Swapalicious 2006

Photo: Mel Robson

MoB Workspace ended the year with our annual xmas art & craft swap. This year we had a great line-up and lots of fun though there were a few tense moments with certain highly desirable items!!

The plan was to get lots of Xmas presents for our friends and families but it did not really work out that way. I think we are all finding it hard to part with ANYTHING much from our wonderful hauls!!
The Swapalicious lineup:

shannon garson (ceramics, strange fragments)

liana kabel (jewellery, plastic girl )
mel robson (ceramics)
simon degroot (painting)
darren o'brien (ceramics)
marisa molin (jewellery/cards)
florence forrest (fabric, toys)
deb mansfield (photography)
jesika hanford (jewellery)
justine austen (jewellery)
tracey milne (jewellery, cool stuff)
ky curran (ceramics, cool stuff)
rebecca ward (jewellery, rebecca-the-wrecker)

Here is my haul (minus deb's gorgeous photo from anticipating the islands series):

Thanks Guys

Thank you to resident MoB members Rebecca Ward and Jesika Hanford for designing our Xmas sale invite. They did a top job!

All of us at MoB Workspace would also like to especially thank Rebecca for all the extra work she put into MoB this year. She spent many long hours designing invites, organising events, writing press releases and countless other things that helped make this year such a success.

pictured above Tracey Milne, Jesika Hanford and Rebecca Ward at Glam-r-Us

Studio Sale!!!

come along to the
2006 mobworkspace jewellery sale
buy direct from the makers- cash or cheque only

Thurs 14th Dec 11:00 - 4:00
Fri 15th Dec 11:00 - 4:00
Sat 16th Dec 10.00-12.00

MoBWorkspace (via MoB Store)
Museum of Brisbane
Ground Floor, City Hall
King George Square, Brisbane
Ph 3403 5518

Glam-r-Us Press Release

Glam-r-Us Opens 30 November 2006– download images here
Museum of Brisbane Store launches the exquisite jewellery of Jesika Hanford and Bibi Locke in an exhibition entitled Glam-r-Us on 30 November 2006. Also showcased is jewellery from MoB Workspace residents past and present: Liana Kabel, Tracey Milne, Marisa Molin and Rebecca Ward. The six jewellers from the collective studio in City Hall each take a different perspective on the theme ‘Glam-r-Us’ in conversation with the current Miss Australia exhibition at the Museum of Brisbane. All jewellery is for sale and there are Christmas gifts of earrings, necklaces, bracelets and brooches catering to a diverse range of tastes and starting at $50.

Jesika Hanford, the newest resident has recently returned to Brisbane from New York where she worked as a jeweller. She has focused on the "Glam" aspect of the exhibition title drawing on the 70's era of lurex and glam-rock. Jesika says “As well as enjoying revisiting the glam rock era of my childhood, I wanted to explore the tactile and visual tension created by combining the hardness of metal with the softness of different fabrics.” To this end Jesika has used various “glam-rock” fabrics with titanium, silver, chain and lightning bolts as motifs to create street jewellery with class.

Bibi Locke, only 21 years old, is a recent graduate of Queensland College of Art and has created a stylistically glamorous body of work exploring the flowing lines that compliment the female form. Bibi says, "Working at MoB Workspace, the elegance of the new Miss Australia exhibition acts as daily stimulation. My debut range is all about timeless beauty, the designs extend from the natural contours of the body." Bibi’s intricate designs are finely saw pierced to allow light to pass through, enhancing the delicacy of the work. Her Miss Australia inspired jewellery is infused with classic feminine elegance.

Entitled Zen Glamour, Marisa Molin has created a series of randomly structured twig inspired sterling silver brooches, stickpins and pendants. Marisa has lived in Tasmania for the past 2 years completing her Masters of Fine Arts and Design. The dramatic climate change from Queensland has significantly inspired her work. This series is a reflection of the fallen deciduous branches that scatter on the forest floor.

Tracey Milne is coy about her Glam-r-Us jewellery, stating, “I am glamour.” She has an established history of creating works from recycled items or reinvigorating existing pieces. She has a reputation for producing unusual and imaginative pieces with a superior finish that are not only very wearable but also become cherished items – the new ‘heirloom’.

Liana Kabel’s recycled plastic jewellery is fully tuned into the 1950’s - when glamour was plastic. Liana says, “If it looks like a lolly, I like it” and this certainly holds true for her Glam-r-Us work. A recipient of a Brisbane City Council/Arts Queensland Creative Sparks Grant and noted blogger, Liana cuts her own creative pathways.

The Lucy Goes to Manhattan series of necklaces, earrings and bracelets by Rebecca Ward imagines the dreams of a small town girl as she astral travels to the other-worldly metropolis of New York City. The sparkling lights and art deco skyscrapers of New York are evoked in sterling silver and Swarovski crystal. Rebecca recently won an acquisitive award from the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery for her use of recycled materials in a range of jewellery based on the records of Nana Mouskouri.

Glam-r-Us will be opened by Jeweller, Patricia Harper
6pm – 8pmThursday 30 November 2006

Glam-r-Us continues until 31 January 2007
King George Square Foyer and MoB Store
Museum of Brisbane, Ground Floor, City HallKing George Square, Brisbane
RSVP Wednesday 22 November 2006
Phone 3403 4355 Email mob@brisbane.qld.gov.au

MoB Workspace – further information

MoB Workspace is an artist-run collaborative jewellery studio in the heart of Brisbane’s historic City Hall. Nestled inside the Museum of Brisbane’s MoBStore, it gives the public a glimpse into the dynamic world of contemporary jewellery design and production. The current jewellers in residence are Jesika Hanford, Liana Kabel and Rebecca Ward with Bibi Locke an associate resident.

MoB Workspace was established in October, 2003, by Tracey Milne, Marisa Molin and Rebecca Ward with the support of Museum of Brisbane and the Brilliant Brisbane Jewellery Cluster, Brisbane City Council. MoBWorkspace artists showcase their cutting edge designs in MoBStore as well as other galleries and venues locally, nationally and internationally.

For more information, drop in to MoB Workspace 10am-5pm weekdays or contact:Jesika, Rebecca, Liana or Bibi
Tel: 3403 5518
Email: mobworkspace@yahoo.com.au

Jesika's Cherish

The annual Christmas Show at Craft Queensland has kept Jesika Hanford very busy in the studio creating a gorgeous new range of jewels in luscious red fabrics, gold and oxidised silver. They bring to mind the warmth and celebration of the season.
Cherish opens this Thursday 16 November 6-8pm at Craft QLD, 381 Brunswick st. MoB Workspace will be there to support Jesika and Liana who are in the show- all are welcome.

Glam-r-Us

Coming soon to MoB! Click image to enlarge.

Please join Museum of Brisbane Store to celebrate the launch of:

Glam-r-Us
MoB Workspace Jewellers

to be opened by Jeweller, Patricia Harper

Thursday 30 November 2006
6pm - 8pm
Exhibition continues until 31 January 2007
King George Square Foyer and MoB Store
Museum of Brisbane, Ground Floor, City Hall
King George Square, Brisbane

RSVP Wednesday 22 November 2006
Phone 3403 4355 Email mob@brisbane.qld.gov.au

Glisten

Bibi
Rebecca
Jesika

To kick off the exhibiting season MoB members, Rebecca, Bibi and Jesika put some work in the JMGQ end of year show, "Glisten". There was a great turnout for the opening but then, it was hard to resist an afternoon at the lovely Marks & Gardner Gallery at Mt Tamborine. Gallery owners Mary Marks and Janene Gardner did a wonderful job of displaying the multitude of work received. And about that work.... such a variety of styles and techniques and all highly executed. Definitely worth the trip! The exhibition is running until 26th November. You can call 07 5545 4992 for gallery details.

Ky Curran - Briz-Vegas

We are all terribly excited here at MoB due to next week's special event. The MoB store will be hosting Briz-Vegas ceramics - a fabulous product launch by local artist and friend of MoB Ky Curran. Ky is just about the most diversely talented and energetic artist around. So it should be one very special event. Just to top it off another friend of MoB and amazingly talented artist Mel Robson will be opening the event.

Here are the details:

Please join
Museum of Brisbane Store
to celebrate the launch of

Briz-Vegas Ceramics
by Ky Curran

to be opened by Ceramic Artist, Mel Robson

Tuesday 31 October 2006
6pm – 8pm

Space 1 and MoB Store
Museum of Brisbane, Ground Floor, City Hall
King George Square, Brisbane

RSVP
Phone 3403 4355
Email mob@brisbane.qld.gov.au

Happy 3rd Birthday MoB Workspace

We celebrated our 3rd birthday today with yummy Shingle Inn cakes (choccy and passionfruit of course) and cups of tea. We also formally welcomed Jesika Hanford and Bibi Locke into our group and look forward to working with them both more.

Celebrations continued into the afternoon and evening with the museum staff and an urgent Temperance Union meeting was called. Changes are afoot with the Museum Director, Alice-Anne Boylan taking a 1 year career break to work on the Brisbane Music Festival. We wish her all the best and thank her for all of her support to MoB Workspace these past 3 1/2 years.

Expeditions 2006

Two MoB Workspace residents are entering work in upcoming show and competition at Metalab in Sydney. The exhibition is initiated by our lovely suppliers, A & E Metal Merchants. We think it is great that they are organising a competition for their customers!

Jesika Hanford's beautiful piece is made with st silver and digitally printed fabric carrying images of 2 bridges: Brisbane's Story Bridge and New York's Williamsburg Bridge. Jesika use to live in NY before discovering the bright lights of Brissy. Rebecca Ward's Shark Shards necklace is made from fragments of old louvre glass collected from demolition yards and provides a commentary on global warming.

Expeditions 2006 Opens Thurs 2 Nov 6-8pm, the exhibition runs 3 November- 25 November. Venue details: Metalab

Coincidentally Liana Kabel is also sending new work to Metalab where she stocks her fantastic plastic. So all 3 of us will have our work down there one way or another!

Our Badgemaking Journey....

Well there you have it - a trail of images showing how the MoB girls do their thang. Bonding over badges as well as providing a great product for the MoB Store to commerate the Miss Australia exhibition. Then there's the crowning cherry on top in that we've made a little money to invest back into the MoB Workspace. It's definitely been an experience and we've learnt a lot along the way. Now we'll take a little breather and then jump back in! Right, girls!?

Oktober Fest

It is an exciting week coming up at MoB with 4 exhibitions opening Thursday 5 October including the Miss Australia Exhibition. We have made some gorgeous Beauty Packs (pocket mirror + badge) to raise money for new workspace equipment. Beauty Packs are available in the MoB Store for $8. More on our thrilling badgemaking adventure soon!

We have also made sure to have plenty of fabulous new jewellery for sale in the MoB Store like these Rivetted Earrings by Jesika Hanford (top left), Chunkyknit Bangles from Liana Kabel (top right), Threads Revisited by Rebecca Ward (bottom left)and City Hall Miander stud earrings from Tracey Milne (bottom right). All the more reason to brave the construction scene at King George Sq and drop in for a visit!

We Have A Winner!!!!!!!!!

All of us at MoB Workspace would like to congratulate our resident member Rebecca Ward for her recent win. Tracey Milne (former resident) always did say we needed a winner, and finally we have one! Yay!

Rebecca's work from the Nana Nana Nana jewellery series was chosen from the Toowoomba Biennial Emerging Artists Acquisitive Award Exhibition.

For more insight into the process behind Rebecca's Nana work check out her Rebecca-the-Wrecker blog.

Our congratulations also extend to Judith Brough who was the Exhibition Curator as well as being a Museum of Brisbane employee. Judith had this to say about the exhibition " Flash trash not only shows how recycled material can be used to produce remarkable artistic creations, the exhibition also operates as a catalyst for thought and discussion about the ways an individual can contribute to the ecological well-being of their environment."

Flash Trash remains on display until 22 October at Toowoomba Regional Gallery after which time it will go on tour.

Don't Kill Bambi

Uh oh. Someone must have dismembered the weird toothlike screw-ons with the red beads that I was supposed to preserve in order for the Bambi baby coathanger to be spared an execution at the blade of plastic girl's saw.

Well okay, it was me - I had to make a pair of red threads revisted earrings and I only had 3 vintage red glass beads and I needed 4. It was too much of a temptation. But none of that means that bambi should die. So I beg of you Plastic Girl, your giant flowers can take over the planet but please spare the darling miniature Bambi coathanger...

Previously to Presently

It’s hard to let go of things we love. For some reason we’re told this is a good thing. Well I disagree. I attach great personal value to my bits and pieces so you can imagine how I felt when my beloved winter coat started disintegrating.

In an acknowledgement of the value of the memories embedded in the fabric, the sense of familiar comfort and the recognition of a finely crafted garment, I created “Re-Worn”.

This has been a very positive exercise in holding on.

Window of Delights

Liana and Rebecca have just installed a yummy window at Craft Queensland to mark the official launch of www.lianakabel.com and www.rebeccawardjewellery.com
Please visit our window (viewing 24/7) if you can and join us on Thurs 25 August 6pm at Craft QLD or on Friday 26 August when we will be giving a talk (eeek!).
Meet the Makers series of talks
Dates: 25 August 2006
Time: 10am – 12noon
Where: CQstore, Craft Queensland 381 Brunswick St Fortitude Valley Q 4006 T 07 3215 0808 F 07 3215 0802
CQgallery and CQstore hours: Tues-Sat 10am-4pm

Jewellers In The Know

At MoB Workspace is it undeniable that we have a jewellery advantage. We are privileged to some real insider information through members, Rebecca Ward and Bibi Locke.

If you we not aware Rebecca is the editor of Paillon, which is the Jewellers and Metalsmiths Group of Queensland JMGQ informative quarterly newsletter. This means she is not only the first to know of breaking contemporary jewellery news for Queensland, but also Australia and the world (yes THE WORLD!). Although discreet at times she lets us know what is happening. We are definitely in the national contemporary jeweller loop. Oh yes indeedy.

If that wasn't advantage enough we are extra (yes EXTRA!) lucky to have Bibi working on the ground floor of the commercial jewellery world. Bibi works weekends at Myer (large Department store chain for our International visitors). What is hot right now? - Bibi knows, and what's better is that she let US know. Apparently nautical is in right now but before you know it the tide will turn and more feminine pieces will be the go. And before I forget charms are in, in, in, with a capital I N.

Regular updates to follow. If you NEED to know what is happening bookmark this blog now!!

Nana Don't Judge Me

Liana aka Plastic Girl had a paranormal experience in the studio last week. Alone for the day, while I was at the Ekka with Miss Windbag and Mr Accordian, she had bought along her "Buffy: The musical" cd and it seems she was dancing around the studio with gay abandon until she realised she was not really alone at all. Up on the wall staring at her with her glasses enhanced Mona Lisa eyes was the Delightful Nana Mouskouri, the album cover that started it all for me on my road to Damascus: blue-tacked above my desk so that I never lost sight of the truth amid vinyl fumes. Her eyes seemed to follow Liana around the room as she whirled and twirled, compelling her to cover them up with a notice: "I can dance if I want to- Don't judge me Nana".

I should take the opportunity to remind everyone that there is no rule against dancing at MoB Workspace, but we do have a Safety Dance protocol.

No one has articulated it better than Canadian New wave band Men Without Hats

The Safety Dance, 1983

We can dance if we want to, we can leave your friends behind
'Cause your friends don't dance and if they don't dance
Well they're no friends of mine

Say, we can go where we want to, a place that they will never find
And we can act like we come from out of this world
Leave the real one far behind

And we can dance

We can go when we want to, the night is young and so am I
And we can dress real neat from our hats to our feet
And surprise them with the victory cry

Say, we can act if we want to, if we don't nobody will
And you can act real rude or totally removed
And I can act like an imbecile

Safety Dance
Say we can dance, we can dance
Everything's out of control
We can dance, we can dance
They're doing it from pole to pole
We can dance, we can dance
Everybody look at your hands
We can dance, we can dance
Everybody taken the chance

The safety dance
The safety dance
The safety dance

We can dance if we want to, we've got all your life and mine
As long as we abuse it we are never going to lose it
And everything will work out right

Say, we can dance if we want to, we can leave your friends behind
'Cause your friends don't dance and if they don't dance
well they're no friend of mine

Brilliant Facets

Today we had the sad news from Mary Kios that after seven years in business, Brilliant Facets Jewellery and Art Gallery will soon be closing. Mary has been very supportive over the years of MoB Workspace, JMGQ (Jewellers and Metalsmiths Group QLD) and many individual jewellers, artsits and craftspeople in Brisbane and Queensland. She always worked hard, too hard in fact, as her dedication to the gallery and cafe often meant that she did not get the time to make more of the beautiful rich gold, lapiz lazuli and pearl brooches, necklaces and earrings that she always wore. There is nothing else like Brilliant Facets on earth, tucked away near the Old Botanical Gardens, it is a treasure trove of the unexpected. But all is not lost. She is reconfiguring the business and will be back with avengance after a well-earned break.

We'd like to thank her and wish her the very best for the future venture.

Miss Bibi's jewels

Here is a recent photo of the first jewellery Bibi Locke made at MoB Workspace many months ago. They are sterling silver earrings using a leaf vein saw pierced motif. We wondered why Bibi kept bringing leaves to work! We just assumed it was to add to the rich mulch layer on the floor - it did not occur to us that they could be used for design inspiration. Bibi is teaching us new things every day!

Global Jewels

Online platform for the communication and the development of the international and emerging art jewellery and jewellery design.

Klimt 02 is a great site to visit regularly to check out what the rest of the art jewellery world is up to.

MoB Workspace- Centre of the known universe

For the past week we have been in the middle of the Brisbane Festival with Gorbachev (he has his own website!) speaking in City Hall, Shakespearean scholars underfoot and the Spiegeltent parked out the front in King George Square between all the construction work. It is not unusual for Spiegeltents to be crammed into crowded European cities wherever they might fit - last year I saw one on a traffic island at the Brighton Festival- tres glam-r-us - BrisVegas has arrived. You can check out the Spiegeltent program here . My mum went last week and she said the earth moved for her during a performance of trombone players. I think she meant that she felt the vibrations coming from the busway tunnel being dug out underground, but you can never tell...

So far we have been way to busy to participate in any of the cultural activities, struggling with our new badgemaker, but we are planning a wednesday night at the free performance of Women in Docs .

To Make Jewellery or To Blog........

Tonight I sat down and thought I should get on and participate in the extended MoB Workspace - the Blog. Thought I'd start out simple and create a profile. A picture would be nice too. Nothing too tricky. Ha! That's what I thought!! But using my whily problem solving skills (honed at the jewellery bench, of course!) I perservered and here you go - a blog presence created!!!

Badge Making Is Easy - Right?

You would think three jewellers (and general crafty, capable folk) who create jewellery from Bombay Sapphire bottles, Tupperware and threads, and who have mastered the art of the rivet would have no trouble operating our brand spanking new badge making machine. Well you would think wouldn't you? There were step-by-step instructions with pictures.

Anyone who happened to be looking through our MoB Workspace window yesterday morning unfortunately got a glimpse at three jewellers who didn't have a clue. It eventually got sorted out and I predict a great badge making future for all involved.

Top of the Class!

Here are Jesika Hanford's beautiful pearls from the pearl knotting class last week. She has combined them with handmade st silver beads and a black lipped mother of pearl shell carved clasp to make this stunning necklace which is going to be a gift for a very lucky friend.

Anna Varendorff - TYING US UP IN KNOTS

Anna Varendorff (Friend of MoB) is a young Brisbane jewellery with a very big future (mark my words!) and she very kindly offered to teach a group of us pearl knotting.
Last Thursday we took her up on the offer. Friend of MoB June Cullen who invests a significant amount of her hard earned cash on contemporary jewellery joined us for the class. She buys it, she wears it, she talks about it and now she has started making it. Good for you June, we would like to support you also.
Image above is of work from Anna Varendorff's Flight series - Sterling Silver Leaf Motif with Smokey Quartz Beads.

Peir Shen Lai - Friend Of MoB (1)

We are very lucky at MoB to be so centrally located as this means we get lots of visitors. As our visitors are so dear to us we thought it might be nice to let you know who they. So an occasional series will start today in which we will let you know a little more about them. It may be good for them and it will definitely be good for us because as they say, you are only as good as the company you keep.

Peir is a regular visitor. As a maker of jewellery himself he often likes to pop in and see what we are up to, get some advice, show us what he is up to and for general discussions about issues that affect us all.

I met Peir through QCA . We both took a casting class with Liz Shaw and Matt Dwyer . All of us MoB members know Peir (and are very pleased that we do) as a member of JMGQ.

For more images of Peir's jewellery and a (very sexy!) photo, check out his website.

Lion on Smoko

Even though the great Aussie smoko is under threat from the new laws, this City Hall lion is basking in the sun after a busy morning pawing concrete.

Geek Week At MoB

Today marks the start of Geek Week. So over the next seven days Rebecca Ward and Liana Kabel, along with Friend of MoB and contemporary jewellery supporter, Florence Forrest will be revealing our inner Geekdom to the world. This is in celebration and support of Rebecca's upcoming Junk - IT exhibition at Reverse Garbage.

We Heart Ceramics

We love it when people drop in in to visit us at MoB Workspace. Here is the lovely porcelain artist Shannon Garson, one of our A-list visitors down from Maleny. She is busy preparing for the VERGE Ceramics and Glass conference in Brisbane starting next week where she is presenting and exhibiting.
Speaking of which, we haven't seen Miss Liana around much lately. Word is she has been firing up her kiln at home (kilns are not allowed in Mob Workspace, we've got enough hot air!) to make some delicious ceramic jewels for the Craft QLD Verge CLAY exhibition opening Tuesday 11 July 6-8pm until the 22 July. Shannon wil also have some work in this show. Sneak peek of Liana's ceramics jewels (warning: they may contain plastic!)