Once More, With Love
Many people are unaware of the darker side of jewellery production – the ethical issues, including the exploitation of workers, damage to the environment, resource depletion, as well as health issues for jewellers themselves. As makers of jewellery we acknowledge that our field interacts with complex notions of ‘want’ versus ‘need’. Hence we are aware of the importance of taking responsibility for how our individual practices may affect the needs and livelihoods of communities and environments globally.
Once More, With Love is a not-for-profit travelling jewellery exhibition raising concepts of sustainability, recycling and ethical production. The project involves over 30kg of unwanted jewellery items donated by the Australian public which have been reworked ‘with love’ for this exhibition by a diverse selection of twenty one contemporary jewellers all with a proven interest in ethical making and recycled materials. The works created for Once More, With Love propose a potential new life cycle for materials, while creating space for reflecting on their origins. The project is an opportunity for people to experience what creative minds can do with recycled materials in an everyday studio context.
The Once More, With Love project was started in 2010 by Suse Scholem, a contemporary jeweller from Melbourne who is passionate about sustainability and the power of art and community engagement. Suse was inspired by the activities of the American group Ethical Metalsmiths, who have significantly increased ethical/sustainability awareness in the American jewellery industry. The Once More, With Love project grew from the success of a Melbourne-based jewellery recycling project organised by Suse. As interest in the project grew, a significant number of jewellers became involved, and internationally respected jewellery artist Simon Cottrell, took on the role of co-curator. Along the way, the project has attracted significant patrons such as Dr Kevin Murray, Vice President of the World Craft Council, Asia Region, and Katie Scott Director of Gallery Funaki, Melbourne.
After Sydney, the exhibition will be heading to Canberra in October 2012 and then to Melbourne in early 2013.
In addition to the touring exhibition, the Once More, With Love project will involve events in each host city incorporating community discussions; as well as an ongoing website www.oncemorewithlove.com with information about issues relevant to the ethical sustainable implications of jewellery resources. The entire project was conceived with the aim of bringing the entire breadth of the jewellery community together to enter a dialogue around sustainable/ethical practice. The project will be culminating in a weekend seminar in Melbourne Autumn 2013 which is still in planning
The artists involved in Once More, With Love include:
Zoe Brand — Melissa Cameron — Sarah Carlson — Simon Cottrell — Anna Davern — Sian Edwards — Karin Findeis — Susan Frisch — Jill Hermans — Alison Jackson — Tassia Joannides — Julie Kiefel — Ali Limb — Vicki Mason — Regina Middleton — Sean O’Connell — Suse Scholem — Vicky Shukuroglou — Ute Roseler — Melinda Young — Mark Vaarwerk.
Melinda Young’s process (1,2,3) :
Melinda Young 1
Melinda Young 2 – ‘Grid neckpiece’ 925 Silver, Turquoise, Howlite, Acrylic Mirror, Epoxy, Silk Thread
Melinda Young 3 – ‘Scatter neckpiece’ Lapis Lazuli, Sodalie, Scrap Acrylic, 925 Silver, Silk Thread
Zoe Brand – ‘Between Sydney/Canberra’ used postal bag
Regina Middleton – ‘sylvia’s pin’ : electrical wire, shell, coral, freshwater pearls, cultured pearls, fake pearls, + other mystery bag materials, silver, steel pin
Studio 20/17
2 Danks St, Waterloo, Sydney
Gallery Bilk
12 Palmerston Lane, Manuka
Canberra
