Scott McFarlane - Exhibition Opening Tonight

Scott McFarlane's exhibition of his latest work, "The pictures of the past change their meanings fast" opens tonight at 5.30pm.  Come along and have a glass of wine, meet Scott and view the 400 tiles that are now hanging in our upstairs gallery.

(Click on images below to view larger)

Barry Clarke - Sea Songs

 

Barry Clarke

Sea Songs

8 - 22 September 2012

You are warmly invited to view Barry's lastest collection of jewellery based on his time working in the merchant navy.  It will be on display in the AVID Jewellery from Saturday 8th September. 

Scott McFarlane - Exhibition opening next week

 

Scott McFarlane

The pictures of the past change their meaning fast

11 - 22 September 2012

You are warmly invited to meet Scott at the 

artist's preview, in our upstairs gallery

Tuesday 11th September 2012 from 5.30 - 7.00pm.  

Ken Clark 1922 - 2012

"Ken Clark, who has died aged 89, was among the leading ceramicists of his generation. His strengths included a sure feel for shape when designing solid objects such as candlesticks; masterly ability in imparting a particular hue to a glaze; and sureness of touch in applying a design to ceramics then firing.

Among his greatest triumphs was recreating the red lustre used a century earlier by the potter-novelist William De Morgan. This arose from a commission for red tiles by the film director Michael Winner. Clark went on to fathom the secrets of De Morgan’s other glazes, including those of Islamic origin which had been almost completely lost between the late Middle Ages and De Morgan’s rediscovering them in the 1870s." Link

 Avid Gallery was privileged to exhibit his work in 2004.  We remember him with great affection and admiration. 

David Holmes - Circus

David Holmes new work entitled 'Circus' is up in AVID Jewellery, and looking beautiful. Here is what David has to say about the process behind this series of work:

In the process of making the jewellery for this focus exhibition I have rediscovered the wonders of the traditional art of cuttlefish casting. First you carve your image into the soft cuttlefish bone, then you pour molten silver into the bone leaving the image of the carving behind and a natural wave patterning on its surface from the texture of the cuttlefish itself. The hot metal burns out the bone as it hardens so you can only use it once. This means if you don't get everything right you have to start the process all over again.

I love the mysterious mood I managed to get with my circus figures by using this method of casting. I made the chains to hang the figures and hold this mood by creating different sized and shaped links, manipulating each link individually and then bringing them together to make abstract patterns along the chain's length. This gives the diverse links of the chain a sense of unity. The chains and figures could stand alone as the brooches do but putting them together gives the performers something to work with - something to hold on to and to fly from.
I hope you enjoy wearing them.
 David Holmes
Dunedin, July 2012

John Parker - Negatives Positives

John Parker's latest show, Negatives Positives has been very successful, with many collectors delighted at being able to add some new shapes and a new glaze to their collections.  It is not too late however, there is still a handful of amazing pieces left, if you are wanting to add to, or start your John Parker collection.  We also have official John Parker Orb tee-shirts for sale in a variety of sizes.  They are printed on 100% organic, pre-shrunk 160 GSM cotton, and retail for $59.

David Holmes - The Circus

John Parker - Negatives Positives

Justin Reichs - Shades of Green

New work in gallery

A selection of great new work that has come into the gallery recently:

Merilyn Wiseman - Echoware Vase, Large

Merilyn Wiseman - Echoware Vase, Medium

Richard Parker - Pasta Bowls

Layla Walter - Apricot Camelia Bowl

John Roy - Digging Holes

 

John Roy 

Digging Holes

19 - 30 June

AVID Gallery would like to introduce a new ceramic artist to the stable; John Roy.

John trained at Wanganui Polytechnic, graduating in 1997 with a Bachelor in Fine Arts majoring in ceramics.

Since then he has become a prominent New Zealand ceramicist who as Greg Donson said "has determinedly stuck with ceramics and successfully pushed the boundaries of the medium and over the last few years, has also created multi-part works that have occupied spaces in unexpected way". Based in Tauranga, John creates work that revolves around iconic forms and the social memory built around them.

By popular demand... more delightful Dilana Rug "Maquettes"

Last time we had these "maquettes" (a series of small rugs by Dilana's illustrious stable of artists ) they sold out.  We have been lucky enough to secure a new batch from Dilana.  All great designs including work by Richard Killeen, Bing Dawe, Fane Flaws and Martin Poppelwell, at very affordable prices.  See also the full size runner by Richard Killeen.  http://www.avidgallery.co.nz/dilana-rugs/

Paul Maseyk Exhibition - opening night

Paul Maseyk's new exhibition "Naked" had a fun and successful opening at AVID on Tuesday night. Paul was there, and many of his admirers and collectors of his work came along to see the new work.

 

See more details of the show at http://www.avidgallery.co.nz/paul-maseyk-naked/

Paul Maseyk - Naked

'Naked', Paul Maseyk's exhibition of new work will be opening on Tuesday 29th May at 5.30pm and will run through to June 16.

Rainer Beneke - Good As Gold

Rainer Beneke Rings L-R: 22ct Gold w. 0.502ct Diamond, 22ct Gold w. 9 Rubies, 22ct Gold w. Oval Sapphire 

Good As Gold, an exhibition of exquisite new jewellery by Rainer Beneke is now on until May 19, in AVID jewellery.

Rainer Beneke Earrings, 22ct Gold w. Diamonds

Emily Siddell & Stephen Bradbourne

Emily Siddell - Crocheted Black Wire & Fused Glass

 'Link' a collaborative show by Emily Siddell and Stephen Bradbourne is on until the 28th April.  The exhibition features sole work as well as collaborative pieces by Emma and Stephen; where Stephen has blown glass vessels around Emily's beaded forms.

"Both of our separate practices share similar concerns - The adornment of objects,   surface decoration, detailed repeat pattern and intricate linear assemblage. These new collaborative pieces demonstrate and explore the links between our individual techniques and ideas.
Blown murrine vessels incorporate detailed linear decoration as an integral part of the work.
Fine crocheted kete utilise a mesh like wire structure with glass adornment applied as a separate exterior layer.
The new beaded bowls have a wire and glass adornment that is partially fused onto the surface during the blowing process, creating an interplay between the surface decoration and the clear glass vessel."

Emily Siddell & Stephen Bradbourne, 2012

Emily Siddell & Stephen Bradbourne - Beaded Vessels

Stephen Bradbourne - Murrine Leaf

Pearls: A few questions answered

The pearl is the oldest known gem, and for centuries was considered the most valuable.  The majority of pearls now are cultured, in which an irritant is inserted into the mussel or oyster, triggering a substance called nacre to be secreted around it, which eventually forms the pearl. 

The most common types of pearl that our jewellers use are:

Lynn Kelly - Mabe Pearl & 18ct Gold Earrings

Mabe Pearls: A blister pearl, where a half-bead nucleus is glued against the inside of the shell, prompting nacre to be secreted over the bead.  When formed, the blister is cut from the shell and the bead removed. The remaining cavity is then filled and covered with a mother-of-pearl backing.

Blair Smith - MOP & Stg Silver Brooch

Mother of Pearl: The smooth, hard pearly lining on the interior of a mollusk shell.

Tahitian Pearl & 18ct gold Earrings by Frances Stachl

 Tahitian Pearls: A dark coloured pearl from the black-lipped oyster. Only naturally coloured black pearls, as opposed to dyed ones, can be called Tahitian Black Pearls.

The best way to clean pearls, is to just wipe with a damp soft cloth.  If there is a lot of dirt to be removed, then they can be gently washed in water with mild soap.  It is important to note that pearl jewellery should be removed before applying cosmetics, hairsprays or perfumes, to prevent any surface reactions.

Emily Siddell & Stephen Bradbourne - Link

Jewellery Focus - Tatjana Panyoczki

Andy Kingston's 'Droogs'

Andy Kingston - Droog (front & back)

Andy Kingston - Droog (front & back)

We have just received the five vessels Andy Kingston subbmitted into the 2011 Portage Cermaic Awards, and was a finalist.  His earthenware 'Droogs' are fantastically detailed and very much need to be viewed from all angles.  In the Portage catalogue Andy had the following to say about this series of work:

"the old man was chasing his son round the room;
he was chasing his son round the room!
And while he was chasing his son round the room,
he was chasing his son round the room!"

This song was sung by my old Poppa when I was a child. It still makes me smile.
These Droogs were teased out over a long time of being draped around the lounge shelf during an unsettled time.  Sad songs were sung to them and a slow dance teased the numbers and clues out of them..
These Droogs are phone doodle friends.
These Droogs remind me of an op shop in Bristol, England called La Freak Boutique. It was a place where you would choose the most peculiar outfits for the coming music festival. Oh, to character up and slink off into the dark, chasing the heart of Saturday night.
These Droogs are you sink a my swan.

Andy Kingston - Droog (front & back)

Andy Kingston - Droog (front & back)

Andy Kingston - Droog (front & back)