The Glasshouse Port Macquarie is returning to business with a shining showcase of contemporary jewellery, after recent COVID-19 restrictions were eased.
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The national touring exhibition will feature works from 22 contemporary jewellers on show from June 30 to August 16 in Port Macquarie.
The show will explore how jewellery is made and how it is worn, the intersections between contemporary art and jewellery, and what happens when jewellery goes beyond the wearable.
Visitors will also be able to explore materials, concepts behind pieces and making processes.
An item of jewellery can be inspired by places, cities, gender identity, culture, belonging and major topics from the community such as climate change or technology.
The national tour officially began on March 26 at the Australian Design Centre in NSW before travelling to the Glasshouse.
It will then head to Artisan and Cairns Art Gallery in Queensland, Maitland Regional Art Gallery, Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, JamFactory in South Australia, Bundoora Homestead Art Centre in Victoria and finish at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery in July 2022.
JamFactory Adelaide senior curator Margaret Hancock Davis said contemporary jewellery is never about how much a piece cost.
"A design can be emotive, intellectual or simply make a powerful statement. It's also about self-awareness and how a certain piece makes you feel about yourself and how you want the world to see you," she said.
"Jewellery is a signifier. When it is worn it provides clues to the wearer's identity, membership of a cultural group, interests, a rite of passage, social status or even age.
"Individual body adornment can go as far as enabling society to structure and control the behaviour of its members or allow society to celebrate with pride, in its differences."
Jewellers include Liam Benson, Helena Bogucki, Julie Blyfield, Zoe Brand, Maree Clarke, Jess Dare, Anna Davern, Bin Dixon-Ward, Sian Edwards, Emma Fielden, Lola Greeno, Pennie Jagiello and Bridget Kennedy.
Works are also showcased from Inari Kiuru, Grace Lillian Lee, Vicki Mason, Claire McArdle, Tiffany Parbs, Blanche Tilden, Catherine Truman, Manon van Kouswijk and Zoe Veness.
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