01.
VULVAE BRACELET – Melody Armstrong, 2014, copper, sterling silver,
foldformed, riveted, clasp construction, oxidized, 4.1 x 18.3 x .7 cm. $850
02. VULVA RING – Melody Armstrong, 2014,
copper, sterling silver, foldformed, riveted, soldered, oxidized, 2.7 x 4.1 x
2.1 cm. $450
03. VULVAE EARRINGS – Melody Armstrong,
2014, copper, sterling silver, foldformed, riveted, oxidized, 5.3 x 1.8 x 1.7
cm. $300
04. VULVAE NECKLACE – Melody Armstrong,
2014, copper, sterling silver, rubber, foldformed, riveted, oxidized, 6 x 4.1 x
.7 cm. $450
05. ORGANIC
VOID NECKPIECE – Melody Armstrong,
2014, copper, sterling silver, cubic zirconia, chasing and repousse, soldered, hinge
construction, stone setting, oxidized, 18.3 x 18.3 x .6 cm. $2500
06. ORGANIC VOID NECKPIECE - BACK – Melody
Armstrong, 2014, copper, sterling silver, cubic zirconia, chasing and repousse,
soldered, hinge construction, stone setting, oxidized, 18.3 x 18.3 x .6 cm. $2500
07. GOLD WINDOW CUBE NECKLACE – Melody
Armstrong, 2014, sterling silver, 14k yellow gold, fabricated, soldered, chain
construction, oxidized, textured, 1.1 x 42 x .8 cm. $1250
08. CHARCOAL VELVET BEADED NECKPIECE –
Melody Armstrong, 2014, sterling silver, 22k yellow gold bimetal, silk thread,
fabricated, mechanism construction, dapping, riveting, soldered, stone setting,
textured, knotted, oxidized, 3.3 x 45 x 1.9 cm. $4500
09. CHARCOAL VELVET BEADED NECKPIECE - CLASP MECHANISM
DETAIL – Melody Armstrong, 2014, sterling silver, 22k yellow gold bimetal,
silk thread, fabricated, mechanism construction, dapping, riveting, soldered,
stone setting, textured, knotted, oxidized, 3.3 x 45 x 1.9 cm. $4500
10. CONCRETE SECTION NECKPIECE – Melody
Armstrong, 2014, copper, concrete, plastic coated copper links, fabricated,
scoring and bending, soldered, 37.5 x 5.7 x 1.3 cm. $300
11. CONCRETE STARS NECKPIECE – Melody
Armstrong, 2014, copper, sterling silver, concrete, plastic coated copper
links, fabricated, scoring and bending, soldered, oxidized, 18 x 18 x 1.3 cm. $1250
12. CONCRETE STAR RING – Melody Armstrong,
2014, copper, sterling silver, concrete, copper and silver dust, fabricated,
scoring and bending, soldered, oxidized, 2.6 x 3 x 2.3 cm. $400
13. DRUZY PENTAGON NECKPIECE – Melody
Armstrong, 2014, copper, sterling silver, quartz druzy, iron pyrite beads,
fabricated, soldered, hinge construction, scoring and bending, stone setting,
wire wrapping, oxidized,
6.9
x 47 x 1 cm. $1500
14. DRUZY PENTAGON NECKPIECE – BACK –
Melody Armstrong, 2014, copper, sterling silver, quartz druzy, iron pyrite
beads, fabricated, soldered, hinge construction, scoring and bending, stone
setting, wire wrapping, oxidized,
6.9
x 47 x 1 cm. $1500
15. SILVER STAR CLASP AND PENTAGON LINK CHAIN
– Melody Armstrong, 2014, copper, sterling silver, iron pyrite beads, plastic
coated copper links, fabricated, scoring and bending, soldered, oxidized, 3.2 x
53.2 x 1 cm. $850
16. CHARRED STAR CHAIN – Melody Armstrong,
2014, copper, sterling silver, fabricated, soldered, scoring and bending,
oxidized, 31 x 3.6 x .9 cm. $1250
17. STAR PIN HEMATITE – Melody Armstrong,
2014, copper, sterling silver, anodized titanium, hematite, scoring and
bending, soldered, stone setting, riveted, pin back construction, oxidized,
anodized, 9.4 x 5.2 x 1.2 cm. $675
18. STAR PIN HEMATITE – BACK – Melody
Armstrong, 2014, copper, sterling silver, anodized titanium, hematite, scoring
and bending, soldered, stone setting, riveted, pin back construction, oxidized,
anodized, 9.4 x 5.2 x 1.2 cm. $675
19. STAR PIN ORANGE – Melody Armstrong,
2014, copper, sterling silver, anodized titanium, cubic zirconia, scoring and
bending, soldered, prong setting, riveted, pin back construction, oxidized,
anodized, 5.4 x 5.5 x 1.3 cm. $625
20. STAR PIN ORANGE - BACK – Melody
Armstrong, 2014, copper, sterling silver, anodized titanium, cubic zirconia,
scoring and bending, soldered, stone setting, riveted, pin back construction,
oxidized, anodized, 5.4 x 5.5 x 1.3 cm.
$625
21. ANISE RING - Melody Armstrong, 2014,
copper electroformed anise seed, sterling silver, oxidized, fabricated,
soldered, prong setting, textured,
3.5
x 3.1 x 3.1 cm. $375
22. ANISE NECKLACE - Melody Armstrong,
2014, copper electroformed anise seed, sterling silver, copper, oxidized,
fabricated, pierced, soldered, prong setting, 5.4 x 54.5 x 1.6 cm. $850
23. ANISE NECKLACE - DETAIL - Melody
Armstrong, 2014, copper electroformed anise seed, sterling silver, copper,
oxidized, fabricated, pierced, soldered, prong setting, 5.4 x 54.5 x 1.6
cm. $850
24. BEACH STONE PIN - Melody Armstrong,
2014, copper, sterling silver, cubic zirconia, iron pyrite, chasing and
repousse, soldered, riveted, pin back construction, prong setting, 3.3 x 8.3 x 5.1
cm. $750
25. BEACH STONE PIN - BACK - Melody
Armstrong, 2014, copper, sterling silver, cubic zirconia, iron pyrite, chasing
and repousse, soldered, riveted, pin back construction, prong setting, 3.3 x
8.3 x 5.1 cm. $750
26. TRISCUIT BRACELET - Melody Armstrong,
2014, copper electroformed triscuit, copper, cotton, oxidized, fabricated,
pierced, soldered, tab setting,
5.7
x 5 x 5 cm. $350
27. KEUM-BOO & WAVE PENDANT - Melody
Armstrong, 2014, sterling silver, fine silver, 24k yellow gold leaf, enamel on
etched copper, fabricated, hollow form construction, dapping, soldered, bezel
setting, roll printed, keum-boo, etching, enameling, oxidized, 4.6 x 2.7 x 1.2
cm. $875
28. KEUM-BOO CUBES RING -
Melody Armstrong, 2014, sterling silver, fine silver, 24k yellow gold leaf,
fabricated, pierced, scoring and bending, hollow form construction, soldered,
roll printed, keum-boo, oxidized, 2.8 x 2.3 x 1.1 cm. $825
29. KEUM-BOO CUBES RING – SIDE VIEW -
Melody Armstrong, 2014, sterling silver, fine silver, 24k yellow gold leaf,
fabricated, pierced, scoring and bending, hollow form construction, soldered,
roll printed, keum-boo, oxidized,
2.8
x 2.3 x 1.1 cm. $825
30. KEUM-BOO STAR RING - Melody Armstrong,
2014, sterling silver, fine silver, 24k yellow gold leaf, fabricated, scoring
and bending, soldered, keum-boo, oxidized, 2.8 x 2.3 x 1.1 cm. $625
31. KEUM-BOO STAR RING - SIDE - Melody
Armstrong, 2014, sterling silver, fine silver, 24k yellow gold leaf,
fabricated, scoring and bending, soldered,
keum-boo,
oxidized, 2.8 x 2.3 x 1.1 cm. $625
32. TRI-FLOWER RING - Melody Armstrong,
2014, sterling silver, London blue topaz, fabricated, soldered, flush setting,
oxidized, 2.8 x 3 x 3 cm. $375
33. TRI-FLOWER RING - SIDE - Melody
Armstrong, 2014, sterling silver, London blue topaz, fabricated, soldered,
flush setting, oxidized, 2.8 x 3 x 3 cm. $375
34. TRI-FLOWER CHOKER - Melody Armstrong, 2014, copper, sterling
silver, fabricated, soldered, riveted, oxidized, 3 x 35.4 x .5 cm. $575
35. TRI-FLOWER CHOKER – TOP VIEW - Melody
Armstrong, 2014, copper, sterling silver, fabricated, soldered, riveted,
oxidized, 3 x 35.4 x .5 cm. $575
36.
STAR BOX CATCH NECKPIECE – Melody Armstrong, 2014, copper, sterling
silver, plastic coated copper links, fabricated, scoring and bending, soldered,
pierced, hollow form construction, box catch mechanism, oxidized,
3.4
x 42.3 x 1.4 cm. $1750
37.
STAR BOX CATCH NECKPIECE - OPEN – Melody Armstrong, 2014, copper,
sterling silver, plastic coated copper links, fabricated, scoring and bending,
soldered, pierced, hollow form construction, box catch mechanism, oxidized, 3.4
x 42.3 x 1.4 cm. $1750
38.
STAR BOX CATCH NECKPIECE – MECHANISM DETAIL – Melody Armstrong, 2014,
copper, sterling silver, plastic coated copper links, fabricated, scoring and
bending, soldered, pierced, hollow form construction, box catch mechanism,
oxidized, 3.4 x 42.3 x 1.4 cm. $1750
39.
STAR BOX CATCH NECKPIECE – BACK DETAIL – Melody Armstrong, 2014, copper,
sterling silver, plastic coated copper links, fabricated, scoring and bending,
soldered, pierced, hollow form construction, box catch mechanism, oxidized, 3.4
x 42.3 x 1.4 cm. $1750
40. FLUTTED BLACK BRACELET - Melody
Armstrong, 2014, copper, sterling silver, fabric, oxidized, fabricated,
pierced, soldered, forged, 6.4 x 22 x 1 cm.
$300
41. FLUTTED BLACK BRACELET – ON WRIST -
Melody Armstrong, 2014, copper, sterling silver, fabric, oxidized, fabricated,
pierced, soldered, forged,
6.4
x 22 x 1 cm. $300
42. FLUTTED COPPER BRACELET - Melody
Armstrong, 2014, copper, sterling silver, tulle, fabricated, pierced, soldered,
forged, 6.4 x 16.7 x 1 cm. $300
43. FLUTTED COPPER BRACELET – ON WRIST -
Melody Armstrong, 2014, copper, sterling silver, tulle, fabricated, pierced,
soldered, forged,
6.4
x 16.7 x 1 cm. $300
44. FLUTTED GRADATED NECKPIECE - Melody
Armstrong, 2014, copper, sterling silver, tulle, fabricated, pierced, soldered,
forged, 6.4 x 39 x 1 cm. $300
MARCH 15, 2013
PROJECT
DESCRIPTION
My jewellery is born through a diligent creative process of
influence, design rendering, and then using my metalsmithing skills to form and
manipulate materials into my desired intension.
As a passionate devotee to the Jewellery Arts, I work with sterling
silver, gold, titanium, niobium, gemstones and enamel on copper, translating
these into exciting and provocative works.
By the juxtaposition of industrial and naturally occurring shapes,
contrasting surface treatments, textures and color, my aim is to manipulate the
materials to arrive at jewellery forms that elicit visual stimulus and tactile
qualities. My objective is to create
intimate jewellery objects that offer a compelling reason for others to enter
into the investigative realm. The scale
of the jewellery is well suited for this pursuit, allowing me to build precious
forms to draw one near, engendering intimate interactions.
Receiving this creative grant would
allow me the time to experiment and play with techniques that I have only
touched upon, affording me the ability to investigate new possibilities. I would research other technical skills that
I am less familiar with through publications, books, online instructional
videos and DVD tutorials, then practice these to my satisfaction. Some of these techniques include advanced
stone setting, chasing and repousse, anticlastic raising, mechanism
construction and electroforming. I would
be very excited to study with a renowned instructor, learning advanced
jewellery techniques, by enrolling in an intensive workshop at the Penland
School of Crafts for the summer 2014 session.
Located in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Penland School of Crafts
focuses on excellence and has a retreat like setting making it a model of
experiential education. Looking at the
Summer 2013 session I would chose to work with April
Wood and take her workshop “From
Ferrous to Fine”. This
one-week workshop focuses on exploring steel from a jeweller’s perspective,
addressing many different techniques including surface embellishment and
fabrication methods to include welding on an intimate scale, chasing and
repousse, cold connections and patinas. April Wood is an exceptional studio artist with
twenty years of experience, she has instructed at many leading fine craft
institutions and has published in leading metal journals and magazines. Studying with April would be a stimulating and
refreshing experience enhancing my jewellery career.
My aim is to create a group of
compelling new wearable works that reflect the artistic possibilities of metal
as jewellery. By mastering new
techniques and adding them to my repertoire, my work would evolve to a higher
level, aiding in my execution of a more elaborate and complex body of work. Receiving this creative grant would allow me
to devote twenty hours a week for fifteen months, starting on July 1, 2013 and
working on this project until September 30, 2014, would afford me the focus and
the time needed to achieve a substantial body of work by rendering new design
ideas and incorporating traditional jewellery techniques with contemporary
aesthetic values, to arrive at an exhilarating and innovative body of work that
pushes the boundaries of my current jewellery collection.
When completed I intend on documenting my new jewellery and
submitting proposals for a solo exhibition to various art galleries across Canada. Galleries that I would approach with a
submission include Centre Materia, Quebec, QC; Affinity Gallery, Saskatoon,
Saskatchewan; Alberta Craft Council Discovery
Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta; Museum of
Contemporary Art, Calgary, Alberta; and
the Ontario
Craft Council Gallery, Toronto, Ontario.
AFFINITY GALLERY – EXHIBITION PROPOSAL
NOVEMEBER 15, 2014
My jewellery is born through a diligent creative process of
influence, design rendering, and then using my metalsmithing skills to form and
manipulate materials into my desired intension.
As a passionate devotee to the Jewellery Arts, I work with sterling
silver, gold, titanium, niobium, gemstones and enamel on copper, translating
these into exciting and provocative works.
By the juxtaposition of industrial and naturally occurring shapes,
contrasting surface treatments, textures and color, my aim is to manipulate the
materials to arrive at jewellery forms that elicit visual stimulus and tactile
qualities. My objective is to create
intimate jewellery objects that offer a compelling reason for others to enter
into the investigative realm. The scale
of the jewellery is well suited for this pursuit, allowing me to build precious
forms to draw one near, engendering intimate interactions.
Thanks to the Saskatchewan Arts
Board for providing me with an Independent Artists Grant. This creative grant allowed me the time to
experiment and play with techniques that I had only touched upon and afforded
me the ability to investigate new possibilities. I have researched other technical skills that
I was less familiar with, then practiced these to my satisfaction. Some of these techniques included advanced
stone setting, chasing and repousse, scoring and bending, hollow forms, mechanism
and hinge construction, foldforming, and the incorporation of concrete.
My aim was to create a group of
compelling new wearable works that reflect the artistic possibilities of metal
as jewellery. By mastering these new
techniques and adding them to my repertoire, my work has evolved to a higher
level, aiding in my execution of a more elaborate and complex body of work.
I would now appreciate the
opportunity to show my new collection and the work that will immediately follow
which will be directly influenced by this exploration that embodies these new
design ideas and incorporates traditional jewellery techniques with
contemporary aesthetic values, an exhilarating and innovative body of work that
pushes the boundaries of my past jewellery assembly. I think that the Affinity Gallery would be
the ideal intimate setting for such a show.
Being familiar with my work and
progress as a Jewellery Artist I would like to
approach
Mary Lynne Podiluk, a Canadian Art Jeweller and Goldsmith located in Saskatoon,
as my possible curator for this exhibition.
Mary Lynne Podiluk is not only an expert in the technical field but has
a great understanding of the contemporary jewellery world.
NOVEMBER 27, 2014
PROJECT
DESCRIPTION – FINAL REPORT
This creative grant allowed me the
time to experiment and play with techniques that I had only touched upon and
afforded me the ability to investigate new possibilities. I have researched other technical skills that
I was less familiar with, then practiced these to my satisfaction. Some of these techniques included advanced
stone setting focusing on prong and flush mounts, chasing and repousse, scoring
and bending, hollow forms, mechanisms including box catch, channel clasp,
brooch mechanisms and hinge construction, foldforming, copper electroforming,
keum-boo, forging, silk knotting, developing new textures, and the
incorporation of concrete.
My aim was to create a group of
compelling new wearable works that reflect the artistic possibilities of metal
as jewellery. By mastering these new
techniques and adding them to my repertoire, my work has evolved to a higher
level, aiding in my execution of a more elaborate and complex body of work.
Some changes that occurred from my
original proposal included focusing on different techniques that were not even
considered. My relationship status
changed from being in a relationship when I applied to being single and living
on my own upon receiving the grant therefor increasing my cost of living
expenses. I did not purchase the
electroforming equipment because someone was generous enough to lend me
theirs. I found a lot of instructional
video on You Tube and on the Rio Grande website therefor thought it unnecessary
to purchase the technical DVD’s. Because
I did not receive the full grant amount requested, I decided not to attend the workshop
at the Penland School of Crafts for the summer 2014 session. Instead I was invited
to participate in the 2014 Emma International Artist Collaborative, where I had
the great opportunity to work closely with other artists from around the world. I worked intimately with jewellery artists
and blacksmiths experimenting with new techniques and collaborating on new and
exciting ideas.
I will now appreciate the
opportunity to show my new collection and the work that will immediately follow,
which will be directly influenced by this exploration that embodies these new
design ideas and incorporates traditional jewellery techniques with
contemporary aesthetic values, an exhilarating and innovative body of work that
pushes the boundaries of my past jewellery assembly. I have already submitted a proposal to the
Affinity Gallery in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, I think that the Affinity Gallery
would be the ideal intimate setting for such a show. I intend on submitting other proposals for
solo exhibitions to various art galleries across Canada. Galleries that I would approach with a
submission include Centre Materia, Quebec, QC; Alberta Craft Council Discovery
Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta; and the Ontario Craft Council Gallery, Toronto,
Ontario. I will also select ten images from this
project to enter a call for submission for a new international Schiffer
Publication titled Art Jewelry Today 4.
I will acknowledge this grant support from the Saskatchewan Arts Board in
all online promotion, social media, exhibitions and publications.
