Pash Jewellery Design

2011-08-26T16:22:00.002-04:00

Hi Everyone,

It has been quite the busy summer and a project I have been working on since December is 2010 is finally coming to fruition! It all started with an off the cuff question from a client inquiring if I had ever made a Mezuzah. (A Mezuzah is small cylindical sculpture placed on the door of Jewish homes that holds a parchament paper with a sacred prayer). At the time I had not made one but as I like a challenge I said I would be happy to.

This conversation led to me being asked to design a Mezuzah for the Kehilla Residential Program for a new project. (Kehilla creates affordable housing for low income Jewish families.) So now it was design time. I did many sketches and had many meetings about the design and what I could produce multiples of in a reasonable time frame. We finally agreed on design and then the funding challenge began. As Kehilla is a non-profit they are always in need of more funding! The team went straight to work and after talking up the project they were able to secure the finances to proceed.

I am now in the process of making 100 Mezuzahs for the fall fundraiser! The image on the left is of the final design. It features the Hebrew letter "shin" and is made from stainless steel and copper. They will be available for purchase through Kehilla in time for Sukkot!

Looking forward to updating you on future projects!

Gillian

New Rings

2011-07-25T23:20:00.000-04:00

It is always exciting to have work published in a book. As we live in an increasingly paperless word you might think the thrill of seeing your name in print under an image of your work would diminish over time but not for me! Everyone can post pictures online but having my work chosen for publication alongside artists I admire is a thrill I may never get over. I just got my copy of New Rings by Nicolas Estrada in the mail today and feel honored to have my work published in such impressive company!

The author is a jeweller which made his selections for the book both informed and interesting. Have a look at his work here: http://www.amarillojoyas.com/index_e.html

and you can buy the book here: http://www.amazon.com/New-Rings-Designs-Around-World/dp/0500289336

If you are a jeweller Nicolas is working on his next book which will focus on earrings. You can find the call for entry on his website as well as facebook.

Bank on Art

2011-07-03T23:45:00.000-04:00

So there is this cool new project in the city where artwork will be posted on special ATM machines. People that use the machines will see work before and after their transaction is complete. At the moment there are two locations for these machines but I am hoping this movement catches on. It seems like the perfect pairing for subliminal messaging to kick it. No matter what though it is an innovative way to integrate art into people's daily lives. Hopefully it will inspire them to pay attention to the fantastic artwork all around the city.

Inspired By....Canadian!

2011-06-20T23:19:00.000-04:00

The 7th annual national juried show of jewellery and metal work at Zilbersmuck gallery was based on what, in or about Canada, inspires you. My entry titled Burnt Stew Trail was inspired by my favorite run on Whistler Mountain. It was awarded honorable mention for Variation of Techniques. Thank you to this years exhibition jury!

Artist Statement:

My love of travel can be pinpointed to 1997 when I moved to Whistler for a ski season before starting university in the fall. As a novice skier, Burnt Stew Trail became my favorite run. I could take the chair lifts all the way to the top and spend an hour slowly winding down the mountain enjoying breath-taking views of the Rockies.

My ring/necklace pays homage to this trail. It converts from a ring to a necklace to represent how I learned to open up to the experience and enjoy the wilderness around me. I used mokume gane to emphasize the mountains and patinaed copper to represent the rainforest foliage that peaked out across the landscape. The folded ring shows the mass of the Rockies while the open necklace is meant to illustrate the undulating path I took down, what was then, one of the longest runs on Whistler Mountain.

I had always considered myself a city person and could not have imagined how this trip would later inspire me. Once I began to see what was around me, and I felt at ease immersed in nature, I realized what Canada had to offer and I have continued to explore its beauty ever since.

Think Boldly!

2011-04-29T23:28:00.001-04:00

Last night was the much anticipated "Boldly" event organized by 18Karat in support of the Assaulted Women's Helpline.

When I say anticipated it is for various reasons. The event was a year in the making and did not come off without a hitch or two in the planning. There was a change of date, new jurors and a new location but it all came together for a wonderful night supporting an important cause.

During the opening remarks we heard about the statistics of how many women will come in contact with abuse personally or through someone they know. Everyone at the event was hit with the simultaneous notion that we all know someone who has suffered this trauma and needs our support.
As this is a cause I have always supported I was happy to design and create a piece of jewellery for the event. In addition to the fundraising element the event was also a design competition. I was pleasantly surprised last night when I was awarded Best in Show for my necklace "What Lies Beneath".

When speaking with the jurors after the awards were presented they said my artist statement moved them and truly explained the piece in a way that was not evident on the surface, which was exactly what I was going for!

Artist Statement
“What Lies Beneath” is a necklace about strength and courage. The front of the necklace follows the curve of the neck so that it contours into the body while the back has an entirely separate effect. The back defies the conventions of where the focus of jewellery should be, so as to draw attention away from the obvious and cause the viewer to explore. In doing so, it creates an opportunity to reconsider the piece, what it means, and the person wearing it.

This multi-layered necklace has a subtle delicacy resulting from the combining of complimentary techniques. The left side is made from mokume gané, an ancient Japanese technique made by first layering metals and then removing areas to reveal the layers below. The right side is made from marriage of metal, a flush meeting between metals, with an overlay of knitted wire. The back has knitted pouches holding gemstones. Finally, the central drop in the front combines all of these techniques and elements. These methods were chosen to create both delicate patterns and structural integrity. The concepts of internal strength and courage are mirrored in the necklace through the structure and exploratory nature of the design.

The mokume and knitting have the appearance of fragility, this masks the fact that alone and combined these elements result in a piece with both physical and symbolic strength. While some individuals may not be outwardly muscular, strength manifests itself in many ways. This piece is a metaphor for these hidden strengths.

Courage can take many forms from obvious public demonstrations to actions resulting from subtle decisions known only to the individual making them. The garnets and citrine represent the subtle and often understated nature of courage by being encased and almost hidden. Just as courage is a characteristic often unseen, these gemstones are hidden until a trained eye looks to discover them. The pearls represent public displays of courage. The inclusion of all of these gems represents the range of courageous expressions.

“What Lies Beneath” addresses strength and courage as characteristics that can manifest themselves both above and below the surface. They may appear to be traits worn as badges, but true strength and courage are affirmed through actions. These actions lead to what lies above, in plain view, a persons character.

Well it's about time!

2011-03-26T00:59:00.001-04:00

About time for what? A new blog post? A creative project? Curtains I have been wanting to make for the past two years? Yes to all of the above!

To appreciate this project I need to take a trip down memory lane to when I lived in Australia (Dec 1999-June 2000). I went for my last semester of university and lived in the overseas residence apartments. Each unit was shaped like a rectangle and mine was a studio. I was there with my boyfriend and we had no separate space. One weekend I decided we needed a curtain to separate the "bedroom" from the rest of the box. I waited for a weekend alone and dedicated the entire 48 hours to this project.

I went nuts at the dollar store and not only drew the scene on but sewed on lots of accessories! You can see how this wonderful work of art was being held up by duct tape which constantly needed adjustments.

When it was time to go home I had to leave my curtain as it weighed to much for my luggage. I took the yellow boa sun and one of the butterflys home as my only reminder of this quirky decoration.

Now over ten years later I still wish I has been able to bring home the curtain. For the past two years I have been planning to make something like it to cover the front of an Ikea wardrobe but never seemed to find the time.

Two weeks ago I finally decided it was time to make my curtains! This time I would make them properly and hang them on a rod and even sew up the edges. First I needed a little lesson on how to use the sewing machine I inherited from my great aunt and then I was off to sew.

Below are the process pics and my finished curtains!

My yellow boa sun has finally been restored to its proper place of honour!

I am so happy with this project I am now considering the fun things I can do to my plain white Ikea chair!

Its that time of year again.....

2010-11-14T22:42:00.000-05:00

Well it is already the holiday season if you make jewellery and I am just like all the others in the thick of creating and filling holiday orders. Not only am I working on stocking my stores and current customers I am preparing for the One of a Kind Show taking place in less than two weeks.

The One of a Kind Show takes place annually at Exhibition Place and will host 800 artists over an eleven day show. Work in all mediums of fine art and craft will be on display for enjoyment and on the spot purchases. So if you feel like seeing what the artists have been up to come to the Direct Energy Center at Exhibition Place from Nov 25th to Dec 5th Monday-Saturday 10am-9pm and Sundays from 10am-6pm. Visit me in Booth E-11 and see what I have been busy creating!

Envy to Covet and Desire

2010-08-11T22:50:00.000-04:00

Earlier this week I attended the opening for a show I have work in at 18Karat. The show called Envy brought up some interesting ideas.I was pleasantly surprised to find out I had won best in technical achievement for my Trillium necklace. I always strive for technical excellence in my work, although now I know technique alone is not enough if you want your work to mean something. My artist statement for the show talks about how I came to realize and express concepts in jewellery by feeling the push and pull of competition with envy being the catalyst for it all. Below is my artist statement for the show.

Envy is usually perceived as a negative trait that we try to hide. But is there a positive side to it as well? Can it not be the starting point for imagination to blossom from?

I am not envious of obvious things like wealth and fame but I am envious of creativity. It might sound strange, being an artist myself, but I do envy the inspired. I know I am creative but when I started making jewellery I was more interested in visual appeal and technique than the ideas behind each piece. The desire to communicate through jewellery came in time. Eventually I realized jewellery could be used as a powerful tool for self-expression and was envious of those who seemed able to convey ideas through their work. It led to a self-directed examination of my work and what I wanted to say with it.

Today my work is about re-establishing a connection to the roots of craftsmanship. Techniques previously used for their working properties are used today for their visual appeal. I explore the integration of these divergent uses and highlight the relationship between function and form in contemporary jewellery.

To illustrate this relationship, I use methods to create volume balanced by structures that create strength. This results in a body of work that combines the appearance of delicacy with the practicality of strength. These complementary ideas allow for the creation of comfortable, sculptural jewellery that stands alone, but comes to life on the body.

My entries for “Envy” are pieces that came out of this analysis and speak to my growth as a conceptual jeweller. I am pleased with my progression thus far but the “green eyed monster” keeps me focused on my work and allows it to continue to evolve with me. I have found envy, under the right circumstance a critical factor in inspiring me to persist in exploring new ideas in process and form.

Check out the show and stay tuned for more about what inspires me today:o)

Hearts, hearts and more hearts!

2010-08-06T10:01:00.000-04:00

The Jewel Envy "RED" show is fast approaching and I am in the final stages of attacking hearts. No I am not having a heart attack, I have been working on making pieces about the heart and the sentiments related to it for the show.

I started with a complex piece that the wearer can pump to spray up rubies into the heart cavity. I think it is actually the largest thing I have ever made and it gave me a taste for hollow-ware and all sorts of alternative materials. So with that piece out of the way it should have been smooth sailing. But alas jewellery is never easy. My next few pieces in the series are production hearts to be cast in resin. It has taken me months to figure out how to achieve the desired results. I think I finally have resin worked out and am close to finishing my full heart, shriveled heart, fractured heart, and prickly heart and probably a few others that I have been thinking about.

I am not including pictures for now, you will have to come to the show to check out the work:o) So far the booked locations include Distill, 18Karat, Pearson Gallery and then hopefully in venues across Canada!

Happy jewellery making!

Gillian

Bring your broken your weary and your dully finished jewellery....

2010-07-30T00:56:00.000-04:00

This Saturday July 31st, from a10am-6pm, will be a repair day extravaganza! The jewellers at my studio Jewel Envy will be taking in all repairs and completing most within the hour. Why? Well it is a chance to let the local community know about us and what we offer. The best way to get new customers is not to sell them anything but to provide a service they would like to have done with little effort on their part. So bring in your favorite pieces that need a little TLC and we will do our best to restore them to their former glory! Have a look at the Jewel Envy website for the repair menu.

See you Saturday!

Gillian

HOT off the jewellers bench!

2010-07-14T01:33:00.000-04:00

Custom work can be a fantastic way to test your skills and broaden your portfolio. It also allows you to strengthen your communication and rapport with customers. But at the same time it can be very stressful!

I just had the pleasure to work with a new client, Steve Skinner, who happens to be a professional fighter. His appearance was quite intimidating to me despite his calm and polite nature and this was only emphasized for me when my brother emailed me a Youtube video of one of this fights. It is probably an occupational hazard for fighters so it is a good thing Steve has a calm and persistent way of expressing himself even when not 100% pleased.

I have to say this was a difficult order. I was presented with an image of a "Jason" mask from the internet and asked if I could make it in white and yellow gold. We spoke for about 10min and I was confident I could recreate the look in a pendant. So I went ahead and made the piece that would hang from his heavy white gold chain.

Above is the first attempt. This mask was not exactly how Steve had imagined the final piece. He felt it was too thin and did not contour to the face as it should, to be realistic. I pride myself on technical skill and the ability to make what my customers want. Based on the original weight of gold I could not produce the mask exactly as desired. We agreed on a new and heavier piece and I went back to work.

This time I went about it differently and carved a wax first. Again this wax was not exactly as the imagined piece should be. Steve articulated how he wanted the mask to look and what was both good and bad with the wax carving and I set out to carve it again.

Well third time was a charm! I carved the wax and it was perfect! Steve approved it and I cast it in 10K palladium white gold and added 10K yellow gold rivets and spikes to the mask after. I did take some artistic liberty with the size of the rivets and spikes to increase the contrast between the white and yellow gold. Good thing he liked that!

You can see how this mask is heavier and better proportioned to the scale. I was thrilled with the final piece and relieved that Steve liked it. This custom job was stressful but a valuable learning experience that reinforced the importance of communication with new customers.

If you would like to see Steve kick butt check out this video Youtube-Steve Skinner and then you will see why this happy smiling face still intimidates the petite jeweller that I am.

Check back again soon as I will continue to chronicle my work and share the highlights of what I am up to.

Gillian

Preparing for work work and more work!

2010-07-07T23:43:00.000-04:00

This week I am preparing for a jewellery feature at Organic Metal Gallery. I was asked if I wanted to exhibit enameled work as I used to focus on this area of jewellery design. It has been a while since I did lots of enameling but I have been getting back in the groove as I prepare for the show.

In addition to working on both old and new designs for the show I am working on many custom orders right now. Most people do not realize this but summer is the busy season for studio jewellery. There are many exhibitions at this time of year, summer weddings are popular and finally it might just be related to the happy feeling people get when they have lots of time in the sunshine!

That's all for now. Enjoy the sun and support local artisans in your city!

Gillian

Home and Working Hard!

2010-06-27T22:39:00.000-04:00

With the G20 going on and downtown riots I was not able to go to my studio to work. Good thing I planned ahead and brought home the studio computer, my sketch book and a piece that I could partially fabricate at home! With all that going on I felt a little sequestered in my home but that resulted in it being a very productive weekend for me.

I got caught up on all of marking for my casting class at OCAD. I worked on the Jewel Envy schedual and sent out our monthly emails. I added lots of content to www.jewelenvy.ca and www.pash.ca. I would have finished the piece of jewellery I was working on if I didn't run out of sterling silver wire and I got some applications ready for shows. So now its Sunday night and for once I feel prepared for a busy week and I know it is going to be productive!

If you are an artist here are some links for upcoming calls for entry!

http://www.saulbellaward.com/
http://www.nicheawards.com/
http://www.wearableartawards.com/ (I entered this one last year! Below is a picture of my dress on their model.)

So many things to make so little time in a day!

2010-06-14T17:09:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I feel a little overwhelmed about the amount of things I would like to have accomplished in a week. This week is one of those times! In addition to teaching casting at OCAD two nights a week (and writing up my students next exam) I have client meetings and the Metal Arts Guild event that I will be speaking at. All good things right?! I think so, but it does means putting aside a few projects I would really like to get underway.

I guess I will just have to deal with it like everyone else. Weeks like this remind me that when I don't have the time to make everything it is really imporant to keep my sketch book close by so that I can jot down designs and ideas for later when there is time to process them. Good thing I just got a new smaller sketch book that travels with me most of the time to do just that!

Since I am clearly in planning and scheduling mode I would like to invite anyone reading this to come to the Metal Arts Guild event this Thursday June 17th from 7:30pm-10pm. MAG is implementing a lot of exciting changes and this party will be a great chance to mingle with other metal artists from in and around Toronto while hearing about things that can help you in your career and subsequently how to get involved. For more information about MAG and this event please go to www.metalartsguild.c/events/metal-arts-guild-party. MAG is a national Canadian organization with satelite groups across Canada. If you are interested in starting your own satelite group or getting involved and you do not live in Toronto contact MAG there are many opportunities for participation from across Canada!

Welcome

2010-06-08T00:13:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my new blog! I spend a lot of time on the computer so I thought I might expand my reach and let all of you know what I am up to these days. Check back often as I will be uploading info on my work, my studio, and general calls for entry that I scour the web looking for to keep me busy and creative:o)

I look forward to sharing more with you and hearing back with questions and or comments.

Gillian