Guest Presenters
Justine Bonenfant, Hand andLock2019
Justine Bonenfant, originally from northern France, is an embellishment designer and embroidery artisan. Following a fashion degree at Esmod International, Justine assisted designers in Marrakech and London. Whilst researching fabric in Milan and Paris she developed a fascination with handcrafted textiles. This led her to the prestigious Lesage School in Paris to improve her knowledge in hand embroidery, from Luneville to silk-shading. In 2010 Justine received the QEST Broderers’ Company grant enabling her to follow a six-month apprenticeship at traditional embroidery company Hand & Lock. At Hand & Lock she mastered the couture embroidery technique Tambour Beading, the traditional ceremonial embroidery technique of Goldwork and monogramming. She is now one of the highly skilled teachers at Hand & Lock specialising in these techniques. Through her work, Justine experiments to translate these timeless embroidery techniques into contemporary design, for example combining plastic with precious gold. Justine has also worked with luxury design houses, including Ralph & Russo and Jasper Conran.
Hand & Lock
2019 Program Partner
Katherine Kalaf
Katherine Kalaf has played a major role in the development of the studio jewellery sector in Australia, as a practitioner, teacher, promoter and mentor. She is one of the core group of studio-based makers who are the founders of the contemporary jewellery movement in Australia. After studying in London, she lectured in Sydney and set up and ran Studio Noko, The Australian Jewellery Designers Gallery for 12 years. Katherine has a special combination of talents - respected creative jeweller and successful gallery owner. Her Katherine Kalaf Gallery presented limited edition jewellery and small scale sculpture by Australia’s finest studio-based jewellers. Over 30 designers from all over Australia, including 12 from Western Australia, contributed regularly to the changing works on show.
Katherine Kalaf's first image to promote her new gallery for contemporary jewellers. Bracelet: Carlier Maligawa, sterling silver, 2003. Neckpiece: Gillian Rainer, sterling silver, 2003. Ring: Katherine Kalaf, 18ct yellow gold, amethyst and topaz, 2003.
Katherine Kalaf's first image to promote her new gallery for contemporary jewellers. Bracelet: Carlier Maligawa, sterling silver, 2003. Neckpiece: Gillian Rainer, sterling silver, 2003. Ring: Katherine Kalaf, 18ct yellow gold, amethyst and topaz, 2003.
Melissa Cameron
Born in Perth, Melissa Cameron received a degree in interior architecture and a postgraduate diploma (jewellery production) from Curtin University. Her MFA is from Monash University, Melbourne. In 2012, Melissa moved to Seattle, and has recently returned to Perth in 2018. She has exhibited in solo shows in Australia, Japan and the USA, and her works are held in many public collections including the National Gallery of Australia, the University of Iowa Museum of Art and the Cheongju Collection, South Korea.
She has had residencies in Europe and the USA, received grants in the USA and Australia, and is the former chair of the Editorial Advisory Committee of Metalsmith Magazine.
Bethamy Linton
A fourth generation Western Australian silversmith, Bethamy Linton’s interest in jewellery and metal object design began as a child during hours spent in the Linton family workshops with her grandfather, father and uncle. Aged 16 Bethamy started formally working with her father making silver flatware and restoring antiques, later seeking apprenticeships, mentorships and training in fine jewellery, art and object design. She taught in the Advanced Diploma course at the North Metropolitan TAFE from 2011 to 2017 whilst maintaining a busy studio practice in the Swan Valley. She has exhibited widely and her works are held in the numerous private collections as well as The National Gallery of Australia, The Powerhouse Museum, City of Swan, and recently acquired by the Art Gallery of Western Australia.
Sarah Elson
Sarah Elson is a Western Australian artist who has pursued an interest in traditional metalsmithing and its use in contemporary visual arts practice for almost 25 years. In 2001 she was the recipient of a Samstag Scholarship and holds an MFA at the Chelsea School of Art and Design. Sarah has exhibited nationally and internationally including solo exhibitions Anigozanthos (eudaimonia hybrid) at Galerie Düsseldorf in 2007 and phloem poetica at PICA in 2010. Her work is held in the collections of the Art Gallery of Western Australia, John Curtin Gallery, Edith Cowan University and the Janet Holmes à Court Collection. Sarah is a member of Art Collective WA and the 2019 recipient of the City of Joondalup Inside-Out Billboard commission.
Photo: Eva Fernandez
Susannah Kings-Lynne
Susannah Kings-Lynne’s work is most recognisable by her hand pierced silver pieces based on Western Australian wildflowers, particularly those that grow near her home. Susannah’s background in photography and design, allows her to capture these flowers in a way that highlights the details that lie within, to abstract her subjects into flat geometric designs, and to add depth through layers of colour and contrast. Fascinated by the way the shapes and patterns evolve during the design process, in quite a mathematical yet expressive way, she equally enjoys the way others interpret her final pieces, and how each discovers their own connection to the work. Since graduating from North Metropolitan TAFE in 2017, Susannah is one of the co-founders of the contemporary jewellery collective, Wayward Jewellers Society.
Claire Townsend
For many years Claire Townsend has been making jewellery that explores the marks we leave on each other through our interactions. This has previously resulted in two part rings; how they work together and the impressions or marks they leave. Newer work has moved slightly to focus on memories of Claire's grandmother, using her embroidery as inspiration. This work uses steel and the inlay process called Ibsa. Using such a hard material juxtaposes the fragility of embroidery and memory. Claire lives and works in the Perth hills, and has been a jewellery educator for the past 20 years, teaching and mentoring at University, TAFE and at hobby level.
Alister Yiap
Alister Yiap is a Design Artist based in Perth, who works across different disciplines of design, ranging from jewellery to sculpture. Alister has won various awards including Western Australian Young Achievers Award for the Arts and Fashion category in 2017 and Fine Details award at the WA Fashion Awards in 2010 and 2013. Alister has exhibited nationally and internationally and is included in a number of collections including the Art Gallery of Western Australia. Alister is a lecturer at North Metropolitan TAFE in Jewellery and Object Design, training the next generation of makers and designers. Alister has previously been involved in the City of Joondalup's Urban Couture Programs and continues to participate in workshops, conferences and masterclasses when available.
Tom of Holland
Tom van Deijnen (aka Tom of Holland) is a textile artist and skilled fabric repairer of repute in the northern hemisphere. His ‘Visible Mending Programme’ of workshops and commissioned repairs is playing a growing role in the global movement to make the best of what we already have.
Tom is fascinated by sustainability and the rich history of British textiles. He has a deep understanding of fabrics and garments, their characteristics and traditional mending techniques. His mending skills and services are in demand through his Visible Mending Programme of public workshops and commissions, which encourage us to rethink our attitudes towards clothing and throw-away culture.
Tom was recently selected in the Top 10, out of over a 100 talented (young) designers who participated in the 'Design Contest 2017 | Reinventing Textiles' at the TextielMuseum in Tilburg, The Netherlands. Participants designed a special product or material. The jury, Simone Post, Martijn van Strien and Suzan Rüsseler, described Tom’s work:
In his project Tom shows a restoration can be an addition to the looks of a textile product. By making the repair stand out he reinforces its user history and makes it even more valuable for the owner.
The Visible Mending Programme
Tom’s Visible Mending Programme highlights that the art and craftsmanship of clothes repair is particularly relevant in a world where more and more people voice their dissatisfaction with fashion’s throwaway culture. By exploring the story behind garment and repair, the Programme reinforces the relationship between the wearer and garment, so people can wear their existing clothes for longer, with a beautiful darn worn as a badge of honour. By writing a blog, running darning workshops and taking repair work commissions Tom provides mending inspiration, skills and services to people in the hope that it persuades them that shop-bought clothes deserve care and attention too, just like a precious hand-knit.
Tom's trip to share his skills in WA is made possible by the initiative of Maker&Smith.
Book a workshop with Tom.
Read more about Tom of Holland:
https://tomofholland.com/
Bernard Ashton Kerr
Bernard Kerr is a WA-based practicing artist, largely working in the field of ceramics. An active contributor to the visual arts, craft and education sectors, Bernard exhibits regularly and is an experienced specialist in the International Baccalaureate.
He has been the Curriculum Leader for the Arts and Coordinator for Theory of Knowledge at Scotch College in Perth, Western Australia and the Director of Teaching and Learning and Coordinator, Middle School at Binus School, Jakarta, Indonesia. Bernard also works for the International Baccalaureate as a Field Representative and Workshop Leader in Visual Arts and Theory of Knowledge. Currently he is working in the Technical and Further Education sector, specialising in Ceramics. He also runs his own educational consultancy in Perth.
Bernard will speak at Craft-Re-Work about the international ceramic exchange that saw Tamil ceramicist Kasirajan Subbaiah come to share the tradition of making terracotta horses, for the Habits of Horses community art event in Midland and Mundaring in 2017.
Sharyn Egan
Sharyn Egan (left) is a Wadjuk Noongar woman who describes herself as a painter, sculptor and collector. She began creating art at the age of 37, which lead to her enrolling in a Diploma of Fine Arts at the Claremont School of Art in Perth. She completed this course in 1998 andenrolled in the Associate Degree in Contemporary Aboriginal Art course at Curtin University which she completed in 2000. In 2001 she was awarded a Bachelor of Arts (Arts) from Curtin University. She has also been awarded a Certificate VI in Training and Education in 2011.
The themes of Sharyn’s work are informed by the experiences of her life as a Nyoongar woman. Sharyn works in a variety of mediums including painting, sculpture and woven forms using traditional and contemporary fibres. Her woven works include traditionally styled contemporary forms and baskets, as well as sculptural forms often based on flora and fauna that has totemic significance for the Nyoongar people.
Her work of oils, natural ochres, resins and acrylics on canvas as well as natural fibre woven sculptures is informed by her experience growing up at New Norcia and comments upon the associated trauma, emotions and a deep sense of loss and displacement experienced by Aboriginal people.