“Contemporary Jewellery by Melody Armstrong” an exhibition of new work at the Affinity Gallery

  1.  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

  2.  STAR BOX CATCH NECKPIECE – Melody Armstrong, 2014, copper, sterling silver, fabricated, scoring and bending, soldered, pierced, hollow form construction, box catch mechanism, oxidized, 3.4 x 42.3 x 1.4 cm.  $1750

 

3.  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

  4.  SILVER STAR CLASP AND PENTAGON LINK CHAIN – Melody Armstrong, 2014, copper, sterling silver, iron pyrite beads, fabricated, scoring and bending, soldered, oxidized, 3.2 x 53.2 x 1 cm.  $850

 

5.  CHARRED STAR CHAIN – Melody Armstrong, 2014, copper, sterling silver, fabricated, soldered, scoring and bending, oxidized, 31 x 3.6 x .9 cm.  $1250

 

6.  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

 

7.  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

 

8.  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.  Size 8.  $375

  9.  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

 

10.  TRI-FLOWER CHOKER  - Melody Armstrong, 2014, copper, sterling silver, fabricated, soldered, riveted, oxidized, 3 x 35.4 x .5 cm. $575

 

11.  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. $2400

 

12.  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

 

13.  FLUTTED ENAMELLED BRACELET COPPER GREEN - Melody Armstrong, 2015, copper, sterling silver, silk ribbon, oxidized, fabricated, pierced, soldered, forged, enamelled, 6.4 x 10 x 1 cm.  $425

 

14.  FLUTTED ENAMELLED BRACELET LICHEN - Melody Armstrong, 2015, copper, sterling silver, silk ribbon, oxidized, fabricated, pierced, soldered, forged, enamelled, 6.4 x 10 x 1 cm.  $425

 

15.  FLUTTED ENAMELLED NECKLACE TURQUOISE - Melody Armstrong, 2015, copper, sterling silver, oxidized, fabricated, pierced, soldered, forged, enamelled, 6.4 x 50 x 1 cm.  $675

 

16.  STAR BURST ENAMEL RING – AQUA - Melody Armstrong, 2015, enamel on copper, sterling silver, fabricated, soldered, scoring and bending, enamelled, oxidized, 2.6 x 2.7 x 3.3 cm.  Size 8.5.  $550

 

17.  STAR BURST ENAMEL NECKLACE – AQUA - Melody Armstrong, 2015, enamel on copper, sterling silver, fabricated, soldered, scoring and bending, enamelled, oxidized, 30.8 x 4.2 x .9 cm.  $625

 

18.  STAR BURST ENAMEL EARRINGS – AQUA - Melody Armstrong, 2015, enamel on copper, sterling silver, fabricated, soldered, scoring and bending, enamelled, oxidized, 4.9 x 2.2 x .6 cm.  $350

 

19.  STAR BURST ENAMEL EARRINGS – LUXE - Melody Armstrong, 2015, enamel on copper, sterling silver, fabricated, soldered, scoring and bending, enamelled, oxidized, 4.9 x 2.2 x .6 cm.  $350

 

20.  STAR BURST ENAMEL EARRINGS – ATOMIC - GOLD TONE - Melody Armstrong, 2015, enamel on copper, sterling silver, fabricated, soldered, scoring and bending, enamelled, oxidized, 4.9 x 2.2 x .6 cm.  $350

 

21.  CITRUS NECKLACE – TEAL – Melody Armstrong, 2015, sterling silver, enamel on copper, diamond, fabricated, dapping, soldered, stone setting, textured, enamelled, oxidized, 28.5 x 1.9 x 2 cm. $800

 

22.  CITRUS NECKLACE – EARTH – Melody Armstrong, 2015, sterling silver, enamel on copper, fabricated, dapping, soldered, stone setting, textured, enamelled, oxidized, 1.9 x 38 x 2 cm. $850

 

23.  ENAMEL STAR BRACELET – TEAL - Melody Armstrong, 2015, enamel on copper, sterling silver, fabricated, soldered, scoring and bending, enamelled, oxidized, 3.1 x 20 x 1.1 cm.  $550

 

24.  ENAMEL STAR BRACELET - MOSS - Melody Armstrong, 2015, enamel on copper, sterling silver, fabricated, soldered, scoring and bending, enamelled, oxidized, 4.5 x 27 x 1.1 cm.  $550

  25.  ENAMEL STAR NECKLACE – SEA FOAM - Melody Armstrong, 2015, enamel on copper, sterling silver, fabricated, soldered, scoring and bending, enamelled, oxidized, 7.6 x 62 x 1.1 cm.  $675

 

26.  ENAMEL STAR NECKLACE – RED - Melody Armstrong, 2015, enamel on copper, sterling silver, fabricated, soldered, scoring and bending, enamelled, oxidized, 6.5 x 40 x 1.2 cm.  $725

 

27.  ENAMEL STAR NECKLACE – MOSS - Melody Armstrong, 2015, enamel on copper, sterling silver, fabricated, soldered, scoring and bending, enamelled, oxidized, 6.5 x 70 x 1.2 cm.  $675

 

28.  ENAMEL STAR NECKLACE – TAKE FIVE - Melody Armstrong, 2015, enamel on copper, sterling silver, fabricated, soldered, scoring and bending, enamelled, oxidized, 6.3 x 59 x 1.2 cm.  $675

 

29.  TOO COOL RING – NONFUNCTIONALITY – Melody Armstrong, 2015, sterling silver, enamel on copper, fabricated, scoring and bending, riveting, soldered, enamelled, oxidized, 6.7 x 4.7 x 1.5 cm. Size 6.5.  $725

 

30.  TOO COOL RING – UNWEARABLE – Melody Armstrong, 2015, sterling silver, enamel on copper, fabricated, scoring and bending, riveting, soldered, enamelled, oxidized, 5.6 x 5.6 x 1.2 cm. Size 5.  $725

 

31.  PLASMA RING - Melody Armstrong, 2015, sterling silver, steel, fabricated, soldered, plasma cut, scoring and bending, oxidized, 2.6 x 2 x 1.3 cm.  Size 5.75.  $350

 

32.  PLASMA WAVE EARRINGS - Melody Armstrong, 2015, sterling silver, steel, enamel on etched copper, fabricated, soldered, etching, plasma cut, scoring and bending, enamelled, oxidized, 5.6 x 1.3 x .6 cm.  $725

 

33.  PLASMA CONVEX WAVE NECKLACE - Melody Armstrong, 2015, sterling silver, steel, anodized niobium, enamel on etched copper, fabricated, etching, soldered, plasma cut, scoring and bending, enamelled, oxidized, 33 x 1.2 x 1 cm.  $825

  34.  PLASMA CUBE OCEAN WAVE NECKLACE - Melody Armstrong, 2015, sterling silver, steel, enamel on etched copper, fabricated, etching, soldered, plasma cut, scoring and bending, enamelled, oxidized, 37.6 x 1.2 x .9 cm.  $875

 

35.  PLASMA SCRAFITTO RING – Melody Armstrong, 2015, sterling silver, steel, enamel on copper, fabricated, plasma cut, scoring and bending, soldered, enamelled, oxidized, 3 x 3.6 x 2 cm. Size 11.  $825

 

36.  PLASMA CORRUGATED RING – Melody Armstrong, 2015, sterling silver, steel, fabricated, corrugated, plasma cut, scoring and bending, soldered, oxidized, 3.3 x 2.6 x 1.7 cm. Size 9.5.  $700

 

37.  WAVY PLASMA NECKLACE – Melody Armstrong, 2015, sterling silver, steel, fabricated, plasma cut, scoring and bending, soldered, oxidized,

36.5 x 4.2 x .6 cm. $925

  38.  LAVA NECKLACE – Melody Armstrong, 2015, sterling silver, steel, enamel on copper, fabricated, plasma cut, scoring and bending, soldered, enamelled, oxidized, 28 x 2.3 x .9 cm. $850

 

39.  PLASMA WEDGE RING – Melody Armstrong, 2015, sterling silver, steel, fabricated, plasma cut, scoring and bending, soldered, oxidized,

3.1 x 2.8 x 1.4 cm. Size 6.  $925

 

40.  PLASMA STEEL STRUCTURE - Melody Armstrong, 2015, steel, gold paint, fabricated, plasma cut, 3 pieces:

51.5 x 43 x 8.5 cm.  $825;  36 x 30 x 7 cm.  $725;  36 x 30 x 7 cm.  $725

 

41.  STEEL AURORA RING - Melody Armstrong, 2015, sterling silver, steel, fabricated, soldered, scoring and bending, oxidized, 3 x 2.6 x 4.1 cm.  Size 5.5.  $550

 

42.  STEEL AURORA BRACELET - Melody Armstrong, 2015, sterling silver, steel, fabricated, soldered, scoring and bending, oxidized, 

5.4 x 21 x .9 cm.  $1275

 

43.  WAVE RING - DOWNTOWN – Melody Armstrong, 2015, sterling silver, enamel on copper, fabricated, etching, dapping, soldered, enamelled, oxidized,

2.5 x 2.5 x 2.5 cm. Size 10.5.  $525

 

44.  WAVE RING - UPTOWN – Melody Armstrong, 2015, sterling silver, enamel on copper, fabricated, etching, dapping, soldered, enamelled, oxidized,

2.4 x 2.5 x 2.5 cm. Size 10.  $525

http://www.saskcraftcouncil.org/affinity-gallery-exhibitions/8772-2/

CONTEMPORARY JEWELLERY by MELODY ARMSTRONG

ARTIST STATEMENT

            What is particularly distinctive about this body of work is its structural form, created to deliberately play with negative and positive space. My jewellery designs testify to the textural dynamic and technical approach within my practice, seeming to have evolved organically, taking on an industrial influence. The varied interplay of colors and textures creates distinctive contrasts, evoking vividness of exquisite dimensions, which are rich, bold and engaging.

            I have always been fascinated by the mysterious potential that metals have to offer and the opportunity of transforming their original properties in order to stretch the scope of what can be achieved.  The pieces in this art jewellery exhibition are a result of the exploration and learning new techniques thus allowing for spontaneity to flourish.  Receiving an Independent Artist Grant from the Saskatchewan Arts Board has allowed me to focus on the development of this contemporary body of work giving me the opportunity to introduce the following new techniques to my practice. Plasma cutting steel to create interesting components; scoring and bending to create three dimensional structural pieces that are architectural in nature and then working with the negative shapes that evolve; copper electroforming organic materials to transform them into permanent metal objects; Chasing and Repousse, transforming flat metal sheet into three dimensional, sculptural forms.

            I am delighted to use contrasts in surfaces and materials to highlight the elements I have imposed throughout the metal. Vitreous Enamel creates bursts of colour and reflection while the patina oxidizes much of the metallic surfaces, providing a sense of distress, corrosion and decay.

          My objective has always been to transfer my emotions, creative passion and risk taking into my jewellery in an expressive way to arrive at exciting jewellery forms that elicit awe and inspiration, and personalize them in order to give my work a distinctive character.

I would like to thank Terry Johnston for his assistance with the plasma cutting; and I would like to acknowledge Glen Grismer for contributing the aurora steel pieces.

I would like to thank Mary Lynn Podiluk for curating this show.

I would like to express my appreciation for the funding the Saskatchewan Arts Board provided in the development of this exhibition.