International Women's Day

It's International Women's Day, and an appropriate day to see the current exhibition at the Affinity Gallery - FORM.
This exhibition by four Regina jewellers is appropriate for today not because of an intrinsic association between women and jewellery. Instead it's appropriate today because FORM is a show created by four talented women and curated by a fifth.

Some of the pieces in the exhibition are evocative of the issues that International Women's Day raises and some of the successes it celebrates. For example, Gail Daggett has three pieces made in tribute to the memory of her grandmother. One, Remnants, is built around the old wooden remains of her grandmother's shed. The necklace shows the lined, weathered beauty acquired by time - and how the modern age can transform, revitalize and celebrate the survival of the old. It's a transmission of strength and beauty across the generations of strong, talented women.



FORM was created by Gail Daggett, Shauna Mitru, Melody Armstrong and Megan Hazel, and curated by Marlo Gebhardt. It will be showing at the Affinity Gallery until April 15.

FORM: Four Regina Jewellery Artists

PRESS RELEASE
JEWELLERY to be featured at Affinity Gallery
EVENT: Opening reception for FORM – an exhibition of work from 4 Regina
Jewellers
DATE: Friday, March 4, 2011
HOURS: 7:00 to 9:00 pm
LOCATION: Affinity Gallery, Saskatchewan Craft Council, 813 Broadway
Avenue, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
FORM – an exhibition of work from 4 Regina jewellers will be open at the Affinity
Gallery on Friday, March 4. The opening reception will run from 7 to 9 pm, with
the public welcomed.
FORM – features the latest work from 4 award winning Regina jewellery artists:
Megan J. Hazel, Melody Armstrong, Shauna Mitru and Gail Daggett.
“All that glitters is not gold,” said Judy Haraldson, exhibition coordinator for the
Saskatchewan Craft Council. “It can also be silver, copper, titanium or lamp work
glass.”
“The jewellery made by these Regina jewellers shows the exquisite beauty that
can be created by Saskatchewan artists who combine innovative design, expert
craftsmanship, and a sense of fun.”
The Affinity Gallery is located at 813 Broadway Avenue, Saskatoon. Operated by
the Saskatchewan Craft Council, it is Saskatchewan’s only public exhibition
gallery dedicated to fine craft.
FORM – runs from March 4 to April 15 from 1:00 to 5:00 pm daily (including
Sundays). Admission is free of charge.

BASSE TAILLE SHOWCASE - Art Gallery of Regina

MELODY ARMSTRONG - Artist Statement
Title: Basse Taille

Basse-taille is an enamelling technique in which I create a low-relief pattern on copper using the etching process, a translucent enamel is then applied to the metal, allowing light to reflect from the relief and creating an interesting effect.
My objective is to explore and develop this technique, working with copper, enamel, sterling silver and gemstones to arrive at jewellery forms and small objects that elicit visual stimulus and tactile qualities.
My jewellery is born through a diligent creative process of vision, design rendering, and then using my metalsmithing skills to form and manipulate the materials into my desired intension. My objective is to create intimate 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.



The exquisiteness of these objects influence and inspire me to experiment with their qualities further. I am then inspired to paint these wonderful forms, giving them a dynamic two-dimensional perspective on a much larger scale, thereby challenging what is art and what is craft, and connecting functional and non-functional art.






I would like to thank the Saskatchewan Arts Board for providing me with assistance in the development of this body of work.

Independent Artists Grant

Melody Armstrong is the recipient of a 2010 Independent Artists Grant.

Independent Artists grants support the creation, development or performance of new work in any art form, professional development for artists and research in the arts. These grants support the ongoing development of artistic practice in Saskatchewan, as well as independent curators and critics in all arts disciplines.

MELODY ARMSTRONG – VISUAL ARTS
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY

"My artistic objective is to continue to explore and develop as a Jewellery Artist working with sterling silver, gold, titanium, gemstones, and incorporating other experimental materials such as found objects and common elements. By the juxtaposition of industrial and naturally occurring forms, 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 jewelllery is born through a diligent creative process of influence, design rendering, and then using my metalsmithing skills to form and manipulate the materials into my desired intension. 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. My aim is to create a group of compelling new wearable works that reflect the artistic possibilities of metal as jewellery. I now want to expand my ideas further through research and incorporating new techniques. I am very excited about how my recent work is leading me towards the development of a distinct and groundbreaking body of work.
I would like to push the limits and move beyond commercial restrictions to make room for extensive experimentation. Receiving this creative grant would allow me to devote twenty hours a week for six months, affording me the focus and the time needed to achieve a substantial body of work for the “Regina Jewellery Artists” curated exhibition at the Saskatchewan Craft Council Gallery from March 4 to April 3, 2011. When completed I intend on documenting the work and submitting proposals to various other galleries across Saskatchewan."

Prairie Excellence: The Today and Tomorrow of Prairie Craft

Prairie Excellence: The Today and Tomorrow of Prairie Craft

Work by 12 Saskatchewan Fine Craft artists was selected for the prestigious exhibition Prairie Excellence: The Today and Tomorrow of Prairie Craft.

The 35 piece exhibition features the work of craft artists from Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta. It will be touring nationally and internationally for 3 years as a showcase for craft from the Canadian prairies.

267 entries were received by the selection committee, which consisted of Helen Delacretaz, Chief Curator and Curator of Decorative Arts at The Winnipeg Art Gallery; Karen Schoonover, Director/curator of the Art Gallery of Regina; and Mary-Beth Laviolette, independent curator, critic and author from Canmore, Alberta.

There was a two stage selection process. A short list was selected from photographs of work. A total of 56 shortlisted pieces were assembled in Edmonton for a final selection based on direct examination of the pieces by the selection committee. Work from emerging, mid-career, and established craft artists was all consciously selected.

Prairie Excellence will open at the Alberta Craft Council Gallery in Edmonton on October 2, 2010. The Saskatchewan unveiling will be at the Affinity Gallery (813 Broadway Avenue, Saskatoon) on January 14. Negotiations for future showings are underway with galleries in Canada and the United States.

The exhibition is a joint project organized by the Saskatchewan Craft Council, the Alberta Craft Council, and the Manitoba Craft Council.

Prairie Excellence consists of 13 ceramics pieces, 7 metal, 5 fibre, 5 wood, 2 glass and 3 in other media. The total value of the work in Prairie excellence is almost $80,000.

LUXOR COLLAR

LUXOR COLLAR - Sterling silver, 14K yellow gold, hessonite garnet, anodized titanium, anodized niobium, patina.
Using foldforming, anodizing, riveting, and stone setting techniques. Creating a collar that appears that it could be from antiquity, from ancient Egypt. Luxor collar could be an exquisite piece worn by a Queen of the Nile. Created by Melody Armstrong for the Prairie Excellence call for entry.

AT THE JEWELLER'S BENCH