Branches

An exhibition by Kathryn Wardill

1 – 15 February 2007

Branches, a series of recent jewellery objects explores branch structures in silver and glass. Branching in a new direction, this collection invents new plantlike structures, to be worn on the body.

Historically, nature has always provided ample beauty and subject matter to inspire artists. Often subjects like flowers, birds, and plants are singled out and isolated from their surroundings. Flowers are placed in vases, fruit is positioned in a still-life arrangement, and precious stones are set in jewellery pieces. This series explores the beauty of life itself. They celebrate the natural source from which life blooms. Seeing a blossoming bud emerge from a branch implies life. Inspired by this beauty, glass and metal are used to transform the impermanent into the permanent. The fragility of life itself is expressed in the delicate, colourful glass forms fused with metal, an element of strength and permanence.

These works combine the ancient material of glass, with new technology material Precious Metal Clay (PMC). The branch forms were gathered as found objects, selected and directly cast into silver. Added to the branches are the fittings and the glass clusters which have been formed using lampwork techniques.