Blair Smith

Sadly we have heard that Blair Smith, one of Dunedin's well known jewellers passed away yesterday, after a long illness.  Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. 

Blair has been represented at AVID for around twenty years, and his work is still popular today, as it was when he first began making.  His wry political and cultural observations and concerns were expressed with great charm, even humour, and his unique style in brooches, rings, earrings and necklaces will be very much missed.

Blair made a series of brooches called Crowded Hearts, which have become emblematic of his work.  They seem a fitting symbol to remember him by.

Christine Thacker - Because the World is Round

Steph Lusted - After Midnight

Avid Jewellery warmly invites you to view Steph Lusted's lasted work; After Midnight.

3 - 17 November 2012

Karearea wins Bird of the Year

Last week we received five new bird sculptures by Martin Carryer - one of these was the Karearea (pictured).  By coincidence, we learn that this beautiful bird has won the Forest and Bird title of "Bird of the Year".

At 470mm high by 470mm wide, carved in kauri and kahikatea, he is for sale for $2250.
http://www.avidgallery.co.nz/mc002-falcon/

Emma Camden - Filling the void

Emma Camden

Filling the Void

6 - 17 October 2012

You are warmly invited to meet Emma at the opening; 

Tuesday 6 October,  5.30 - 7.00pm

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