My work is steered primarily toward large sculptural pieces. Shapes representing nature and modern art inspired the creation of my first collections named VĂŠgĂŠtale 2003, L'aulne 2004 and Forme Humaine 2005. I sculpt various exotic woods and combine different types of precious and non-precious material, such as felt, pearls, semiprecious stones and 14-karat gold. My last collection, Membrane AlvĂŠolaire, stands out from the others by its evolving shapes that are increasingly contemporary, all the while remaining innovative and unique.
Laurie Dansereau has devoted herself to drawing, painting, plastic arts, modern dance and photography. Her passion for the human body’s endless potential and its various forms of artistic expression lead her to display her creativity through an art form that praises the human body: jewellery making. At the end of three years of study at École de Joaillerie de Montréal, Laurie Dansereau took part in her first exhibition at the Salon des métiers d’art, where her work was well received. She thereafter dedicated herself to creating the Végétale, L’Aulne and Forme humaine collections that reflect her fascination for works of nature and the human body. She won her first award at Toronto’s Zilberschmuck Gallery. Two of her pieces were also selected to appear in 500 Earrings, a Lark Books publication. In November 2007, she received the François-Houdé Award, which highlights excellence and innovative work of emerging fine artisans. This distinction opened doors, and securing position in three international SOFA exhibitions (in Chicago, Palm Beach and New York), organized by CREA Gallery. The City of Montréal purchased the bracelet L’Abutilon siamoise for its public collection. Christine SaintPierre, Minister of Culture, and Guy Laliberté, of Cirque du Soleil, have also become loyal customers for whom the talented jeweller makes unique, customized pieces. Today, Laurie Dansereau is working on creating the Membrane alvéolaire collection, works of nature that are flattered, transformed and recreated by a unique human tool: the imagination. This spectacular collection, stemming from five years of artistic growth, premiered at CREA Gallery and the Salon des métiers d’art du Québec in January 2011.
The Membrane AlvĂŠolaire collection is comprised of many conceptual research pieces. I explore new techniques and ways of blending organic matter in mechanical form. The concept of the Membrane AlvĂŠolaire collection is to group together a series of imaginary plants whose biological development is at times desynchronized or disproportioned. Some pieces even contain malformations that produce wonderful and fascinating results. Each piece brings to mind and is inspired by a plant or flower. The pieces convey an air of mystery, curiosity and are a hymn to life. Indeed each sculpture is created such that the plant will be equipped to reproduce. Yet unlike in nature, these botanical works will never propagate, but instead have four vital functions: to be worn, to embellish, to gain value and to be everlasting.
Title of Piece: Allium vacuolaire (pendant) Year Created: 2011 Category: Limited edition Dimensions (height x width x depth) in centimeters: 2,15 x 2 x 1,58cm Length of the chain including the pendant: 16’’ (40,64 cm) Length of chain extension: 1’’ 5/8 (4,2cm) Materials: Sterling silver, 18-karat gold and white pearls
Title of Piece: Allium vacuolaire (pendant) Year Created: 2011 Category: Limited edition Dimensions (height x width x depth) in centimeters: 2,15 x 2 x 1,54 cm Length of chain including pendant: 16 7/8’’ (43 cm) Length of chain extension: 1’’ 5/8 (4,2 cm) Materials: Oxidized sterling silver and white pearls
Title of Piece: Allium vacuolaire (pendant) Year Created: 2011 Category: Limited edition Dimensions (height x width x depth) in centimeters: 2,15 x 2 x 1,43cm Length of the chain including the pendant: 18’’ (45,72cm) Length of chain extension: 1’’ 5/8 (4,2cm) Materials: Sterling silver, 18-karat gold and pink pearls
Title of Piece: Bauera albus (pendant) Year Created: 2011 Category: Limited edition Dimensions (height x width x depth) in centimeters: 5,25 x 4 x 1,16 cm Length of chain: 18’’ (45,72 cm) Length of chain extension: 1 7/16’’ (3,6 cm) Materials: Sterling silver and pink pearls
Title of Piece: Bauera albus (pendant) Year Created: 2011 Category: Limited edition Dimensions (height x width x depth) in centimeters: 5,10 x 4 x 1,16 cm Length of chain: 18’’ (45,72 cm) Length of chain extension: 1 7/16’’ (3,6 cm) Materials: Sterling silver, 18-karat gold and baroque Tahiti pearl
Title of Piece: Adnatus 2 (rings) Year Created: 2010 Category: Limited edition Dimensions (height x width x depth) in centimeters: 1,85 x 2,3 x 3,76 cm Ring size: 7 ½ Materials: Sterling silver and colored pearl
These pieces represent re-inventions of plants, or botanical sculptures; the Adnatus is characterized by a unique type of inflorescence where only one flowerhead is carried by a solitary silvery bract.
Title of Piece: Angophora anÊmone (rings) Year Created: 2010 Category: Limited edition Dimensions (height x width x depth) in centimeters: 2,5 x 2,5 x 3,76 cm Ring size: 8 ½ Materials: Sterling silver and fluorite
Title of Piece: Angophora anÊmone (rings) Year Created: 2010 Category: Limited edition Dimensions (height x width x depth) in centimeters: 2,5 x 2,5 x 3,79 cm Ring size: 6 ½ Materials: Sterling silver and cornelian
This collection consists of recreations of plants in imaginative ways. In this case, the ring represents a cross between an Angophora floribunda plant and a Sea anemone. The latter’s tentacles encase the Angophora’s fruit until it reaches maturity. The cross slows the otherwise rapid growth, as can be seen from the single budding flower on the back side of the ring.
Innovation & Craftsmanship in Metal Exhibition & Trunk Show Opening May 3, 2012 Aaron Faber Gallery 666 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10103 http://jewelryofquebec.lmrpr.com email: jewelryquebec@lmrpr.com