floods in Queensland- and Vic.
It is hard to comprehend that this could happen.

So just reluctantly starting to get back into my making here, after a verrrry much needed break with the family.

Firstly for me there is Touch Pause Engage, renamed The Art of Engagement, to be shown at Objectspace, New Zealand.

Last year Kristin D'Agostino and Raewyn Walsh curated the exhibition 'touch, pause, engage' that was shown at Gaffa Gallery in Sydney. 15 New Zealand Jewellers exhibited their work for Australia to get a glimpse of the contemporary jewellery being made in New Zealand.

This year, Kristin and Raewyn have organised a re-match, taking 15 Australian maker's work to be shown alongside the original 15 in New Zealand.
What a great way to open jewellery communications between neighbours.

I have just posted off my work to NZ, am really happy to be part of the project!

Details of participating jewellers and more info @
http://touchpauseengage.wordpress.com/

Next will be to post off my (nearly finished) work for the Love Lace award at the powerhouse museum in Sydney.
Also on the cards for the year ahead is a move to the country! SO I will see how I go keeping up with making, moving and renovating!.. not to mention the kids. (sounds tiring already...)

Preparation drawings for works to be made for the Buda silver exhibition later this year.

Also. the National Contemporary Jewellery Award is traveling to the Sturt gallery this year.
The exhibition will be opened by special guest Catrina Vignando, GeneralManager of Craft Australia.

6 February - 13 March Opening Sunday 6 February
National Contemporary Jewellery Award
From Griffith Regional Art Gallery

hollow ware and jewellery Nov-Dec 2010

2010-12-09T08:14:00.000-08:00

Painted on the bench............

Un-painted on the bench

What a difference surroundings make!

work space.....

2010-11-06T09:14:00.001-07:00

Peeping in the peep hole after firing - you can just see one bit of bangle.

finished works... and golden ink collaborative update

2010-10-28T18:18:00.001-07:00

A series finished, and application in!

Not too sure about the black borders, but this is the way that CAFE wants images formatted....

I do like the whole CaFE system though - such a good idea, simple and easy to use.

As for Golden Ink Collaborative, we will be heading to Sydney for the December Finder's Keeper's market, and we are also featured on Finder's Keeper's blog today!

It is going to be a really busy end to the year, with us also having a stall at Craft Hatch Market on the 11th of December. We had better get busy making.

you can read the FK interview here:

http://www.thefinderskeepers.com/blog/2010/10/featured-designers-golden-ink/

Works in Progress...

2010-10-26T07:13:00.000-07:00

A ring and a ncekpiece shaping up for application to be in the exhibition Dual, the secret life of sculpture. Still have the neckpiece to do, and painting, oh and photography...
This week it is time to clean and organise my workspace.
With the recent addition of Kiln, clay to my practice, not to mention market paraphenalia, it has become very crowded! so depending on the results, there will possibly be some pics to come!

Getting started on my Love Lace Award entry

2010-10-21T07:13:00.000-07:00

Over the last few months I have been creating some ceramic lace.
With goldenink collaborative's first market over, it is time to perfect the lace forms, and threads, and get to work on creating my piece for the Powehouse Museum's Love Lace award.
130 applicants have been selected from around the world as finalists. We are now making our pieces, which will then be considered for the final exhibition in July/ August 2011.

'The International Lace Award seeks to encourage contemporary design and challenge conventional notions of lace and its application in the areas of fashion, the built environment and digital multimedia. '

These little experiments are some of the material research into my final work.

more from goldenink collaborative....

2010-10-05T16:30:00.000-07:00

Some more golden ink collaborative stock for the market on the weekend! plenty of last minute jobs to do, and one last firing of beautiful rings, vases and earrings to go!

Hot from the kiln for Golden Ink Collaborative's stall at Finder's Keeper's Market, Melbourne

2010-09-30T04:45:00.000-07:00

Straight from the kiln thismorning...

A sneak peek of some of the stock that Abby and I are are busy preparing for our Goldenink Collaborative stall at the Melbourne Finder's Keeper's market at docklands next weekend!

Plenty more to come in the next week.

NCJA 2010

2010-09-13T03:10:00.000-07:00

Southern Ice porcelain, linen thread, silver, paint. 2010

My entries "inhale" and "exhale" for the 2010 NCJA.

The National Contemporary Jewellery Award is on at the Grifith Regional Art Gallery until October the 3rd.

You can see an image of the winning entry by Simon Cottrell here:

http://www.griffith.nsw.gov.au/view_doc.asp?id=229&cat=225

clay, clay Melbourne Finder's Keepers market and More Clay.

2010-09-13T02:57:00.000-07:00

Firing the kiln for the first time..... must work out how to change from farenheit to celcius for next time.Goldenink Colaborative Cups, hand crafted and painted porcelian, 2010.

So, I have been busily making with clay this last few weeks. Abby and I found out that our Goldenink Collaborative stall application for the first Finder's Keepers Market in Melbourne was successfull!

So as excited as we are we are flat out making/ painting. And today also a little bit of driving around town shopping for some supplies.

http://www.thefinderskeepers.com/blog/tag/melbourne/
(Our image is centre left in the first block of 6 images)

The markets will be held at:Shed 4 Docklands

Victoria Harbour, North Wharf Road, Docklands

The next markets are:Saturday 9th October from 10am - 5pmSunday 10th October from 10am - 5pm

Also coming soon here are profiles on all the stall holders for the Melbourne market. So come and say Hi!

We will be launching our Goldenink Collaborative website and blog soon too.

http://goldeninkcollaborative.wordpress.com/

http://www.goldenink.com.au/

e-mail info@goldenink.com.au

gaffa exhibition: Hidden facets (in Keeper gallery)

2010-08-14T05:56:00.000-07:00

Collaborative Exhibition: Katherine Wheeler and Abby Seymour
So our whirl wind trip to Sydney is over. We spent our first two days installing the exhibition in Keeper gallery in Gaffa, and had Friday to check out a few galleries.

We got to visit Object, studio 20/17, and Metalab - which were all great, and we enjoyed spending a bit of time looking through the drawers at all the amazing jewellery, thanks!.

Also we got to peruse the jewellery at the new Gaffa shop Sterling run by Zoe Brand - which looks amazing. We toured the studios upstairs in gaffa, and sampled the good coffee in the cafe downstairs. What a great building and gallery space.

We had a great turn out to the opening, so thanks to those who came and made us feel welcome. Also thanks to Zoe for all her help.

So here are a few pictures of the show...

It is on for two weeks (See invite on post below)

*Just to note that Abby has completed her Masters degree in Printmaking, and I have completed a bachelor of visual arts, Gold and silversmithing, both from RMIT. The majority of works in the show are collaborative, but the prints, drawings and book are Abby's work, and the jewellery/silversmithing pictured in the last three images are my work (second last image includes a few collaborative pieces).

Hidden facets @ Gaffa invite

2010-08-08T02:11:00.000-07:00

something for the auction...

2010-07-31T07:00:00.000-07:00

. silver, porcealin, linen thread, paint

Info and images of other works up for auction @

http://rmitgoldandsilversmithingauction.blogspot.com/

I am sad that this year I won't be able to go to the auction, as the dates clash with when I will be in Sydney for the Hidden Facets exhibtion. Luckily there will always be next year!

Porcelain silver and linen

2010-07-28T05:43:00.000-07:00

bell pendant 2010

2010-07-27T06:08:00.001-07:00

bowls

2010-07-25T05:54:00.000-07:00

over the last few months I have made some ceramic bowls to use at home. They look nice in a big stack, and it is lovely to use them, despite their design flaws! When they get dropped or broken it is a bit more sad than the shop-bought variety breaking, as I know how much time it took to make, especially when you are an amateur.

I have been admiring (along with many other ceramicists) the finesse and delicacy of http://musegallery.com.au/pages/gallery/wendy-jagger.php

Sydney- Hidden Facets and new Fusing

2010-07-23T05:50:00.000-07:00

These are some of the collaborative pieces for goldenink that Abby and I have been spending our spare time making recently. Abby has posted more images on her blog also.
These and others, along with work from the Hidden Facets exhibition which was held at Hand Held gallery in Melbourne in March will be on display at:

Gaffa, Keeper Gallery;
(281 Clarence Street, Sydney)http://www.gaffa.com.au/Opening night Thursday 12th of August 6-8pm,12th - 23rd August.

Abby and I will be there on opening night if anyone in Sydney wants to come and check out the exhibition and say hi!

As I have been using porcelain for a few months, it feels like so long since I have picked up the soldering torch, and I have missed it!
This is the beginnings of a new work -so far a crochet and porcelain pendant/form with a fused neck piece. Fusing is a lot of fun, but not always easy and, I have found that it is not at all consistent. As soon as I feel that I have the hang of joining, the next time I do it, I pick it up supposedly fused together, and the pieces all fall apart.
I will post images when it is finished. There is another one in this series in the making. The porcelain component is in the process of being fired, so hopefully all goes well in the kiln.

favourite tools

2010-07-05T00:02:00.000-07:00

I love collecting hand tools, it is hard to pick a favourite, I like my torch a lot. also my pliers. But at the moment, my favourite and most all round useful tool is my simple curved burnisher. I use it for shaping, stretching, smoothing and marking thin metal, and for polishing leather hard clay (as you can see it is a little clay soiled a the moment). It is my favorite and my best. I have a srtaight burnisher (or two), and they are not half as nice to use.

I recently got this second one with a round ball on the end. It did have the same type of ball burnisher on the other end also, but it was used one too many times as a replacement for the laptop opening button that it is missing, and it got stuck. It now has a new purpose!

As well as admiring my tools, I am in the process of getting a kiln installed in my studio, and rearranging/ getting rid of stuff to fit it in. It is proving to be a little more complicated than expected. Why didn't I just get one with a plug on it that goes into the wall?

ALso the Hidden Facets collaborative exhibition (with Abby Seymour) will be heading to Keeper gallery in Sydney in August! TIme to start planning a trip to Sydney, including a tour of all the local jewellery galleries, (and object). I/we will also possibly to make a few new pieces to take along with us for the show.

I will post the exhibition dates and details closer to August.

organising and Autumn cleaning

2010-05-28T07:01:00.001-07:00

Today I spent a couple of hours organising and cleaning up my work space and my bench - which was in desperate need. It even got a vacuum, and I would hate to count the number of used matches that were in the corner.

Now I am more inspired to make! I nearly got sidetracked by finishing off a neck piece I have been working on................................................. but the need to tidy won.

It needs to be clean as there I will make:

New work for ongoing collaborative project with Abby Seymour, Goldenink.

New works to be made for and as part of my artstart grant project.

.............anything really, as it feels like I haven't made anything in a while.

How many Scrap silver containers are too many?!? Dilemma. They can't be too full, as the particular piece you are looking for could be buried. But essentially they all contain the same thing!

Cold mornings, and news.

2010-05-24T17:41:00.000-07:00

I am glad that Melbourne mornings aren't like this!
here are a few pics of a beautiful but freezing morning in Newstead on Saturday....................

Last week I recieved the exciting news that my application for an artstart grant was successful. So it will be a busy year ahead!

More on this and the progress of my artstart project later. And thanks to my referees!

I found out that one of my neckpieces has been accepted for inclusion in the Buda contemporary textiles award in Castlemaine. 'The Contemporary Textiles Award Exhibition will be held in the Garden Room at Buda from Saturday - Sunday, 5th -13th June from 10.30am - 4.30pm. The cost of entry is $5. The Official Opening and Presentation of Awards will take place on Saturday, 5th June, 2010 at 4.30pm. Jonathon Sweet will give the Opening Address and our Patron, Lynne Landy, will formally launch the Textiles for Schools Program. You are cordially invited to this Opening. For catering purposes only we would very much appreciate an RSVP by Wednesday, 2nd June.'

http://www.budacastlemaine.org/42 Hunter StCastlemaine VIC 3450(03) 5472 103

Also last week I heard this extremely sad news http://www.galleryfunaki.com.au/gf/. There is a memorial being held for Mari Funaki today at the National Gallery of Victoria, International.

Unfortunately I cannot attend. I have found Mari to be a great inspiration, and have looked up to her as a person and artist since learning of her work and her amazingly insightful and beautiful jewellery gallery while studying at RMIT.

Some more about Mari here http://www.galleryfunaki.com.au/gf/funaki/67/mari-funaki

taking some photos of FUngi...

2010-04-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

Some Fungi photos from the weekend. The tree variety were taken at the Castlemaine Botanical gardens, and the others taken around Newstead.

and a pic of an ink drawing of some possible new work.

'One cup" Exhibition @ hand held gallery

2010-04-09T04:30:00.000-07:00

'One cup' is an exhibition based on the idea that it takes 48 teaspoons to fill one cup...... so hand held gallery gallery is now filled with 48 diverse teaspoons. Here are a couple of images from the opening night.

I have made two spoons for the show, from fine silver and paint. They are based on the makeshift spoons I would fashion in the car as a kid from the then aluminium yoghurt tub lids to eat yoghurt.

............................................and on another note......a box of fired porcelain I got back the other week, ready and waiting for me to put some further thought to go into them ............................................................................................................................................................

Hidden Facets @ Hand Held Gallery 'till 3rd of April

2010-03-27T21:37:00.000-07:00

Hidden Facets is on for one more week at Hand Held gallery, until the 3rd of April then that is it! ......... .......unless you are in Sydney later this year when we will be taking the show to Sydney's Keeper Gallery directed by Zoe Brand (in Gaffa). Very Exciting. Thanks to everyone who has been in to see the show so far.

Abby has more images of the show in situ on her blog, as does Megan on Hand Held Gallery's Blog.

Cameo: Katherine Wheeler and Abby Seymour. copper, sterling silver, thread, ink on paper,2010.

these are some images I have sent in to RMIT of my recent work for a talk I am giving Tuesday. How did Tuesday get so close?:? I had better go and review what I am going to say............

But before that, here are two of my other major achievements for the year...

a First birthday cake...

A fifth birthday cake...
...........and the two little reasons I am Always so Busy!!

Deciphered landscapes - My work/drawings for Figment @ e.g.etal

2010-03-22T03:50:00.001-07:00

Here are some of the progress drawings, photographs and works I made for Figment, on at e.g.etal until 31st of March. There are two more rings in this series that I forgot to photograph, a large one that is in the show, and a small version. The four pieces I have in the exhibition were selected by the curators from this series.

Figment opening

2010-03-18T22:04:00.001-07:00

The much awaited Figment opened at e.g.etal in Flinders lane last night on a warm and humid Melbourne evening......
and we finally get to see the design and ideas of curator Fleur Watson and designer AnneLaure Cavineaux in reality.

Shadows of the viewers interacted nicely with the projected images on the wall.

This is the shadow of my works from the deciphered landscapes series - artificial nature, pooled memory and grapeweed and seafoam projected on the wall. I did not get any decent images of the work on the projector beds unfortunately. I will try again over the next few weeks and post them if they turn out- or just post some images of my work that I took before the set up of the show. The shadows are quite impressive for the meantime.

It is well worth everyone going in to have a look at the installation, and of course, to see the amazing work made by all of the artists involved in the show. I am especially fond of Katherine Bowman's three neckpieces. Very detailled and beautiful.

Thanks e.g.etal for putting on this exciting event as part of the Melbourne fashion festival.

your invitation to Figment@ e.g.etal

2010-03-14T15:36:00.000-07:00

I am very excited to be a part of this show. I was in at e.g.etal on the weekend and the gallery is undergoing some big transformations to be ready for Thursday night!

Other participating artists are: Anna Davern, Katherine Bowman, Natalia Milosz-Piekarska, Jessica Morrison, Michaela Bruton, and Karla Way.

The e.g.etal blog has published interviews with two of the participaing artists, providing insight into the artist's process, ideas, background, and the whole world of the jeweller that we don't usually get to see. Very interesting to read, and some great images. E.g.etal blog

Look forward to seeing everyone at the opening!

hidden facets opening of the collaborative exhibition between Katherine Wheeler and Abby Seymour

2010-03-11T21:12:00.000-08:00

Here are some pics of last night's opening at Hand Held gallery. Thanks for those who could make it. The show is on until the 3rd of April if you missed it there is plenty of time to pop in and have a look!

Blurb from catalogue written by Abby:

"Hidden Facets is a collaborative exhibition between Katherine Wheeler and Abby Seymour. Wheeler is a jeweller, and Seymour is a printmaker. By working together they are able to form a dynamic body of work that plays off each medium with a solidity between object based three dimensional and two dimensional paper work.

The themes that Wheeler and Seymour evoke in this exhibition are that of curiosity and reflection. The body of work has a subtle undertone of the mysterious and unknown, reflecting and revealing the idea of multiple, ever changing and mutating forms and ideas that co-exist in today's society.

Hidden Facets draws upon and plays with the very notion suggested in the title. Hidden - subtle, concealed and the unknown. Facets- referring to the flat faces on geometric shapes that reflect the underlying symmetry of the structure. Facets are usually cut into the form to improve their appearance and allow them to reflect and refract light, thus revealing the idea of multiple viewpoints and that many make up the sum of the whole. In turn, the viewer is able to navigate the visual information along multiple paths corresponding to different orderings of the facets."

Thanks to Melbourne Jeweller for coming and sharing the opening night, and for her write up on the blog. Look forward to seeing if you got any better photos than I did!

Installing exhibition at Hand held gallery

2010-03-08T14:20:00.000-08:00

Hand Held Gallery upstairs in the Paromount arcade on Bourke st. Getting ready to install.

Abby preparing her print for hanging.

Yesterday Abby and I spent the day installing our exhibition at Hand Held Gallery, to open Thursday night From 6-8.

It is so close now, just a few finishing touches to go before Thursday........

Figment sneak peek

2010-03-04T05:22:00.000-08:00

...A sneak peek at some of the work I will have in figment, opening 18th of March.
Figment will be held at e.g.etal as part of the L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival....
" .... a unique ‘mythical’ exhibition showcasing the works of seven contemporary jewellery designers. The exhibition will be held from 16 March – 10 April 2010.Drawing on personal memories of a treasured fable or myth, participating artists - Katherine Bowman, Michaela Bruton, Anna Davern, Natalia Milosz-Piekarska, Jessica Morrison, Karla Way, and Katherine Wheeler – have been invited to produce new works that reference these rich narratives through colour, materiality and form. "from e.g.etal website.

The exhibition is curated by Fleur Watson, and graphic design is by AnneLaure Cavigneaux. It will be an exiting exhibition, challenging the traditional way that jewellery is displayed! I am looking forward to seeing the works in situ.

Invite to come......

drawing and fabricating some small hollowware pieces

2010-02-28T04:00:00.000-08:00

I had forgotten how much I enjoy making hollow ware objects until starting this small series (yet to be finished). The majority of the work I have made in the last six months has been jewellery. I like the freedom of working in a larger scale, and the way a group of objects sit together.

Making wearable jewellery over the last few months for Figment at e.g. etal has been a great experience and challenge, and I will post some images of this work after the show opens on the 18th of March.

Printmaker Abby Seymour has started a blog, posting some great images in the studio at work using her beautiful printmaking press. I look forward to seeing more! http://abbyseymour.tumblr.com/

Hidden Facets, invitation

2010-02-21T04:46:00.000-08:00

opening 11th of march, 6-8pm untill 3rd of April at handheld gallery Location:Suite 18, upstairsParamount Arcade108 Bourke StreetMelbourne, 3000 --------Hope to see you there!!

Newly fired Porcelain rings with handpainted designs.

2010-02-08T16:28:00.000-08:00

I have posted a picture of these rings unfired previously. I am happy with the way the have turned out, though some of the grey I thought I mixed up using the black stain powder and the southern ice porcelain just tuned out plain black, and some have stayed grey. Maybe more rigorous mixing methods needen next time?
I'm still not sure about the coloured ones, maybe a bit more experimentation is needed next time.

attempt at organisation, and a sneak peek!

2010-02-02T04:10:00.000-08:00

Today I made an attempt at organising some of my paraphenalia (which usually ends up all over the place) in a cool box I have had stashed in the shed for years. Let's see how long it looks like this for.

Preview / progress picture of Abby's and my work to come for "Hidden Facets" opening in March at Hand held gallery.

Progress photo: Abby Seymour's amazing drawing, and print, and my ring.

new pieces....constructing for March exhibitions

2010-02-01T03:11:00.000-08:00

I will be busy this month making new work for the up coming show 'Hidden Facets' that I will be having in March with printmaker Abby Seymour. It will be opening on the 11th of March at Hand Held gallery Suite 18, upstairsParamount Arcade108 Bourke Street Melbourne.

So these components in the photos will have to be made into something fantastic in the next few weeks!

Abby and I will also be showing some collaborative work, which will be a lot of fun to make, and a bit of a challenge.

I will post our invite when it is ready.

I am also very excited to be in 'Fiment' opening also on the 11th of March, at e.g.etal in Flinders lane, along with a great selection of jewellers.

So I will also be finishing the series of work I have made for Figment over the next week, so plenty of late nights to be expected!

...............................................................................

2010-01-12T04:17:00.003-08:00

Beach holiday, I am missing it already. Two weeks of rockpools, berry picking, rainforest, lots of walking- nature. And today, hot sticky concretey Melbourne.

chunky patterned porcelian rings in the making...

2009-12-09T20:08:00.000-08:00

It has been a few months - now it is time to make some more porcelian rings. The last one I made, (then painted with a wet stain and clear glazed over the top) turned out much better than I expected.
So this time I have mixed some of the porcelain into the black stain, to make some more subtle grey, and dark greys instead of the harsh contrast of pure black and white. This has also dried to be more stable than the stain on its own, which is good. The black stain on it's own would brush off with a slight touch. I already can't wait to see them fired. I will post pics when this happens.

Bangle - fine silver and thread.

2009-12-02T07:22:00.000-08:00

A bangle made predominantly from fine silver. Rolled out thin fine silver, sewn, cut, then lots of soldering, some crochet, stitching a bit of glue and finally, paint. I am waiting for my camera battery to charge so that I can try to get a better image. Why is it that the spare battery is always missing?

Does anyone know how to keep the background white without photoshop? I have two daylight globes, used no flash, and it always looks bright white when taking the photograph.

Another photography session, and some better results! I used a white back drop to reflect light from behind, and this made a big difference. Though I do admit that I lightened these images just a little on photoshop.

The top images are very dramatic, though the second set are more true to life, as the piece is a very stark white.

Fine silver, linen thread, pva, paint.

Feast neckpiece

2009-11-22T03:52:00.001-08:00

This is the neckpiece I have made for the exhibition Feast which will be held at Depot gallery at 6b 2 Dank St Waterloo NSW 2017, opening on the 20 th of December and runnign to the 24th of December.

Linen thread, polyester thread, porcelain, PVA, glass beads, silver, paint.

around the studio

2009-11-14T16:57:00.000-08:00

I have been meaning to post some pictures of my work space. This also encouraged me to tidy it up (a little bit) I seem to collect lots of things that might be useful, and they sit around for ever. There is a set of shelves to the right of my bench with tools and lots of etc. (too messy to show) that needs a lot of organising, and some things to get rid of.

I want to spend more nights/evenings making with metal over the next few summer months. My beautifull cavallin rolling mill has not had near enough work for the two years I have had it set up.

All my hand tools seem to be scattered around, some inside some out in the studio - so it is time to get organised.... as much as I can with limited time anyway.

Pendants

2009-11-11T00:15:00.001-08:00

precious pendants at Object media release

2009-11-04T17:19:00.000-08:00

click image to enlarge.

I wish I could go and see the show! It is a shame that I will be in a few exhibitions that I won't be able to see this year. The images in the media release look great.

travelling interstate (and viewing exhibitions in general) is just that bit more daunting with a four year old and eight month old tagging along.

Porcelain bell pendant

2009-11-04T05:38:00.000-08:00

The first finished piece made with the newly fired porcelain components. A few others are on their way, along with some work to be shown in studio 20/17's second Christmas show, Feast.

firing new porcelain components

2009-11-01T23:04:00.000-08:00

After firing- the glaze is not the right colour, too cold and too purple. I will have to look up a glaze recipe to try to replicate the pink on the inside of the shell in the picture above.

Boxes of fired ceramic bits and pieces to make with. The ring (second from bottom) is an experiment with painting a wet stain onto the dry porcelain, coating with a clear glaze, then firing. It worked well, perhaps too bold??- it looks like I could have drawn it on with a sharpie. Next firing I would like to try more painting on pattern etc. and perhaps different colour, and shades of grey- the stain mixed with some clay?... Most of the other pieces have other components such as silver and crochet thread and to be added. Some will be made into something new and exciting as a collaboration between myself and printmaker Abby Seymour for an exhibition we will be having together at Hand Held gallery in March. This is a link to Abby's flicker photostream

invite to :studio 20/17 christmas showcase

2009-10-28T04:59:00.000-07:00

This November I have some work that will be part of the studio 20/17 (blog) Christmas showcase. Unfortunately I don't think I will make it to Sydney to see the show, and it looks like it will be a good one!

The showcase exhibition is encouraging and supporting gifting of the handmade this Christmas, and everything will be for sale.

photographing instead of scanning

2009-10-23T16:37:00.000-07:00

I am loving my new nikon d5000, and especially the micro lens.

I have found that it is nicer to photograph rather than scan drawings to get them into the computer now that I have a great quality lens. These drawings are photographed, then photoshopped together.

As I said on my last post .. I have to play with the computer and the camera less, and the metal and the clay etc. more if I want to make any new work anythime soon!

.....coloured ink drawings.....

2009-10-20T17:57:00.000-07:00

Drawings are usually the start to new series of works.... I will have to get into making and see what comes out of the stdio in the next few weeks....... .........as soon as I get rid of this throat infection :( being unwell is so frustrating!!
I also have a brand new pack of Southern Ice porcelain waiting for me to use, still in the car from two weeks ago!
The Melboune weather is heating up, and daylight savings is here - it is good motivation to get out into the studio, and off the laptop!

Earrings, earrings, Earrings

2009-10-16T04:06:00.000-07:00

It has been nice to make some work in colour! courful in time for summer. Two pairs of these earrings will be donated to the Ascot Kindergarten fundraising Art Auction held for my daughter's kinder later this month.

I am looking into linking an etsy shop to my blog, so I can offer some one off pieces of jewellery for sale, and very likely some of these pairs of earrings.

Fine silver, sterling silver, linen thread, cotton, polyester thread.

'frill structure, ring' 2009

2009-10-13T06:20:00.000-07:00

porcelain, linen thread, PVA, paint.

I am pleasantly surprised by the way this ring has turned out. I almost wish it was a more practical, wearable piece. Though, if it were, it would not be what it is.

Today I posted off a neckpiece/pendant that will be one of forty included in Object's Precious pendants exhibition in the Project Space gallery, 21 Nov -31st Jan 2010.

It is hard to let go of a piece, or more to the point, hard to entrust it to the postal system......

I am excited to be part of the show.

Pen and ink Drawings

2009-10-13T06:12:00.001-07:00

Drawings are often a starting point for my work. After trying many different mediums, I now feel the most comfortable and efficient with pen and ink. It has a beautiful fluidity and can create a line of variable thickness and intensity of colour. I also like the unplanned drop of ink that can flood onto the paper and change the direction of the form I am drawing.

Porcelain pieces dried and ready to be fired.

2009-10-10T04:12:00.000-07:00

Here are some Southern ice porcealin components, dried, ready and waiting to be fired, then made into new hollow ware and/or jewellery pieces.

textured cone with trail...2009

2009-10-03T07:13:00.000-07:00

Porcelain, linen thread, glass beads, PVA, paint.

lichen.....

2009-10-03T05:45:00.001-07:00

Last weekend I chance to play
with my camera....................... It is amazing how much more Fleix will sleep during the day in the country fresh air, and a quiet, quiet bedroom!

Callendula - Alien landscape
Lichen and buds on apple tree.

A lichen is a fungus with symbiotic algae among its cells...Any of many symbiotic organisms, being associations of fungi and algae
Symbiosis: living together
Of a relationship with mutual benifits between two individuals or organisms.

Congratulations to Claire O'Halloran on her exhibition 'keepsapes' that opened at Hand Held Gallery on Thursday 1st of October. Beautiful enamelling work. If you would like to read more about Claire, read her profile on Melbourne Jeweller.

Stilt cup, 2009

2009-09-21T05:53:00.000-07:00

Materials: Silver, Linen thread, PVA, paint.