New Designers 2010
July 29th, 2010
By Shona Marsh
New Designers, the annual graduate degree show, provides the opportunity of viewing, under one roof, the budding applied artist; the talent, the trends and, more importantly the state of the many applied arts courses from around the UK. Shona Marsh offers her view on this year’s exhibition noting that silversmithing seems to be coming under particular pressure. Read more…
A visit to Goldsmiths’ Hall Library
April 15th, 2010
By Clare Ransom
A few weeks ago, I paid a visit to the library at Goldsmiths’ Hall in London. During my degree course I had heard about the library as a place for research and a source of images and resources. Although I have often visited the Assay Office round the back of the building, and been to various events in the Hall, I hadn’t actually crossed the threshold of the library until an invitation to pop in was given during Goldsmiths’ Fair last autumn. However this visit was cut short before I’d really begun when, embarrassingly, my mobile phone disturbed the peace and I had to make a speedy exit – the perils of leaving one’s stand unattended!
A month or two later I arranged to make a proper visit. I was travelling up to London with some Hallmarking to do and had some time to spare. Eleni Bide showed me round.
Review of SIDE x SIDE: EDGE > EDGE
April 14th, 2010
By Rajesh Gogna
SIDE x SIDE: EDGE > EDGE opened at Häme Castle in Hämeenlinna attracting vast publicity within Finland which attracted 90% more visitors than usual to see this contemporary silverware showcase.
The Castle set the scene for the wonderful work on display, complimented by beautiful historical architecture and its lakes. The private view evening attracted some of Finland’s elite, and many sponsors, all of whom made the event possible.
Design in Silver Award 2008 – Phil Jordan
March 23rd, 2010
By Phil Jordan
Phil Jordan: a short course with Ndidi Ekubia
Contemporary British Silversmith Award
I recently completed a short 3-day course with Ndidi Ekubia at her workshop in Cockpit Arts, Deptford. The course was paid for by the award from the Contemporary British Silversmiths that I won at New Designers 2008. This money also allowed me to receive some silver with which to work whilst on the course.
Our Logo & Name Change
August 14th, 2009
In 2007 members of the association undertook a review of the structure and potential of our organisation. Through a series of ‘away days’ we worked with designer and consultant Tory Dunn, spoke with PR expert David McDonough, commissioned a Business Strategy Plan with Alex Murdin and invited Rupert Hambro to become our Patron.
New Designers 2008
August 13th, 2008
By Shona Marsh
Taking place on the 3rd to 6th July, New Designers showcased recent graduates from the country’s jewellery and silversmithing courses.
On first impressions the overwhelming ratio of jewellers to silversmiths is, as always, a little disappointing but once I started mingling amongst the show cases I was more than happy with the quality and imagination of the silversmiths that were there. Not only was the work interesting but the graduates were approachable, friendly and quite vocal about their work, and this will stand them in good stead in the future. Read more…