THE NATIONAL Contemporary Jewellery Gallery

Chan and Cook selected for Schmuck

2012-01-16T20:34:00.000-08:00

We are proud to announce that Jacqui Chan and Octavia Cook have been selected to show their work at SCHMUCK in Munich this year.

Schmuck is a prestigious international contemporary jewellery exhibition which takes place in March each year. For over fifty years Schmuck has been the jewellery sector´spremier exhibition. From among the many applications received from designers toexhibit in SCHMUCK, a single juror makes his or her own personal selection ofthose whose work will be presented. This juror is generally an internationalcurator and expert in contemporary jewellery design. Dr. Karl Bollmann was invited as the juror for 2012.

665applications were received from all over the world. Jacqui and Octavia, both represented by The National, were amongst the 65 selected jewellery artists, from 27 countries, and we congratulate them for this excellent achievement and opportunity to represent New Zealand at Schmuck.

Octavia Cook Off With her Head, Brooch, 2012. Courtesy of Galerie Rob Koudijis.

Jacqui Chan Situation Palestine, Brooch, 2010. olive can, stainless steel pin

Three contributions of Schmuck 2012 will be awarded with the Herbert Hofmann Prize, which commemorates Dr. Her-bert Hofmann, the founder of the special show in 1959.

A Schmuck catalogue, with juror's essay, will be produced. We will make sure we have a copy on show in the gallery later in the year.

A Sign of things to come

2012-01-12T22:29:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone, from The National. We are officially back and open for 2012.

Getting back to work after a short, much-needed break is never easy - an inner struggle reminiscent of delinquent teenage years - but we're feeling like 2012 could be a good one. Glad to see the back of 2011 here in Christchurch, and even though there is still so much hard work to be done (arduous, painful insurance claims for a start), there is optimism in the air...

I dropped in to meet a client during the break, and found this on The National's new doorstep. Our original street sign from the gallery's High St premises, which had been missing, presumed stolen or destroyed, since the February 22nd earthquake. Placed mysteriously 10 months later, on my new doorstep.
How could something so small make us feel so happy?
We think it's nothing short of a sign of hope, and of the good things to come.

Roll on 2012.

Karlikarli : Installation and New Rings by Karl Fritsch

2011-12-02T14:27:00.001-08:00

Ring, Karl Fritsch, 2011 /
24ct gold, diamonds, rubies, sapphires

We are feeling very lucky to have our own, unique installation by Karl Fritsch in our new exhibition space, along with an outstanding exhibition of rings.

"Karlikarli" at The National runs until 25th December 2011, so please drop by the gallery at 212 Madras St, Christchurch. We are open Mon to Sat throughout December.

Here's a few pics if you're too far away to visit...

Opening night

Images: Karl Fritsch & The National, 2011

Karli Karli by Karl Fritsch

2011-11-18T17:42:00.001-08:00

In just 4 days time we welcome Karl Fritsch to Christchurch to install his new exhibition "Karli Karli" which opens next Friday, 25th November 2011 at The National.

We warmly invite you to attend the exhibition opening celebration from 5.30pm.

And, please join us for Karl's Artist Floortalk at the gallery on Saturday 26th at 12pm. Karl will discuss his new work and approach to making - a perfect chance to hear more about what drives and inspires this exceptional and prolific maker.

Contact the gallery for more information.

New Jewellery by Jane Dodd : Exhibition Catalogue

2011-10-31T21:34:00.000-07:00

Ursus arctos Brooch $1500
lignum vitae, stg silver, 18ct gold

Big Old Bear Necklace $1420
lignum vitae, boxwood, stg silver, cord

A Bit of A Bear Necklace $3,170
Ebony, shell, stg silver

Canus lupus Brooch $1360
boxwood, stg silver, pearls

Gyps fulvus Brooch $1250
mother or pearl, stg silver, pearls

Coluber constrictor Brooch $1420
ebony, black diamonds, stg silver

Panthera onca Brooch $1335
lignum vitae, stg silver, 18ct gold

Rebel Bear Necklace $2000
lignum vitae, stg silver, tourmaline

The Weeping Wood Bracelet $1420
lignum vitae, pearls

Axe Brooch $385
boxwood, stg silver

The Old Chopping Block Brooch $700
bog oak, 18ct gold, stg silver

Corvus corone Brooch $1085
ebony, stg silver, topaz

Lumberjack Bear Ring $370

sterling silver

Hiding Bear Ring $350

lignum vitae, stg silver

Dark Mirror Ring $450

ebony, stg silver

Mother of Paw Ring $450

mother of pearl, stg silver

IMAGES: Jane Dodd and Haru Sameshima

For further information regarding Jane Dodd's exhibition work, please contact the gallery

Email: info@thenational.co.nz

Telephone: +64 3 366 3893

Or visit us at out new location in the NG Building, at

212 Madras St, Christchurch (see Map).

OPEN Mon - Fri 10 - 5 & Sat 10 - 4

BLOOD SPORTS BY JANE DODD

2011-10-28T16:51:00.000-07:00

THE NATIONAL IS BACK...with a new exhibition of jewellery by Jane Dodd. Her new exhibition entitled Blood Sports has just opened at our new location and will be running until the 23rd November 2011.

We have joined NG in their beautiful building at 212 Madras St. Determined to return to the central city, we are just a stone's throw from our old premises in the "red zone". A veritable oasis amongst the backdrop of demolition, trucks and cranes, once you find us you'll be pleased you made the trip. We would love you to visit, and spread the word!

DIRECTIONS for getting there:

Our section of Madras St is still closed due to the earthquake. Entry to NG, 212 Madras St is through the BACK of the building only. Enter Tuam St from Barbadoes St (or Fitzgerald Ave). Pass "Trent's" and "C4 Coffee", enter the Turners and Growers carpark and drive up to the back of NG. There is ample parking right outside.

SMOTHER BY VICTORIA McINTOSH

2011-09-25T03:17:00.000-07:00

Smother by Victoria McIntosh was presented by The National at new Christchurch art gallery Chambers@241, from 14th - 23rd September.

As the earthquake saw the loss of all but one of Christchurch's galleries, fine art gallery Chambers@241 was established to support Canterbury-based artists and practitioners during this difficult time. We are very grateful for the opportunity to exhibit Victoria's show, which was a beautiful installation of object based work and photographs in the space.

Since October last year, Smother has been touring the main centres, with the addition of several new works for her Christchurch show.

"According to Dunedin-based artist Victoria McIntosh the words “envelop, wrap, enshroud and surround” are only a lexical nudge from “smother”. For, the blanket that warms and covers can smother and choke. Smother presents new works that teeter between forms of warm-comfort and harmful restriction to explore the process of creating and presenting oneself to the world.

With Smother, McIntosh collects and literally twists quatrefoils of sure and weighty cream antique blanket. In her works evocatively entitled Blanket Protection these are: stitched together as if they were the linen and lace of an Elizabethan ruff; embellished with pearls and fluttering white cotton threads in the style of an unusual boa or winter-weight lei; and pulled so tightly that they twist around each other in rope-like loops. With the equally playful yet edgy work Strand of Pills, the artist develops another material theme around the gelatine pill case that glitters and shimmers along with the pearls of its thread. In Choker, blanket and pills are brought together in antique pastry boats to press the length of the neck.

The works of Smother are, first and foremost, collectable objects that relate to the body and its socialisation. They are elegantly beautiful while they push the boundaries of what can be worn with a level of comfort. As the artist will show, these works are concerned with the ways in which the mechanisms we employ to present and protect ourselves can bind and harm us". Jodie Dalgleish, 2011

To view a slideshow of images on the Chambers@241 website, click here

SEPTEMBER ENGAGEMENTS

2011-09-24T04:25:00.000-07:00

The month of September has seen The National's artists presented in various locations simultaneously. It's been an exceptionally busy month, rich with interaction and engagement with jewellery. The upside of having no physical space is that we have created new opportunities to reach wider audiences, presenting jewellery in public spaces, at The New Zealand Jewellery Showcase in Wellington, and in a new fine art gallery in Christchurch.

Host A Brooch has been running every weekend at the Arts Festival in Hagley Park. Jacqui has regularly updated the blog with images of the project, the brooches, plus participants' thoughts and photographs. The documentation has now accumulated on the mesh wall of the depot, showing the myriad of experiences and interaction the public have had with the 16 brooches and our city over the weeks. Visit the container and the blog to see more of this unique project and what it has produced.

You are warmly invited to attend the closing and catalogue launch on Saturday 1st October, at the container, between 10am-4pm.

Catalogues will be available for $5 incl postage. To purchase copies, please contact the gallery.

TAKING JEWELLERY TO THE STREETS

2011-08-16T17:33:00.000-07:00

The National proudly presents Host A Brooch: An Urban Jewellery Project by Jacqui Chan

Opening 26th August 4.30 - 7pm in the Host A Brooch container next to the Telstra Clear Club, Hagley Park (click for map)

Host A Brooch is a collaborative project between contemporary jeweller Jacqui Chan and The National. Following the loss of the gallery in the February earthquake, The National has been actively exploring alternative ways of taking contemporary jewellery to the public. Host A Brooch is one such example, where jewellery literally takes to the street. A shipping container becomes an alternative exhibition space, and jewellery is used to engage with the city.

For the project Jacqui has transformed urban debris into 16 intricate brooches and explores how these work in the world. Over the 6 weeks the public are invited to 'host' a brooch on an excursion through the city to see how it activates connections their surroundings.

The Host A Brooch 'depot' is located in a converted shipping container. Operating like a bike-sharing system, the public are invited to 'host a brooch' on an urban adventure. Just as bicycle transforms our experience of a city – producing new sensory experiences, routes and encounters - jewellery also alters how we encounter a city.

The goal is to wander the streets aimlessly: see where the brooch takes you; see what happens. On your adventures, take photos showing how the brooch connects you to your surroundings.

Each brooch is worn by multiple people, resulting in a myriad different experiences. Wearers are asked to document their experiences with photos and notes. These accumulate in the exhibition, becoming a cartography of these jewellery-led adventures. A catalogue will be produced to document the project.

Host A Brooch is one of many projects that currently exploring ways of reinvigorating Christchurch city through the arts. Although architectural and infrastructural change will take time, the arts can respond more immediately to reinject life into the city.

For more information on Host A Brooch including how you can take part, please visit the blog: http://hostabrooch.blogspot.com/ or contact The National at info@thenational.co.nz

REFLECTIVE: NEW JEWELLERY BY KATH INGLIS

2011-08-09T15:44:00.000-07:00

Exhibition Cancellation Notice : Sadly, the current Pop-Up exhibition "Reflective" has been cancelled due to earthquake issues beyond our control. Our sincere apologies to Kath and to our Christchurch clients. Thank you to those of you who were able to visit us while the show was on.

We will continue to show Kath Inglis' new body of work via an online exhibition soon. Please keep watching the blog and website (click here)

REFLECTIVE by KATH INGLIS

Kath Inglis is a material based maker in that significant relationships are formed between the material, maker and tool. For ten years her practice has focused on the manipulation and transformation of a commonplace material, Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC), into the precious. The material is initially coloured then small pieces are removed from the surface through a process of hand cut incisions and carved patterns. Transformed from its prosaic “natural state”, this new material glitters with a play of light and reflection.

Kath was raised in Darwin, Australia, then moved to Adelaide to study contemporary jewellery. After graduating from the South Australian School of Art in 2000, Inglis continued to develop her practice by working from a number of studios, including the renowned Gray Street Workshop, JamFactory Metal Design Studio, and soda and rhyme a studio and gallery established in partnership with Naomi Schwartz. She now works from her own studio in lush garden surroundings at her home.

Purple Shard Pendant by Kath Inglis / PVC

Jewelled Cuff by Kath Inglis / PVC, silver stiching

Shard Cuff by Kath Inglis / PVC, silver

Shard Earrings by Kath Inglis

Waterhole Earrings by Kath Inglis

Images: Kath Inglis

MICRO-GALLERY IN MERIVALE

2011-08-07T01:46:00.000-07:00

The National is pleased to present the second in a series of Pop-Up events bringing contemporary jewellery to the people of Christchurch, post quake.

Throughout August, we are running a micro-gallery Pop-Up in the suburb of Merivale, Christchurch. For two weeks we are delighted to be joining fellow High St business owners Shoezies, who also lost their premises in the earthquake, in their villa at 84 Murray Place.

This month a small, intimate room is the setting for Kath Inglis' beautiful exhibition "Reflective", a series of new neckpieces, bangles, and earrings, made from hand-coloured, hand-cut PVC.

This month's micro-gallery also presents a selection of work from the first Pop-Up, alongside a selection from the gallery's stable of jewellers.

We are open at 84 Murray Place (off Papanui Rd) from Monday - Friday 11am - 5pm

& Saturday 11am - 4pm.

If you have any specific enquiries please phone Director Caroline Billing on 021 043 0533.

THE FIRST POP-UP SHOW

2011-07-20T01:26:00.000-07:00

Well, it's more than a month since the first Pop-Up Show in Addington, Christchurch and we are busy planning the next. I hope to have news on this in the next week and look forward to announcing the second, much-awaited event from The National soon.

In the meantime, here are some images of the show for those who couldn't make it along. The small, immaculate villa that housed the exhibition provided the perfect setting for showcasing such strong offerings from The National's stable of jewellers and solo exhibition of new work by Craig McIntosh.

"Midden" by Craig McIntosh

CRAIG McINTOSH Shot Gun Shell Brooch $615 / wood, paint, stg / 65 x 22 x 23mm

CRAIG McINTOSH Party Popper Brooch $525 / copper, paint, stg silver / 58 x 30 x 30mm

For further Craig McIntosh Midden images, visit thenational.co.nz

A selection of jewellery from the gallery drawers

Group Exhibition

featuring Jacqui Chan, Jane Dodd, Mia Straka, Lisa Walker, Areta Wilkinson, Brian Adam, Pauline Bern, Cheryl Sills, Octavia Cook, Ross Malcolm, Mathew McIntyre Wilson,
Lauren Simeoni, Gillian Deery, Sharon Fitness, Elfi Spiewack, Renee Bevan,
Tatjana Panyoczki, Rob Upritchard & Mel Young.

Brian Adam & Elfi Spiewack

Ross Malcolm & Jacqui Chan

Gillian Deery, Tatjana Panyoczki & Sharon Fitness

THE NATIONAL STATE OF EMERGENCY IS LIFTED

2011-06-01T03:22:00.000-07:00

It's official, The National is coming out of hiding!

It is now 3 months since the Christchurch earthquake hit and our lives were changed dramatically. Time seems to have flown by. The city changes daily, and it's people adjust. Yet the new way of life here still remains surreal and often hard to accept. It continues to be a huge time of grieving, reflecting, letting go of dreams, and getting ready to make new ones.

The National is one of many arts businesses and organisations working hard to reassess, rebuild, and ultimately plan for an even brighter, stronger future. It's a lot of hard work, but it's pretty darn exciting too.

Even though there is no physical space, the gallery is alive and well...

Welcome to our Blog. This will now be one of many ways of keeping in touch with local, national and international clients, collectors and artists, and our community. We will profile exhibitions, work for sale, international news and links...and anything else jewellery & object related that takes our fancy.

Please keep watching the blog, website and facebook page to follow our progress throughout 2011.

NEWS

A Room To View:

Firstly, we are very pleased to announce that jewellery can now be viewed by appointment. Please call 03 3663 893 or 021 0430 533 to arrange a time to visit our collection in Sumner.

We would love to see you! Please call ahead or let us know if there are specific works or artists you are looking for, or if you need us to put the kettle on...

Exhibitions 2011:

The exhibition schedule is about to resume...in a slightly different manner.

We invite you to join us for our first public appearance:

OPEN 10am - 5pm

Thursday 9th, Friday 10th, Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th June.

The POP-UP SHOW will feature two exhibitions of contemporary jewellery:

Midden by Craig McIntosh

A Group Exhibition

In addition, Lisa Walker's new book "Wearable" will be available for purchase

for the first time (email enquiries also welcome).

"Wearable" is a collection of pieces and projects from 2008 to 2010 and is published accompanying the exhibitions celebrating Lisa Walker's win of the Francoise van Bosch Award, Holland.

Please join us for the opening event from 6-8pm on Thursday.

We look forward to celebrating our re-emergence with you soon!