‘The Art of the Jeweller’
Bluecoat Display Centre introduces local jewellers Linda Jeanne Jones & Anthony Wong who will speak about their different and unique approaches to jewellery design and making. They will give an insight into their specialized working processes and use of precious metals. Both jewellers have a longstanding connection with the gallery, having exhibited their jewellery at Bluecoat Display Centre for many years.
A traditional afternoon tea in the grand setting of The Athenaeum will follow the talk.
This event is open to current and new subscribing Friends of Bluecoat Display Centre and Members of The Athenaeum. Attendees must be over the age of 14.
Our Annual Garner-Medwin Lecture will be given by Angela O’Kelly on Thursday 18 October at the Bluecoat. Angela is probably best known for her wearable sculptural paper jewellery which is included in several public collections in the UK, Ireland and the USA. She is also a curator of contemporary craft exhibitions including the Crafts Council of Ireland, this year she is the Craft Programme Curator at the Kilkenny Arts Festival.
The lecture will be followed by refreshments at the Display Centre and the opportunity to talk informally with Angela.
Angela O’Kelly studied Jewellery and Silversmithing at the Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh and graduated with a Degree and Postgraduate Diploma in 1998. In 2004 she completed a Masters of Arts Management and Cultural Policy in University College Dublin.
O’Kelly is a designer maker who crosses boundaries of jewellery, textiles and sculpture. She combines paper with mixed media using a variety of traditional and non-traditional textile and jewellery techniques. Inspiration derives from a fascination with simple shapes, textures, repetition and colour in urban and rural landscapes.
O’Kelly has exhibited extensively in international exhibitions and galleries. Her work can be seen in many private collections and the public collections of the National Museum of Ireland, the British Crafts Council, London; the Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh; the Museum of Art and Design, New York; the Cleveland Arts Centre International Jewellery Collection, UK; and the Office of Public Works, Dublin.
Since 1998 O’Kelly has lectured part time in textile and jewellery departments of the National College of Art and Design and Edinburgh College of Art. She has also curated three contemporary craft exhibitions in Ireland and the UK; Texture for the Hub Gallery, UK in 2004; Playthings and Wearable UnWearable for the Crafts Council of Ireland in 2005.
‘Talking Textiles’
Dr. Maureen Bampton, Director of Bluecoat Display Centre, will introduce the event, followed by a presentation by local textile artist Nawal Gebreel.
Nawal has a longstanding connection with Bluecoat Display Centre, having exhibited her work at the Centre for many years.
Nawal specialises in textile manipulation, using sumptuous fabrics and colours to create luxurious effects. She creates individually made scarves and wraps using a variety of techniques including hand pleating. Nawal draws inspiration from geometric forms, Japanese “shibori” and paper-folding.
A traditional afternoon tea in the grand setting of The Athenaeum will follow the talk.
This event is open to current and new subscribing Friends of Bluecoat Display Centre and Members of The Athenaeum. Attendees must be over the age of 14.
The Bluecoat Display Centre and Liverpool Hope University are delighted to host a talk by Professor Norman Cherry, the curator of the forthcoming exhibition Transplantation which previews at the Display Centre on Liverpool’s Light Night, Friday 18 May.
‘Transplantation’, at the Bluecoat Display Centre from 19 May – 23 June, showcases work by 12 contemporary jewellers from the UK and Australia. The pieces all have a strong narrative theme, referencing the makers’ sense of place and cultural identity, all of which have been influenced by their own personal experiences of transplantation.
The exhibition was inspired by a recent trip made by curator Norman Cherry to Australia. It made him re-examine his own Scottish background, the Scottish diaspora and his current Lincoln home’s connections with Australia, forcing him to think about the importance of family history, and how people react when they are physically uprooted. He’s created a brooch titled From Spalding to Kangaroo Bay for the show which depicts a kangaroo, lizard and duck billed platypus in silver wire as a mini homage to the Spalding-born Australian explorer Matthew Flinders. Bridie Lander’s necklace, The Grass is Always Greener, is more personal and references her childhood in Singapore using motifs inspired by tropical flora and fauna to conjure up memories of her South East Asian past. Other UK makers featured include Jack Cunningham, Laura Potter, Lin Cheung, Jo Pond and Jivan Astfalck. The Australian makers are Anna Davern, Rosanne Bartley, Joung-Mee Do, Nick Bastin and Sheridan Kennedy.
Professor Norman Cherry is pro-vice-chancellor, arts, at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom. He was previously dean of the Faculty of Art, Architecture and Design, having moved to Lincoln to take up that post in May, 2008. He has undertaken lectures, workshops, and consultancy in several countries, including Australia, the United States, Canada, Brazil, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Jordan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and China. Professor Cherry was Head of the well renowned Birmingham School of Jewellery.
He is well known as a creator of jewellery, objects and, more recently, medals, with work in several public and private collections including the British Museum
His particular research interests include: the application of textiles techniques to metals, surface patination, and extreme body modification.
The Creative Campus is less than a mile away from Liverpool’s main railway station, Liverpool Lime Street. Situated at the junction of Islington and Shaw Street, the campus is well within walking distance of the station or a short bus ride from Queen Square Bus Station.
The Bluecoat Display Centre would like to give you the opportunity to visit COLLECT 2012 – The International Art Fair for Contemporary Objects.
COLLECT is the premier destination for anyone passionate about contemporary craft. This prestigious event, now in its fourth year at the Saatchi Gallery, presents 31 of the world’s finest international craft galleries representing exceptional work, across many skilled areas including ceramics, glass, jewellery, textiles, wood, furniture, silver and fine metal work from their portfolio of artists.
The Bluecoat Display Centre is taking part in Collect for the third successive year. We will be showing selected artists from, or with links to, the North West region.
The day, which will be led by local silversmith Linda Jeanne Jones, will include:
– Standard return train travel to London Euston from Liverpool Lime Street on allocated trains (*)
– Reserved train seats Liverpool to London and return
– Ticket includes travelcard for central London
– A complimentary tea or coffee on the outward and return train journey
– A day pass to COLLECT where there will be the opportunity to visit the Bluecoat Display Centre stand for an introductory talk by Maureen Bampton and selected artists from our stand
– The opportunity to attend COLLECT programme of artist’s talks available throughout the day
(*) Outward train departs at 8:48am from Liverpool Lime Street, arriving London Euston at 11:01am. Return train departs London Euston at 6:33pm, arriving Liverpool Lime Street at 8:52pm.