By Degree by Marion Wassenaar

By degree

Selected works from the Jewellery Collection Dunedin School of Art Otago Polytechnic - Te Kura Matatini ki Otago

Catalogue available online via the QR code or from: https://issuu.com/marionwassenaar/docs/by_degree

Cover image: Student Lisa Walker at the Dunedin School of Art. Circa 1989. Image credit: Lloyd Godman

By degree Nelson Provincial Museum in association with Nelson Jewellery Week Whakatū, Nelson

March 26 - April 16, 2021

This exhibition of selected works from the Jewellery Collection is acquired by Otago Polytechnic from students completing programmes at the Dunedin School of Art. Coordinated and represented by Johanna Zellmer (Principal Lecturer), Dunedin School of Art. Curated by Andrew Last (Senior Lecturer), & Brendon Monson (Technical Teacher), Dunedin School of Art. Catalogue design and production by Marion Wassenaar (Lecturer and Collection Coordinator), Dunedin School of Art. Acknowledgements: Johanna Zellmer and the Dunedin School of Art wish to thank the following for their assistance and co-operation in this exhibition. - The artists/graduates for their support of this exhibition - Nils Pokel

- Nelson Provincial Museum

- Kay Van Dyk

- Nelson Jewellery Week

Introduction Celebrating the School’s 150th anniversary, this exhibition provides a small slice of the Dunedin School of Art, Otago Polytechnic Art Collection, as works of significance, represented through the decades. The extensive collection comprises over 1600 catalogued works dating to the early 1970s following amalgamation with the Otago Polytechnic. Works from the Jewellery Studio find their way into the collection with new accessions acquired every year through donations or purchases either from staff, artists in residence or from students completing study. The end of year SITE exhibitions offer a prime opportunity to support our emerging artists. As a valued asset, the art collection adorns the student, staff and public environments of Otago Polytechnic and supports learning as a teaching tool. As of this year the Dunedin School of Art is the only New Zealand tertiary institution able to offer dedicated studies in contemporary jewellery through to a Master of Fine Arts level. This exhibition showcases the breadth of materials and topics available to students at the Dunedin School of Art through our well-equipped and hands-on studio facilities. Many of our graduates are well established jewellery practitioners both locally and internationally. We welcome interest from jewellery practitioners who look to extend their practice and wish to consider study in a vibrant arts community in the city of Dunedin.

Catalogue

The exhibition features works by fourteen graduates of the Dunedin School of Art. The works by these artists appear chronologically in the catalogue. 1989 - Lisa Walker 1991 - Grant Thompson 1994 - Louise Robins 2002 - Annika Dawkins 2003 - Col Fay 2006 - Hanna Hedman 2007 - Genie Lee 2009 - Debbie Adamson 2013 - Brendon Monson 2014 - Mildred Leckie 2015 - Andrea Muggeridge 2015 - Bob Mitchell 2016 - Brogan Nuttall 2019 - Emma Webster

Lisa Walker, Brooch, 1989, sterling silver Majoring in jewellery under the guidance of tutor, Georg Beer, Lisa Walker graduated with a Certificate in Craft Design at the Dunedin School of Art in 1989. In 1995, Walker travelled to Germany to undertake postgraduate study under Otto Künzli at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. Now, with thirty plus years’ experience, Walker is a renowned jeweller who has exhibited widely both in Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas. In 2018, Te Papa marked her thirty-year achievement with the survey exhibition Lisa Walker: I want to go to my bedroom but I can’t be bothered. Walker has also received numerous awards including the Dutch Francoise van den Bosch Award in 2009 and the NZ Arts Foundation Laureate in 2015.

Grant Thompson, Untitled, 1991, paua, southern dog cockle, stainless-wire Grant is a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) graduate with a background in contemporary jewellery and experience as a researcher, writer, curator and more recently, as an academic leader and lecturer. Graduating in 2001, Grant used his MFA as a steppingstone to the tertiary sector. “My qualification allowed me to apply for a position as a lecturer,” says Grant. “It helped give shape to my thinking and that in turn has influenced the content and delivery of my courses.”

Louise Robins, Untitled, 1994, fused glass, sterling silver “I completed a very intense and satisfying four years at the Otago Polytechnic with an Advanced Diploma in Craft Design. On completion of my Diploma, I set up my own workshop in Dunedin and continued to exhibit and sell my work through galleries throughout New Zealand. Following time out to travel, I settled in London, here I worked as a jobbing jeweller for a number of designers. This increased my skill base and gave me access to workshops so I could continue to explore my own work. After some time teaching in Wandsworth College, I now live and work in Bournemouth. The skills and passion I developed while studying at Otago Polytechnic are still influencing my work today.”

Annika Dawkins, Quality Control, 2002, anodised aluminium Annika Dawkins gained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2002. Annika is a graphic designer and a contemporary jeweller living in Blenheim, New Zealand. Annika came to jewellery after studying industrial design in Wellington. Annika’s jewellery plays with graphic design, geometric and architectural forms, along with cultural / pop references and tongue in cheek humour. After completing her BFA at Dunedin School of Art, Otago Polytechnic where she studied under Johanna Zellmer and Andrew Last in Jewellery & Metalsmithing, Annika travelled extensively living and working in India, Japan and America. Since her return she has focused on a career in graphic design.

Col Fay, (necklace), 2003, felted white ball ‘beads’, sterling silver box catch with image of Queen Elizabeth 1 Col Fay is a Senior Lecturer working within the Bachelor of Architectural Studies programmes at Otago Polytechnic teaching Studio, Theory and History papers. Col has a Master of Fine Arts from Dunedin School of Art and a teaching qualification. Col views her practice as an interdisciplinary interrogation of Art, Design and Architecture. “Allowing critical thinking to establish new meaning is an important aspect of my practice and I extend this philosophy into my teaching and collaborative projects that interrogate physical and psychological space.”

Hanna Hedman, itsy, bitsy, 2006, fishbone, twine Hanna Hedman is an artist based in Stockholm. She often uses elaborate techniques combined with intricate craftwork. Countless hours of work are encapsulated in her objects, thus making them products of time and imbuing them with a special energy and power. Hanna has completed nine years of art studies in the US, New Zealand (Bachelor of Fine Arts at Otago Polytechnic), and Sweden. She received her MFA in jewellery at Konstfack - University of Arts, Crafts and Design in Stockholm, graduating in 2008. Hanna also works with public art commissions.

Genie Lee, Honey, Where is Your Heart, 2007, silver, nail polish Genie Lee (Hyung Jin Lee) graduated from the Dunedin School of Art with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2006. Genie is working as a health practitioner, educator and visual artist. “I feel I am still searching for who I am and where I belong. The studio practice under Johanna Zellmer and Andrew Last gave me the welcome sense of home and belonging. They taught me that it is okay to have a voice and to live through our artwork. My learning through their guidance changed my life.” Genie’s works relate to diaspora and people living between two worlds. She has participated in numerous group and solo exhibitions, and is the recipient of many awards, in South Korea, New Zealand and Australia.

Debbie Adamson, Untitled, from the series ‘meet me in the middle’ 2009, gumboot, chicken wire, electrical shrink coating plastic Originally from the Maniototo in Central Otago, Debbie Adamson gained a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Otago Polytechnic in 2009. Between 2012 and 2014 Adamson had the opportunity to work with Master Goldsmith Kobi Bosshard, resulting in a longstanding working relationship. Since graduating, Adamson has exhibited widely and been involved in numerous projects, both alone and with others. She participated in Handshake 1 & 3 (working with Hanna Hedman and Nichola Shanly), showcased at the Museum of Art and Design in New York (Loot 2015), and has work in the collection of The Dowse Museum. Currently Adamson lives and works in central Ōtepoti Dunedin, New Zealand.

Brendon Monson, Monkey Pendant, 2013, basalt, brass, bronze and nylon Brendon Monson graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2013 receiving the Fingers Graduate Award and the opportunity to exhibit. This has led to international and national exposure including exhibitions at The Dowse and Objectspace. He is an active participant in the Handshake mentoring project. Brendon is the technical teacher in both Jewellery and Textiles and a night class tutor at the Dunedin School of Art. 3D printing technology and augmented reality is a current interest. “The tradition of jewellery is tied to the production of physical objects. The advent of digital and computing tools such as CAD modelling and 3D printing offer exciting opportunities for digital production in contemporary jewellery practice.”

Mildred Leckie, Eeny, Meeny, Miny Mo #1, from the series ‘H is for Handle’, 2014, found wooden handle, found steel ferrule, steel, rawhide, binding wire, crayon medium Mildred Leckie graduated with a Bachelor of Visual Arts in Jewellery & Metalsmithing from the Dunedin School of Art in 2014, and also received the prestigious Con Hutton Scholarship. This provided the opportunity to complete a Postgraduate Diploma in Science Communication at University of Otago. She is one of only a few New Zealand graduate artists to have had work selected for the Marzee Annual International Graduation exhibition. This is a unique event offering the best new graduates from international schools and academies their first opportunity to exhibit work in a world-famous gallery.

Andrea Muggeridge, Purple Stacked Paper, from the series ‘Jewelled Paint’ 2015, paper, nylon cord, paint Andrea Muggeridge graduated with a Bachelor of Visual Arts in 2015 in Painting followed by a Master of Visual Arts majoring in Jewellery in 2019. ‘Jewelled Paint’ is a project focussing on pouring paint and folding paper to create 3D objects. The focus is on the application of paint in a wearable format, and on the creation of jewels and geometric shapes using a range of different materials such as bronze, copper and paper. Paint is applied to these objects using a syringe to create a wearable art form to adorn the body. These pieces offer an unconventional perspective on what paint can do and how it interacts with precious and

non-precious materials, as well as how it interacts with the body.

Bob Mitchell, Chimp Pendant, 2015, bronze, waxed cord, bone Bob Mitchell graduated with a Bachelor of Visual Arts in 2014 and in 2015 BVA Honours at 75 years of age. He was represented in the Wunderruma exhibition that toured NZ and initially was shown as a NZ jewellery survey in Munich. Bob was forced to abandon his primary occupation as a chef due to a gradual development of profound deafness. After channelling his abundant energy into triathlon through the 1980s Bob eventually segued into art studies through the Dunedin School of Art. Bob’s work is driven by a hugely energetic work ethic that is figurative and typically humorous in an Antipodean, selfdeprecatory mode. Bob was a welcome and active contributor to critical forum and discussion despite the challenge of listening with a bionic ear.

Brogan Nuttall, Piccadilly Pink, from the ‘Meat Hook’ series, 2016, processed meat, silver, paint, resin Currently teaching English in Japan, Brogan Nuttall graduated with a Bachelor of Visual Arts in 2016. The ‘Meat Hook’ series formed part of a larger body of work he referred to as the ‘Prolefeed’ series commenting on the oppressive weight of capitalism and corporate imperilaism. He uses the processed meat as a metaphor of global homogenised culture in the form of fast food. The flowers are combined with meat hooks and chains to create brooches, earrings and necklaces. ‘Prolefeed’ explores how our sense of the abject can be distorted - while also attempting to subvert social dichotomies - through contrasting the feminized flower with masculine meat, the real with the artificial, vegetarian versus carnivore, and high versus low culture. (SITE 2016 Catalogue)

Emma Webster, Guiding Star Brooches, selected pieces from ‘Stories and their Objects’ series, 2019, quartz, mother of pearl, resin, silver Emma Webster graduated with a Bachelor of Visual Arts in 2019. Her work is often inspired by storytelling and symbolism. As a self taught carver, she enjoys working with natural materials and exploring both the tangible and intangible qualities they offer. She says she has always been fascinated by the human obsession with stories. “Our brains have evolved to think in this way. When we pair these stories with symbolic objects, they become hooks to retain the information in our mind. When these stories and objects become jewellery, it creates an intimate connection between the wearer and their thoughts” (SITE 2019 Catalogue). Emma currently works as a jeweller in the film industry as well as working towards a new series of work.