Tuesday 23 February 2016

My interview with Loukia Richards - Co-founder & Curator of Myths - Test Drive

Joanne Haywood is a jewellery artist, teacher and writer. Her participation in “Myths 2015 – Test Drive” gave the project an extraordinary “twist”. I am not surprised with her initiative to take the concept of trust behind “Test Drive” even further. If Joanne were not a jewellery artist, she would have been a writer of crime novels! This is the first in a series of introducing the artists we launch ahead of Munich Jewellery Week. Enjoy the interview and discover the person behind the maker!

"Blue Death"

What is the purpose behind your work or why do you make this kind of jewellery?

I want to communicate a story and capture a *feeling* in my work. Like most artists it’s a preoccupation with having to create work to make sense of the world around me and process/capture my thoughts in a physical form. I also like to share these works with others, they are made to be enjoyed and worn. I like the human interaction they have after they leave my studio.

If you had a magic stick, what would you like to change in the jewellery world/market?

More funding and opportunities for education, to give students from less privileged backgrounds the chance to study at the higher levels and become artists/designers in the jewellery industry. Over the last 20 years it has become too expensive, leaving many with real talent and drive looking for alternative routes or not having a chance at all. Traditional apprentiships are great but it does not address the gap for students who want to become designers and independent makers or just have the chance to study creative subjects, whatever route they choose after study.

What would you like visitors in Munich to tell about your work?

Most importantly I would like them to enjoy the work. To get something from it, that could be from the narrative in them, the materials and processes used, or just to be intrigued and want to know more. They are very tactile pieces which I would love people to pick up and handle.

How do you envision yourself in one year after Munich Jewellery Week 2016?

On a new adventure!

Who are the artists you admire? (all disciplines)

Tone Vigeland, Joseph Cornell, Kate Bush, Barbara Hepworth, Frida Kahlo, Patti Smith, Bruce Lee, Virginia Woolf, Siouxsie Sioux & Hermann Junger.

Your source of inspiration?

I am inspired by everything in the world around me. Many things filter into my thinking and working, including the properties of materials, museum artifacts, folklore, archaeological finds, flora and fauna, fossils, folk art, old textiles and costumes, female pioneers and trailblazers. I am also inspired by non visual sources such as stories & music.

If you were not a jewellery artist, what would you have liked to be?

A musician, writer of crime novels or stunt woman!

Η Βρετανίδα δημιουργός Τζόαν Χαίηγουντ έχει μία τεράστια διδακτική εμπειρία σε κάποια από τα πιο φημισμένα πανεπιστήμια του Λονδίνου και είναι γνωστή συγγραφέας βιβλίων για το σύγχρονο κόσμημα. Συμμετέχει στους Μύθους 2016 – Τεστ Ντράιβ με μία πρωτότυπη ιδέα κοσμήματος και δράσης που πήγε το κόνσεπτ Εμπιστοσύνη πίσω από πρότζεκτ μας πολλά βήματα παραπέρα.Εχει μεγάλο ενδιαφέρον η συνέντευξη της, ειδικά για το ελληνικό κοινό, επειδή αναφέρεται ρητά σε αξίες που ξανά και ξανά τονίζω στα εργαστήρια μου, όπως π.χ. την έλλειψη στεγανών κι επιρροών ανάμεσα στις τέχνες, αλλά και τον προβληματισμό και το ενδιαφέρον μας για τον κόσμο έξω από τον εαυτούλη μας.

Αισιόδοξη, ευαίσθητη, προσγειωμένη, σεμνή — η Τζόαν είναι ένας από τους καλλιτέχνες που αποκαλώ *φίλους*.

"Three Medals" Myths - Test Drive

I would like to share with you my works for "Myths - Test Drive" and the concept behind them. As the project looked at challenging how we interact with and purchase jewellery, I knew I wanted to explore that aspect further.

The idea behind the works is linked to The Judgement of Paris. Taking the idea of "Kallisti" and what it means in a modern day setting. To be the fairest, is to be the kindest and "fairest" should really pertain to being a good person rather than just having a good appearance. The brooches are offered as medals to deserving suitors. Customers are invited to earn them by doing something for others, rather than a traditional money transaction.

The Judgement of Paris

Having been excluded from the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, the offended Goddess Eris, plotted her revenge. She threw down a golden apple inscribed with the words 'to the fairest', knowing that this would cause unrest between the other goddesses. Aphrodite, Hera and Athena asked Zeus to decide to whom the apple belonged. Who was the fairest? Zeus did not want to cause any more discord. He knew that choosing one of the goddesses he would result in the other two feeling hurt and angry. Instead he decided that the mortal Paris should decide for them.

All three goddesses appeared before Paris. Each goddesses promised Paris different incentives and prizes if he chose them. Aphrodite promised him the most beautiful woman in the world. This woman was Helen, the wife of King Menelaus of Sparta. Aphrodite made Helen fall in love with Paris. The lovers ran away together. Menelaus called together his allies in Greece. They set off to recapture Helen. The resulting war lasted for ten years.

The three medals use the text in it's original Greek, German - the language of the exhibition and English - the language of the maker.

"To the fairest"

"Kallisti"

"Auf die Fairste"

Monday 22 February 2016

Myths 2016 - Test Drive“ JEWELLERY AS SHAREWARE or Do not let Erisychthons rule over the earth!

Myths - Test Drive is starting on Wednesday 24th February. It forms part of The Munich Jewellery Week programme of events and exhibitions. I was invited to take part by one of the organisers Loukia Richards. It's a fantastic, innovative and joyful project which questions and celebrates our relationship with jewellery and how we buy and wear it.

"The hubris of king Erisychthon is the source of inspiration for the exhibition "Myths 2016 - Test Drive" opening on Wednesday 24 February at Platform during Munich Jewelry Week. The king of Thessaly destroys Demeter’s holy forest to build a new palace for his banquets. He is cursed by the earth goddess to suffer insatiable hunger. Erysichthon sells all his possessions to buy food and ends up eating his own flesh."

"Myths 2016 - Test Drive" is a mobile jewelry art exhibition focusing on Share Economy and promoting more environmentally conscious patterns of consumption. The show takes place inside a trailer-turned-into-a-gallery stationed in down town Munich during the city’s Jewelry Week aka "Schmuck".

"All artworks are made with organic or recyclable material or have used energy/capital saving techniques such as innovative 3D Printing or old fashioned assemblage or objet trouve in their making. These techniques address the issue of shortage, re-use, lack of capital to invest on precious raw materials, as well as environmental issues many designers have to confront in their daily art practice".

"Myths 2016 - Test Drive" also reflects upon the teachings of "zero capital" Fourth Industrial Revolution a la J.Rifkin and reverberates the practices of Swarm/Sharing/Swaping movements which are extremely popular in Germany right now. Interaction with the public plays a crucial role in the project. All exhibition items can be borrowed for one or more days for a "test drive" through the city. Visitors are encouraged and rewarded through various incentives and perks to post their photos and experiences in the social media".

"Myths" is a series of exhibitions on the art medium jewellery which are curated by Loukia Richards and Christoph Ziegler. Updated versions of Greek myths are used to suggest viable ways to deal with contemporary issues".

"Myths 2016 -Test Drive" is under the auspices of The General Consulate of Greece in Munich, and takes place in cooperation with Platform Munich and the Urbane Farm/The Bauhaus Foundation Dessau. It is sponsored and supported by Hüttenpalast Hotel Berlin, Spotted by Locals, Pablo&Paul online gallery Munich, DerGugl Munich, The Peloponnesian Folklore Foundation Nafplio, The Needle Files UK, mastihashop Greece, The Mastic Producers Association of Greece, Galerie Entwurf Direkt Hamburg."

Myths 2016 - Test Drive“ participants are:

Joanne Haywood (UK)/ Judith Schwendener (NL)/ Dita Antonopoulou (GR)/ Lital Mendel Jewlery Design (ISR)/ Yolande Duchateau Contemporary Jewlery (BE)/ Nolia Shakti (NL)/ Anne Dinan (USA)/ T Squared (ISR)/ Eugenia Feroussi (GR)/ Linda Savineau (BE)/ Marion Delarue Contemporary Objects (FR)/ EDELPLAST – Billie Van Nieuwenhuyzen (BE)/ Kalliopi Andrikopoulou Syn Apeiro (GR)/ Juan Harnie (BE)/ Thikwa Werkstatt für Theater und Kunst (DE)/ Eleftheria Spantidaki (GR)/ Martijntje Cornelia (NL)/ Christoph Ziegler (DE)/ Loukia Richards (GR/UK).

Opening: 24. Februar, 6.00-9.00 p.m. at Platform München, Kistlerhofstrasse 70, Building 60 / 3. Floor Eugenia Feroussi will perfom "Silent Code" and Christoph Ziegler wil perform "Hessiod’s Cosmic Egg". Both performances reflect upon the origins and vital meaning of jewelry.

EXHIBITION: 25.2. - 1.3.2016 2.00-8-00 pm The exhibition trailer will be stationed in various parts of Munich. You may find our daily schedule at www.testdrive2016.tk

You can read more about the project here...

Testdrive

Myths

Jewellery Week

Current Obsession

And some further links & references...

www.campexodus.tk www.utopisches-institut.tk www.camping00.tk www.grenswerte.eu/project/bahnfasern/en www.umweltbundesamt.de/muellsafari-auf-schienen-zyklus www.hinzundkunzt.de/ein-handgestickter-marathon/

Tuesday 9 February 2016

Exhibition @ West Dean

In the run up to teaching my short course at West Dean in September, I was invited to take part in an exhibition with a few other tutors. They have different tutor showcases running throughout the year. It's a nice way for students and visitors to see work from the tutors who deliver courses on a wide range of subjects from stone carving to botanical illustrationa and print making to glove making.

A long time ago I did a blacksmithing course at West Dean and it was an amazing place to study. I am looking forward to returning as a tutor.

Here are some of the works I am exhibiting & selling at West Dean, including some of my popular juniper studs and monogram brooches.