FIRE CITRINE RING

FIRE CITRINE - OVAL CHECKERBOARD CUT, LONDON BLUE TOPAZ, IOLITE, STERLING SILVER.

ART JEWELRY MAGAZINE - COVER STORY

GEAR NECKPIECE Cover story in ART JEWELRY MAGAZINE January 2012 issue.

MEDIA COVERAGE

2011 Dimensions award winners Cathryn Miller from Saskatoon wins the prestigious Premier’s Prize for the most outstanding work in the exhibition Dimensions for her altered book entitled “Thinking Cap #3”. The $3,000 award is sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport. It was one of 13 awards announced at the opening of Dimensions, a juried exhibition organized by the Saskatchewan Craft Council. The awards were unveiled at a gala ceremony and reception at the MacKenzie Art Gallery in Regina. “Dimensions is the showcase for the very best Fine Craft produced in Saskatchewan,” said SCC Board Chair Rusty Kurenda. “The 33 pieces on display were selected from 156 entries and show the best work in craft mediums ranging from woodworking to jewellery, from textiles to ceramics.”Dimensions is the SCC’s open, juried, touring exhibition of Fine Craft. The 2011 jurors, Paul Lapointe from Batoche, Saskatchewan and Jane Kenyon from Vancouver, British Columbia are nationally respected and known for their work. Dimensions will be on display at the MacKenzie Art Gallery until August 14, 2011. It is also scheduled to appear at the SCC’s Affinity Gallery in Saskatoon, Godfrey Dean Art Gallery in Yorkton, and Chapel Gallery in North Battleford. DIMENSIONS 2011 AWARD WINNERS MERIT AWARD: Melody Armstrong (Regina) for “Hinged Pyrite Cube Bracelet”, jewellery. Sponsored by Saskatoon Fastprint

EMBELLISH EARRINGS

Sterling silver, anodized titanium, enamel on copper.

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.