5 of 26: Rachel Bell

Jewellery on the Brink of a Relationship: 5 of 26

toy, polymer clay, non-toxic resin, found fishing line

5cm, 5cm, 3cm

July 17, 2010
Dear Rachel:

Please accept this piece, Jewellery on the brink of a relationship: July 16 – July 29, 2010, as a token of my gratitude. I have enjoyed observing you and your practice where thinking and making live so closely. 

My contemporary jewellery projects examine relationships and alternative forms of exchange.  In this project, I have decided to make 'thank you notes' in the form of jewellery.  I will send 20 other thank you notes out over approximately a year.  You are one of the special twenty-six.

I respect the time and thought you give each piece, and admire your commitment to experimentation even when it bucks commercial trends.  Your voice is strong in its considered making and depth of thought.  Long live the soft spoken makers! It has been a treat to watch your quite rebellion unfold in the form of jewellery.

Jewellery on the brink of a relationship: 5 of 26

July 16 – July 29, 2010

Thank You,

temporarily on hold

This project is temporarily on hold pending a discussion with Objectspace regarding Best In Show.


I promise, promise, promise to catch up as soon as I know which work I need to reserve.

4 of 26: Mom

Jewellery on the Brink of a Relationship: 4 of 26

Silver, non-toxic resin

3cm, 1.5cm

January 15, 2009
Dear Mom:

Please accept this piece, Jewellery on the brink of a relationship: January 15 – January 28, 2010, as a token of my gratitude. You are my supreme influence.

My contemporary jewellery projects examine relationships and alternative forms of exchange.  I blame you for this.  In this project, I have decided to make ‘thank you notes’ in the form of jewellery.  Every fortnight for a year, I will send another thank you out.  You are one of the special twenty-six recipients.

Thank you for instilling in me this undying love of projects.  It seems it is quite a strong trait of the Howard ladies.  I cannot remember a time when you were without “a project”.  The enthusiasm and Pollyanna view of the world you have instilled in me is the best gift in the world.  Who needs punctuality?  Now which project are we up to?

Jewellery on the brink of a relationship: 4 of 26

January 15 – January 28, 2009

Thank You,

Happy Holidays

I am taking a break until mid-January. 

Happy Holidays.

3 of 26: Alan Preston

Jewellery on the Brink of a Relationship: 3 of 26

Silver, non-toxic resin, found material, shell

9cm, 6cm, 4cm

December 4, 2009

Dear Alan:

Please accept this piece, Jewellery on the brink of a relationship: December 4 - 18, 2009, as a token of my gratitude. I have admired your work and practice over the past three years and thoroughly enjoyed having you as a tutor and role model.

As you know, my practice has evolved into a series of contemporary jewellery projects that examine relationships and alternative forms of exchange. And in this project I have decided to make ‘thank you notes’ in the form of jewellery. Every fortnight for a year, I send out another thank you.

I am including you because of the extraordinary support you offer your students, and the effort you make to attend most events. It means a lot to have you in our corner.  Getting the chance to soak up your wisdom, generous nature and time is a jewel in itself.

I have come to enjoy the portable, rotating gallery that your jackets provide. Having filled your lapel space (shall we call it the MOMA) you have started utilising your waist pocket to display a second brooch (let’s call that PS1). I hope that this brooch might find a place in the rotation.

Jewellery on the brink of a relationship: 3 of 26
December 4 - 18, 2009

Thank You,

2 of 26: Damian Skinner

Jewellery on the Brink of a Relationship: 2 of 26

Silver, non-toxic resin, found material, magnolia pod

10cm, 7cm, 5cm

20 November, 2009

Dear Damian:

Please accept this piece, Jewellery on the brink of a relationship: November 20 – December 3, 2009, as a token of my gratitude.  I have admired your writing since I discovered it three years ago.

My practice has evolved into a series of contemporary jewellery projects that examine relationships and alternative forms of exchange.  For this project I have decided to make ‘thank you notes’ in the form of jewellery.  Every fortnight for a year, I will send out another thank you. You are one of the twenty-six recipients.  The project will be documented here on this blog.

I also wanted to thank you for your support of my past projects. Your advice has been invaluable. Knowing you are out there with a sharpe pen and astute eye keeps me diligent and critical in aligning my theoretical views and physical practice. Thank you for your consistent and fantastic blogging. Lunch breaks have been so much cheerier since Paua Dreams came along.

Jewellery on the brink of a relationship: 2 of 26

November 20 – December 3, 2009

Thank You,

1 of 26: Renee Bevan

Jewellery on the Brink of a Relationship: 1 of 26

non-toxic resin, found material

7cm, 3cm, 3cm

Jewellery on the brink of a relationship: November 6 – November 19, 2009


October 25, 2009


Dear Renee:


Please accept this piece, Jewellery on the brink of a relationship: November 6 – November 19, 2009, as a token of my gratitude. I have looked to your work and your practice for inspiration over the past three years.


I have evolved into a maker focused on contemporary jewellery projects that examine relationships and alternative forms of exchange. In this project, I have decided to make ‘thank you notes’ in the form of jewellery. Every fortnight for a year, I will send another thank you out. You are the first of twenty-six recipients.


I have particularly enjoyed the multifaceted nature of your practice. I find the fact that you contribute to contemporary jewellery in New Zealand as a curator, writer/speaker, teacher and maker very inspiring. Thinking of you, I make my brooches just a little bit larger.

Jewellery on the brink of a relationship: 1 of 26
November 6 – November 19, 2009

Thank You,

Kristin

Beginning with 26...

My work focuses on jewellery that explores alternative forms of exchange between maker and wearer. This project functions as homage. Each fortnight for a year, one of twenty-six unique pieces will land on the doorstep of a different artist or thinker who has provided me with inspiration.



A thank you note implies a relationship. In my circumstance the relationship up to this point has often been one sided. This project attempts to scramble the current paradigm where one person makes and the other observes. In this case, both parties function as giver and receiver and as maker and viewer. It is an experiment in interchange and initiating relationships.