Griffith Regional Art Gallery’s premier jewellery collection is about to turn 30, and the community is invited to celebrate.
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The National Contemporary Jewellery Collection started back in 1988, and soon led to the founding a national competition.
Gallery coordinator Ray Wholohan said the collection was one of a kind.
“It’s the only collection of it’s kind in regional NSW. To my knowledge, there is only one other gallery that has a collection and that’s the Toowoomba gallery in Queensland,” he said.
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The original acquisitions were purchased by Griffith’s friends of the gallery and through funding from the federal government.
“In 1992, four years after collection was founded they started the National Contemporary Jewellery award, which is open to all craftspeople and artists in Australia,” he said.
“The winner of that award became food for the collection. It’s an acquisitive prize.”
Mr Wholohan says the pieces of jewellery acquired in the decades since tell the story of the trends and styles of each year.
“It is a really nice, chronological collection of how Australians have enjoyed contemporary jewellery.”
He says the style is intended to push the limits of tradition.
“Contemporary jewellery also really likes to push the limits of the materiality of stuff. A lot of us like to think that jewellery is rings and earrings, bracelets, necklaces and fine stones,”
“A lot of this stuff is pushing what is and is not considered jewellery.”
Gallery Manager, Raina Savage said the major prize had been increased to $6,000 and a new category had been added for local artists.
“The Riverina Area Design Excellence Award category has been added to recognise the huge amount of talent in our region. The winners will be announced at our opening event,” said Ms Savage.
The gallery will host the awards black tie soiree on Friday, August 10. The event is expected to kick off at 6pm and tickets are $30 per person. For more information please call (02) 6962 8338.