Suzanne Pugh: Post Pastoralia

Suzanne Pugh: Post Pastoralia 

February 24-March 12, 2017

Artist’s Reception: Friday, February 24, 6-8 pm

Artist Statement:

What do we lose when we lose language? If we lose our ability to communicate – in speaking, in writing, with language – how would we share our knowledge? What does the word ‘language’ encompass?

On a recent trip to Iceland, I found that almost everyone spoke impeccable English. There was no expectation that I would attempt to speak Icelandic and have to struggle with words, limiting my ability to ask even a simple question. In central cities all over the world, English is becoming a common language, for natives and visitors alike. What happens to a culture and a history when language dissolves?

Now, can we extend the word ‘language’ to encompass skill? The knowledge of our hands is similar to a language, passed down through necessity, experience, and exchange. I want you to see, as I do, the lateral relationship between language and skill, the parallel consequences of losing language and losing skill.

My pieces are form and material, but they are silent. The work is about forgotten language. It is about knowledge lost and found again, too late.

For more reading about the relationship between language and culture, this is a good place to start:

“Language and Culture” by Dr. Tengku Sepora Tengku Mahadi, and Sepideh Moghaddas Jafari, International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Vol. 2 No. 17, September 2012

About the Artist:

Suzanne Pugh uses traditional metalsmithing techniques to explore personal and social narratives. She maintains an active studio practice in Oakland, California, and is associate professor and head of the metal arts program at City College of San Francisco. She exhibits nationally and internationally, and her work is included in many publications. Suzanne received her BFA from The University of Georgia, and an MFA from Kansas State University.

Deadly Forearms, detail, 2016, copper

Deadly Forearms, detail, 2016, copper

Installation view

Installation view

Bounty, 2016, copper, rope

Bounty, 2016, copper, rope

Bounty, detail, 2016, copper, rope

Bounty, detail, 2016, copper, rope

Bushel, 2016, steel

Bushel, 2016, steel

Bushel, 2016, steel

Bushel, 2016, steel

It’s Too Far to Tell, 2016, copper

It’s Too Far to Tell, 2016, copper

That’s Just an Estimate, 2016, rope, wood

That’s Just an Estimate, 2016, rope, wood

Deadly Forearms, detail, 2016, copper

Deadly Forearms, detail, 2016, copper

pastoralia group 2-750

It’s Too Far to Tell, 2016, copper

 

Pierce Healy: Contemporary Jewellery Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me? The Musical!

Pierce Healy: Contemporary Jewellery Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me? The Musical!

February 24-March 26, 2017

Artist’s Reception: Friday, February 24, 6-8 pm

Score

Artist Statement

Adornment and jewellery hail from pre-civilisation, as does humour. Hence the pairing of humour with the most intimate applied art form of jewellery is an obvious match. These days Pierce Healy can be found solving his world’s problems creating subversive objects and jewellery often layered with intricate engravings. He refers to himself as a human Swiss army knife; not in an Edward Scissorshands way but in the way he toils in an array of materials and disciplines in addition to the numerous skills he has acquired throughout his life so far.

Within his practice there is no “master plan” each piece is an experiment a study that informs the next piece. He is fascinated by the capacity of jewellery to develop into our most personal of vessels for our story’s and storytelling in addition he is interested in the idea that jewellery is our second skin and when worn becomes something bigger, something other worldly as it takes on the scratches, dings and stories of the wearers adventures. Healy combines his craze for the everyday, drawing, storytelling, mark making and hand engraving to create truly hand-made raw jewellery.

Healy is particularly interested in and the space between the artist and the non-artist and the role of humour in jewellery and how the harnessing of humour in his work can be use as stealth communication device in particular to invite everybody into the conversation.

rings, hand engraved oxidized sterling silver, 2017

rings, hand engraved oxidized sterling silver, 2017

do you realize how beautiful you are?, pendant, hand engraved oxidized sterling silver, leather, 2017

do you realize how beautiful you are?, pendant, hand engraved oxidized sterling silver, leather, 2017

rings and bracelet, hand engraved oxidized sterling silver, 2017

rings and bracelet, hand engraved oxidized sterling silver, 2017

the Stone Age contemporary jeweller asks his father and mother; are you dying for me to wear you?, pendant, hand engraved oxidized sterling silver, leather, 2017

the Stone Age contemporary jeweller asks his father and mother;
are you dying for me to wear you?, pendant, hand engraved oxidized sterling silver, leather, 2017

when a contemporary jeweller falls in a forest, who cares!, pendant, hand engraved oxidized sterling silver, leather

when a contemporary jeweller falls in a forest, who cares!, pendant, hand engraved oxidized sterling silver, leather

talismamulets (#1-5), pendants, hand engraved oxidized sterling silver, leather, 2017

talismamulets (#1-5), pendants, hand engraved oxidized sterling silver, leather, 2017

stable meal, hand engraved pewter and modified found metal and wood objects, 2017

stable meal, hand engraved pewter and modified found metal and wood objects, 2017

volcanic love #1-2, spinning rings, hand engraved oxidized sterling silver, 2017

volcanic love #1-2, spinning rings, hand engraved oxidized sterling silver, 2017

crustacean’s #4, earrings, hand engraved oxidized sterling silver, 2017

crustacean’s #4, earrings, hand engraved oxidized sterling silver, 2017

collection of earrings, pendants, and rings, hand engraved oxidized sterling silver, leather, found objects, 2017

collection of earrings, pendants, and rings, hand engraved oxidized sterling silver, leather, found objects, 2017