Presenting…. THE BOX PROJECT
The Box Project invites jewellers to create work specifically for an exhibition that will be held at Keeper Gallery, gaffa in November.
Each artist will receive a box in the mail containing some materials, with the contents of the boxes, the artists are asked to make between 1 and 3 works which will be returned complete for the exhibition in November. I have 8 makers confirmed so far and the invites were only sent out yesterday, this is very exciting news!
All the boxes will contain different materials however some may be very similar. I am very interested to see the different makers interpretations of the materials into tangible wearables.
Inspiration for the exhibition
Growing up as a child, there existed a room in my house that we labeled the ‘craft room’. This treasure trove contained the exciting wonders of my mother’s creative passions.
Sewing equipment, doll making needs, chocolate moulds and cake decorating wares, an over-locker, paints, pastels, crayons and a tin box of 72 coloured derwent pencils lined the shelves. A never ending supply of textured papers; all shades under the sky, wools, fake furs, an array of glues and special scissors that were off limits to our shaky young hands.
My strongest memory of this room was the ‘busy box’. A magical box created for my sister and I by my craft-loving mother. The busy box was brimming with crafty materials with which we would build, make and create inventions of sorts. Hours would pass unnoticed as we were enthralled by cutting, sticking, drawing and making masterpieces that would end up proudly displayed atop the television or on the fridge’s smooth surface.
This room was almost forever messy. However chaotic, you could always find what you were after and more. Searches uncovered long buried strands of sequins, bags of sparkling glitter, googly eyes, pompoms and fuzzy pipe cleaners. It was overwhelming and the possibilities were endless. In retrospect I realize that my passion for making and working with my hands as my primary tool for creation began at a young age.
This jewellery project, 20 years on from my childhood aims to recreate the idea of the ‘busy box’. Approached in a sophisticated manner using more complex materials and involving professional emerging and established jewellers and makers who’s technical skill and knowledge of contemporary jewellery far exceeds the good old days of Clag glue, Crayola and safety scissors, the out-come being a real exhibition rather than a fridge display!
Stay tuned for more updates. The final list of participants to be anounced shortly.
