What: Getting Started Exhibition
Where: Cox & Power
When: 19th May 2011
I find myself at Cox & Power for the 2nd time in as many weeks, this time for an exhibition of the best new and up-and-coming jewellers, designers and silversmiths in the country. The thing they have in common? They all attended The Goldsmiths’ Company “Getting Started” course. The course introduces graduates to possible career paths and offers business advice of what to do now they’ve graduated. This year of graduates is extra special for two reasons, one- it’s the 30th year of the course and two- it’s the last year it will be held in the grandeur of The Goldsmiths’ Hall. I was lucky enough to be part of it:
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| picture with thanks to The Goldsmiths' Company |
Previous names through the Getting Started doors include much acclaimed Jewellery Designer Hannah Martin, Director of the ECOne gallery, Jos Skeates and Co-Founder of benchpeg.com, Rebecca von Rooijen.
This is the second year Cox & Powers’ Rachel Sweeney and David Page were mentors on the course, teaching students about the running of retail and manufacturing and how to sell “you” as part of the overall product. Their advice is totally invaluable, as is exhibiting work in the admired London W1 shop. As part of the displays, fun black and white pictures of each graduate were shown behind their work. A clever idea indeed, displaying the faces of the new faces!
These are my stand out exhibitors:
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Janice Zethraeus |
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Janice Zethraeus |
Janice Zethraeus
Gold, silver, precious and semi-precious stones
The balance of the collection is the first thing that struck me about this work. Along with being bold and eye catching, all elements have both commercial and exclusive aspects to them. I don’t know how she’s done it. The necklaces are definitely more specialist and I can see them in a gallery more the then being worn to the supermarket, but the earrings are absolutely wearable and I can definitely see these equally on Oxford Street to the Kings Road, striking yet subtle. Ace. Just ace.
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Heather Woof |
Heather Woof
Silver, 22ct gold and enamel
“She describes her work as being about this balance between obsessive control and chance.”
This stood out to me because I’ve simply never seen anything like it; the elements, the techniques or the overall shape and structure. I can easily see any one of these brooches in a modern gallery today and in a museum in a hundred years time. All of them are definite statement pieces.
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Natalia Schroder |
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Natalia Schroder |
Natalia Schroder
Silver, leather, gold-plated silver and pearls
This work screams editorial photo shoots and super-cool red carpet events. Absolutely thought out and well executed designs. Every piece, though part of a collection, holds its own. You can almost hear each one beckon you in to look at it from every angle and touch every surface. Especially the rings, I do have a soft spot for an over-sized ring.
Alongside the work from emerging designers were the established, all with a connection to The Goldsmiths’ Company; Andrew Lamb, Melanie Eddy, Jane Adam, Sarah Hutchinson and Tomasz Donocik.
It was good catching up with what everyone is up to, from working with jewellers, upcoming shows and exhibitions to launching themselves as a brand. We will be seeing them all in the near future.
The exhibition continues until 28th May.
Jx
