Architectonics: Foundations in Jewellery

Management: Mike Holmes and Elizabeth Shypertt
Place: Velvet da Vinci
(San Francisco, United States)
05-Sep-2007 - 07-Oct-2007

website: www.architectonicsjewellery.co.uk
website: www.velvetdavinci.com
mail: info@velvetdavinci.com

Rachel Hearne
Bracelet: The Lowry Centre 2006
Tagua nut (vegetable ivory), shibuishi


Martin Rees, Ring, 2006
Martin Rees
Ring: Gateway Transport Interchange 2006
Gold, steel


Rachel Hearne
Bracelet: The Lowry Centre, 2006
Tagua nut (vegetable ivory), shibuishi



Colette Hazelwood, Brooch, 2006
Colette Hazelwood
Brooch: Manchester Guardian Underground Tunnels 2006
(Oxidised) silver, steel, nylon and concrete


Samantha Mills, Bracelet, 2006
Samantha Mills
Bracelet: Daily Express Building 2006
Stainless steel, laser etching


Lisa Thornton, Necklace, 2006
Lisa Thornton
Necklace: City of Manchester Stadium 2006
Gold, silver


Heather Skowood, Ring, 2006
Heather Skowood
Ring: Strangeways Prison 2006
Silver, pearls


Presentation


"Architectonics: Foundations in Jewellery" a Manchester Jewellers Network Exhibition, is an
exhibition inspired by Manchester's unique architecture. The exhibition highlights Manchester's
regeneration development boom that is currently changing the face of Manchester and its
thriving art jewelry scene.

Architecture and jewelry can be seen as a document of human history through which we can
examine ourselves. By looking at the buildings people create and how they adorn themselves,
we have greater insight into what they value and how they live.

Architectonics, by definition, is the scientific study of architecture or things relating to
architecture. "Architectonics: Foundations in Jewellery," therefore is a study of architecture
through contemporary jewelry. The work created in this exhibition is inspired directly by themes
and aesthetics taken from existing buildings or structures in Manchester. Inspired by
architecture the artists are challenging our ideas of jewelry and, conversely, architecture.

One artist, Rachel Hearne, uses tagua nut in her work, drawing on the history of the Lowry Center
Site where tongau nuts were used as spools for the textile industry. Where as traditionally
jewelry symbolizes wealth and status, the use of alternative materials in this exhibit shifts ideas
of adornment to concepts of work.


Martin Rees: Gateway Transport Interchange
Tara Kirkpatrick: B of the Bang
Colette Hazelwood: Manchester Guardian
Underground Tunnels
Eddie Grundy: Manchester Town Hall
Toby Cotterill: Castlefield Railway Viaduct
Samantha Mills: Daily Express Building
Lisa Thornton: City of Manchester Stadium
Rachel Hearne: The Lowry Centre
Melissa Hansom: Manchester Royal Exchange
Heather Skowood: Strangeways Prison



Exhibition Co-ordinator: Samantha Mills
Exhibition Concept: Heather Skowood