Triangle Gallery of Visual Arts - Format to Facet: Body Ornament West

Organized for 2004 ArtCity
Calgary International Festival of Visual Arts, Architecture & Design

What is jewellery? Is it clothing? Is it gold and diamonds? Is it mouse droppings in an acrylic tube? Is it gold leaf applied to a crack on the ground, decorating the earth, the body that is Gaia? Or wearable art, in the context of performance? Jewellery is all of these, and more. Jewellery is the oldest human evidence of consciousness, 40,000 years old.

Anthropologists now believe that jewellery as well as being evidence of consciousness may have actually been a cause of consciousness in humans. Raising consciousness is what this exhibition is about.

Self-decoration, self-adornment, is consciousness. Jewellery is all about meaning, about applied symbolic value and content. Jewellers agree, when asked, that what they sell is not gold, or precious gems, or fashion, but is in fact memories. Jewellery, like a tattoo, is a key to a moment, a trigger for the mind, a tactile touchstone for the wearer, and the viewer.

Jewellery provides a universal symbolic access to personal meaning and its expression. It's semiotic functions, accessible to all, as well as to the artistic elite in the form of art jewellery, cross boundaries and elicit symbolic, and metaphoric interpretations that cross cultural, class and educational positions.

"Format to Facet: Body Ornament West" is a wide-ranging overview of the contemporary Western Canadian jewelry and wearable art scene. With over 40 artists from Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and 140 pieces it addresses a broad spectrum of practice, from international award winning fine jewelers precious gem work to radical and experimental body wear. This is the first such survey of designer jewelry and art jewelry in Calgary in over 20 years. The works turn a searchlight onto the vigorous community of world-class jewellers and jewellery artists in Western Canada, a reflection of the world of international art jewellery.

So, what is the notion of the wearable? Is jewellery or clothing wearable art? Craft? Both? The works in this exhibition are intended to incite discourse concerning body ornament and ideas/perceptions about what is or is not wearable, and issues of function and non-function. The spectrum of work presented points to the roles and meanings of jewellery and the wearable object in our culture. A range of types of work fosters contrast and comparison for the viewer, and facilitates debate. This exhibition is an exploration of ornament: from the vernacular to conceptual art jewellery and wearable. The work encourages discussion of position.

Charles Lewton-Brain
Norbert Brinkhaus
Amy Gogarty
Tom McFall
Amanda Pawson
Kathy Rawson

Format to Facet: Body Ornament West exhibition will be also presented at the Lower Gallery of the Alberta Craft Council from January 15 to April 2, 2005. The Alberta Craft Council Gallery is located at 10186 - 106th Street, Edmonton, AB. Tel. (780) 488-6611; web site: www.albertacraft.ab.ca

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Kimberly Johansen (Calgary, AB) - Dragon Flight (pendant), 2004; sterling silver, brass, copper. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Karen Cantine (Edmonton, AB) – Untitled, 1998; pin with granite, pearl and sterling silver. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Sarabeth Carnat (Calgary, AB) - My Grandmother’s Legacies ( brooch/necklace), 2001; sterling silver, 14 and 18K gold ( in display case). Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Jan Smith (Salt Spring Island, B.C.) - Dual Circles (neckpiece), 2004; enamel, copper and sterling silver. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Kurt Tunkl (Calgary, AB) – Untitled (bracelet), 2004; sterling silver, anodized titanium. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Tara Owen (Calgary, AB) - Sewn Brooch, 1996; brass. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Sarah Alford (Beaverlodge, AB) - Ring (one meter diameter), 2004; barbed wire, brass and beading wire, metallic thread. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Monique Mousseau (Hope, B.C.) - Mask (series), 1995; vitrous enamel, fine and sterling silver. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Aliza Amihude (Winnipeg, MB) - Magnifying the World ( necklace/magnifying glass), 2003; sterling silver, glass, vinyl, broom and wiry fern mosses, false pixie cup, green reindeer, powdery beard lichens, earth, dwarf birch tree seed heads and jack pine needles. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Shona Rae (Calgary, AB) - Bluebird’s Castle (sculptural ring; detail), 2002 ; sterling silver, bronze, precious metal clay, garnet, copper screen and bees wax. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Dee Fontans (Calgary, AB) - Tea Set (ring and bracelet), 2004; silver, tea bags and magnets. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Anna Clark (Rossland, B.C)) - Bee Mine ( brooch), 2004; fine silver, 18K gold, coloured pencil and gold leaf. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Caroline Miller (Victoria, B.C.) - Naughty Amoeba #3, 2004; sterling, 18K gold, Plexiglas and bolts. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Reagan Nielsen (Grande Prairie, AB) - Viking Shoes (shoes), 2001; pipe cleaners. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Thelia Foster (Redwood, AB) - Silhouette Series: Copper Crone Woman #1 (brooch), 2003; polymer clay, copper. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Megan Hazel (Regina, SK) - aMEZEing Brooch, 2003; silver. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Bridget Catchpole (Vancouver, B.C.) - Touch Series: Hair’s Breadth ( ring), 2002; sterling silver, white synthetic bristles. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Natalie Kurzuk (Calgary, AB) - Pocket Full of Posies, 2003 ; wearable mixed media, dried rose petals, fabric, tea bags displayed on mannequin. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Kari Woo (Calgary, AB) - Jewellery Box Series: Alembic Sequence-The Unfolding Collapse of Beauty with Removable Pendant ( box with pendant; detail), 2003; wood, found object, copper ; pendant: sterling silver, found rusted object, diamond. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Sonja Neven (Cochrane, AB) - Seedpod Container #4 (neckpiece), 2002; sterling silver, lace agate. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Jackie Anderson (Calgary, AB) - Kingscliffe (eyewear), 2001; sterling silver and plastic. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Linda Chow (Calgary, AB) - Tea Tray in the Sky … Mad Hatter (hat),1999; anodized aluminium, copper, leather, acrylic. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Janie Zwack (Calgary, AB) - Coven in the Moonlight (removable pendant), n.d.; silver, opium poppy seeds, copper and wood frame. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Joan Irvin (Calgary, AB) - The Seven Deadly Sins (necklace), 2003; anodized aluminium, sterling silver, brass, niobium, stainless steel. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Andrea Russell (Salt Spring Island, B.C.) - Summer So Wild Amulet (locket; detail), 2004; sterling and fine silver, emeralds, coloured epoxy resins, enamel, antique Roman horse armour parts, antique Roman section of fibulae, glass beads, tourmaline, rutilated quartz, tea tin. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Gregory Lavoie (Red Deer, AB) - Wearable Squid (neckpiece), 2004.; copper and brass. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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John Blair (Calgary, AB) – Untitled (neckpiece), 1998; sterling silver, 14K gold with tourmaline and amethyst. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Audra Schoblocher (Carseland, AB) - Goddess of Wind ( free standing sculpture), 1998; copper , steel. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Jasna Sokolovic (Vancouver, B.C.) - Green Block ( necklace), 2004.; sterling silver and ceramic shape. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Ron Maunder (St. Albert, AB) - Stem Design Ring, 2003; weaved stem, cast in 14K gold with sapphire. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Hans Verwijs (Calgary, AB) - Vanishing Icon (Bolo), 2004; hand-rolled brass sheet, copper, leather. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Melanie Smit (Calgary, AB) - Big_Red (headphones), 2003; anodized aluminium, faux fur, steel, speakers. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Colleen Baran (Surrey, B.C.) - Love/Lust (bangle), 2003; resin, Mylar, pen; text consists of pen on Mylar with various connotations of the words love and lust in 48 global languages. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Lainna Wolanski (Calgary, AB) - Leaf Necklace Signature Linkage, 1995; sterling silver (cast). Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Jeffery Wilkins (Calgary, AB) - Pregnant Woman, 2003; copper and hand-made paper. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Derek Olson (Regina, SK) - Mania No.2 (necklace), n.d.; 18K gold gem set amulet; diamonds, emeralds, amethyst, bicuspids, mabe pearl, moonstones, acrylic and natural bugs. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Andes Cruz (Edmonton, AB) - Time Keeper Tip Set (belt buckle and tip set), 1999; silver, brass watch gears. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Paul Leathers (Red Deer, AB) – Reliquary (ceramic wallpiece with removable brooch; detail), 2001; multifired ceramic with sterling silver, 24 Kt. Gilt copper and anodized niobium. Collaboration with ceramic artist, Trudy E. Golley. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Iris Algom-Hamburger (Vancouver, B.C.) – Book Ring, 2004; sterling silver casting with pebble stone, rodium plating. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Kate Dugas (Vancouver, B.C.) – Kate 3-d , 2004; sterling silver. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Guylaine Cyr (Winlaw, B.C.) - Two Torque, 2004; sterling silver, steel, rubies, magnets. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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Hilary Hall (Vancouver, B.C.) - Senses Series: Tactile Sound (thumb ring), 2004; sterling silver, linen thread, paper. Photo courtesy of the artist.