Hi everyone. Just wanted to highlight two (2) artists, whose art I had the pleasure of experiencing. #2 - Mr. Jonathan Mohess of Unearthed gems. Hope you enjoy. Family and friends that know me best, I mean really, REALLY well, will never take it upon themselves to ‘gift’ me with anything they aren’t sure about. As a matter of fact, I say to them, “like yuh self, doh bodder,” ‘Cause d only one who go look like lagahoo howl by dey window whole night is dem. Racking dey last nerve trying to find something I will like is no simple task and I wish it on no one. I even snarl at myself for being so difficult. I have extremely particular taste and I am exceedingly fussy. Needless to say that when I find someone whose wearable art reflects my sense of self-expression, (Cue Sia.) “I’m gonna swing from the chandelier.....” and “I’m gonna fly like a bird through the night....” I generally know exactly what I want, even if there is a picture of it in my head or not and it’s specific. Growing up, more often, than not, I didn’t get precisely what I wanted, mainly because, where I was looking just didn’t have it. So I would return home empty handed or I got something similar that I really loved but wasn’t the exact image in my head. That sense of gratification is different and quite heady when it actually occurs. Needless to say, I love all that I own and I took a lot of time and care in choosing them. Jewellery is one such item that I use to express myself. Researchers have found that the spark of creativity was ignited far earlier than 35,000 to 40,000 years ago and before written language, or the spoken word, there was jewellery. Archibald Campbell Carlyle said that the first spiritual want of man is decoration. Jewellery, like art, is a window into the soul of humanity, and a poignant reminder of that which separates humankind from the animal kingdom — a desire to capture the essence of beauty, to posses its secrets, and to unlock its mysteries. The art of jewellery making, one could say, is what made the world go round and still does. The first jewellery was made from readily available natural materials including animal teeth, bone, various types of shells, carved stone and wood. It is suggested that jewellery came about more for functional purposes and then into personal adornment or for spiritual protection and religious symbols. (Ref: allaboutgemstones/gem_history.html) Locally designed, hand-crafted, one- of-a-kind pieces are words that I feel a very strong connection to and I pride myself on owning quite a few of those. Chris Anderson Jewellery has been the main staple in my wearable art collection. It is my honour to wear his copper and brass pieces for the majority of my life. I wave the biggest biased banner proudly and loudly and I unabashedly hold his work in great esteem, ‘cause dats meh famalee.’ However being the only jeweller commissioned by the President of T n T to make a one of a kind piece for the Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan and another for the president of Argentina Cristina Fernandez ain’t too shabby eh? His studio made, only by hand and personally inspected pieces ( I have seen this done myself) have been beautifying many since 1986. This practice is a rare sight and fast becoming a globally rare occurrence for varying reasons. Another local jeweller and designer must have for me is Liz Mannette, Her jewellery is inspired by pan’s engine room and owning, at the very least, just one of her pieces is proving to be elusive. Gems too have been esteemed religious symbols, talismans, symbols of rank and status and medicinal value. Throughout history, jewelry went through many changes brought by the rise and fall of many civilizations and fashion changes. The first use of wire in making jewellery can be seen about as far back as 2560 BC and techniques of wrapping wire around itself dated 6 and 7AD and though more refined, are still used today. Simply put, wire wrapping is permanent fixes around a loop that does not require heat or soldering of any kind and because of this is more challenging and “the people who practice handicraft acknowledge they’re drawn to what they do on some subconscious level. Picking up a familiar tool feels comfortable, even calming. Spending an hour at one’s own workspace however plain or disheveled, feels like time in a secluded oasis. It’s in the craft that you find focus – flow even.” (Quote taken from: marksdailyapple/handicraft-the-ancient-tradition-of-creating-things-with-your-hands/#ixzz3GZciZOIK (Ref: allaboutgemstones/gem_history.html) Little did I think that I would ever find another “unearthed gem” and right in our beloved south land. I came across the facebook page randomly, sometime ago and had to restrain myself from going back. I loved everything. I adore his workmanship and sense of style and understanding reflected in every wire wrapped piece. Of course when I finally left his studio, it was not with just the one piece of wire sculpture, which was the original intent, but three. BC Pires peered inside the mind of Jon and I would like to share the link to that article. When searching for the link, this facebook page with the same title showed up in my search and I found this quote quite a fitting bridge. “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable. — Banksy bcraw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1615:the-art-of-divergence&catid=22&Itemid=22 “One of the strangest things is the act of creation. You are faced with a blank slate—a page, a canvas, a block of stone or wood, a silent musical instrument. You then look inside yourself. You pull and tug and squeeze and fish around for slippery raw shapeless things that swim like fish made of cloud vapor and fill you with living clamor. You latch onto something. And you bring it forth out of your head like Zeus giving birth to Athena. And as it comes out, it takes shape and tangible form.It drips on the canvas, and slides through your pen, it springs forth and resonates into the musical strings, and slips along the edge of the sculptor’s tool onto the surface of the wood or marble.You have given it cohesion. You have brought forth something ordered and beautiful out of nothing. You have glimpsed the divine.” ― Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration “Those who hand-craft tend to exhibit better interconnected mind-body awareness,.......spiritual and emotional growth.” The author penned such a beautiful article that it most definitely deserved to be shared here.marksdailyapple/handicraft-the-ancient-tradition-of-creating-things-with-your-hands/#ixzz3GZciZOIK ”The urge to create – what is useful and tangible – is deeply human.”. Jon Mo and Heather Alice are the organisers of this truly original coupling of artistic expression. I hope it becomes an annual must have in the future. Be a part of a wonderful exhibition of exceptional creators at Market Vibes. Cherish their offerings, appreciate and support our local artists. ‘Gift’ someone that specially handcrafted gem. Take a sneak peak here. https://facebook/304333596252574/photos/gm.570166236438981/823636037655658/?type=1
Posted on: Sun, 19 Oct 2014 12:25:28 +0000
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