Category: Exhibitions

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Retrospective!

Great selection of etched glass bead jewellery by Julie FrahmBlack and white handmade glass bead jewellery by Julie FrahmColour Wheel jewellery by Julie Frahm

I had to pick my work up from a little shop in Adelaide recently.  It was a tough decision, but with so many time constraints upon me, I just had to focus my energy in areas that were working.  I hadn’t sold any work in this little shop for many months, and I couldn’t find the energy to make more work in an attempt to increase sales there.  There was nothing wrong with the work that was there, it was just time to pack it up.

When it came time to look at the work that had been packed up, I was feeling very nostalgic.  It was work from the last few years of exhibitions that I have done.  The top photo was from my 2014 SALA exhibition.  The middle and bottom photos were from my 2013 Colour Wheel exhibition.  I loved putting those exhibitions together.  For both exhibitions I tried new things, some of which worked well, some not so well.

Looking at this old work from past exhibitions, reminded me to keep trying new things.  That is the point of exhibitions really.  It is lovely when the work you do resonates with people and they buy it, of course it is.  But more importantly for me is the making of new work.  The extra time I can spend dwelling on design, creating a cohesive exhibition of work, is worth it.  I love this time of year, a time to ferment and plan and plot out ideas for my next exhibition(s).  I can’t wait to see what comes out of my head this year for the 2 SALA exhibitions I am part of.

As you can tell, I loved seeing this old work again!  I will be taking it to markets in the near future, but if there is anything here that you like the look of, please send me an email.

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On my walk this morning…

Morning Walk 11 May 2015

 

I nearly didn’t go for a walk this morning!  We had a big weekend visiting our mum’s for Mother’s Day.  I hadn’t slept very well most of the weekend.  So I didn’t set my alarm this morning, because I wanted to get as much sleep as possible.  When I woke up there was still time for a walk, and I’m glad I made the effort.

I’ve got lots to think about at the moment:

  • I was accepted to exhibit at the Adelaide City Library as part of their SALA Festival program.  Opening night will be 31 July.  My exhibition theme is “fleur verre” which means glass flowers in French.  Inspired by French painters, flowers and glass!  All the work will be made from recycled glass sources, and while I have a sketchy idea of what I am going to display, I also have a lot of work to do before the exhibition opens.
  • I was also accepted to exhibit at Pepper Street as part of their SALA Festival program.  The theme of their exhibition is “Renew“, and I will also have a selection of new recycled glass work available.  Again, ideas are floating around in my head for this one, but I will have to properly design it all soon so I can get started on the work.  July will be here before I am ready for it!
  • On Saturday I get to work in T’Arts, which I love!  I enjoy playing around with my display, meeting new customers, and looking at all of the wonderful work in the shop created by the artists who are part of the collective.

Have a great week.

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Mothers Day at T’Arts

MothersDay1MothersDay2MothersDay3

MothersDay4

Some of you will know that I am a member of the Textile and Art Collective known as T’Arts, which is located in Gays Arcade in Adelaide.

Each month the window display changes and a different artists is featured in the window.  At certain times during the year the entire collective gets involved with a window display, and at the moment our Mother’s Day window is officially open!

This is an extra special window, where members have been asked to donate small pieces of art, with all money raised being donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

I wasn’t sure what to donate as I don’t actually paint or draw.  I thought I would stick to what I could do, and that was make glass beads and jewellery!  But part of me kind of wanted to try painting too.

So, I compromised!  And I painted the little canvases pink!

Then I added a pair of my etched glass earrings.  All of my items will be for sale for $10.

I have had a look at some of the other work on display, and there are some really amazing pieces that artists have created, but work is selling really quickly too.  If you haven’t been to T’Arts for a while, now is a great time for a visit.

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Sale items…

ExpiringVerySoon

A big thanks to everyone who has supported the sale of items in my Etsy shop.  I have some more items in there expiring very soon, and I am only mentioning it so that you are not sad when they do expire!

In other news, the Reart International Upcycle Exhibition opened tonight, so if you are in Sydney, I hope you get a chance to visit.  Here is a link to the website where all the finalists can be found.

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On my walk this morning…

Morning Walk April 20

  • I had a great time at the Flinders Street Market on the weekend.  Lots of lovely customers.  It was great to see so many people loving the recycled glass jewellery!  I’ll be there again on Saturday May 2.
  • I’m excited about my work being on display as part of the Reart exhibition in Sydney.  It opens to the public on Wednesday.
  • I finished reading “Lost and Found” and loved it!
  • I’m enjoying the slower pace of the school holidays!
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On my walk this morning…

CrochetRugSigh, I didn’t go for a walk this morning!  It was pouring with rain when my alarm went off.  Not the best conditions for walking.  I don’t mind a light drizzle when I’m out, or an unexpected downpour, but I tend to stay home when it’s raining already.

Still, I was up fairly early thanks to daylight savings ending and a toddler who think 6.05am is time to wake up!

  • I am still smiling about the Reart International Upcycle exhibition.  I’ll be sending my entries this week.  Disappointed I won’t be able to make it to the exhibition, but hopefully there will be photos.
  • I am getting ready for the Flinders Street  Good Earth Market on April 18 and 19.  The focus there will be on eco-friendly products, and it looks like the big blue shed will be filled with all sorts of amazing products.  On from 10-3 each day.
  • I have drafted my newsletter, which I will be sending out on Thursday.  I will have lots of new products for sale, a special offer for subscribers, and a chance for one subscriber to win a product!  Subscribe for your chance to find out more and possibly win!
  • I am reading Still Alice by Lisa Genova.  I’m not sure what to say about this book just yet, I am enjoying it, but finding the subject quite difficult/disturbing too.  I am listening to Burial Rites by Hannah Kent on audible and really enjoying that, for different reasons it is a slightly disturbing tale, but beautifully done.
  • I am crocheting a blanket…it might be ready for the winter!
  • I am grateful for the family time we have had over Easter, and all the lovely things we have done together.
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ReArt – International Upcycle Exhibition

I’m excited to announce that 2 of my recycled glass necklaces have been selected for the 2015 ReArt – International Upcycle Exhibition.

The top necklace was made from a Kronenbourg Beer Bottle, and the bottom necklace was made from a Moet Champagne Bottle!

From the Reart website:

Reart is an exhibition to inspire the world to reconsider the idea of waste. It focuses on innovation in upcycling from a selection of local and international artists.

In it’s first year running Reart will open it’s doors to the public on April 22nd to coincide with Earth Day. The exhibition will also highlight the launch of Retrash, a coffee table book showcasing the upcycled work of 82 designers and artists from 20 countries around the world. Author Nathan Devine will be signing copies of his book on Saturday 25 April where the winners of the exhibition will also be announced.

Flower Necklace - recycled glass beads made from a Kronenbourg Beer Bottle

Upcycled Moet bottle - made into beads and a beautiful necklace

 

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Thank you!

Display of jewellery made from recycled Banrock Station wine bottles!

Tomorrow I pack up my jewellery from the Resonate exhibition that was held at Gallery M.  I’d just like to take a moment to say some thank you’s:

  • Steven Skillitzi for thinking about the glass artists at T’Arts when he pitched his exhibition to Gallery M.  Thanks Steven and congratulations to you on your amazing exhibition!
  • Sheryl Glassmith, Cindy Durant and Ivana DiStasio for being part of this exhibition.  I thought our work looked pretty amazing together.  Thank you for being such lovely people to work with.
  • Gallery M for displaying our work so beautifully.  One of the best galleries in Adelaide in terms of light/design, it’s always a pleasure to have my work on display there.  Thanks for taking the time to display my work to such great effect.
  • Everyone who went to the opening, and who visited while the exhibition was on.  We all hope you enjoyed the work, that it made you think a little bit, made you happy or even made you wonder!  Art comes in all shapes and sizes, and that was very true of our exhibitions.
  • To everyone who bought a piece of work from the exhibition, especially to those who bought my work, but also on behalf of the other artists.  We thank you very much.  Without you, we don’t get to do this!
  • To my family for supporting me when things got particularly crazy getting ready for the exhibition.  Our move to Murray Bridge, while awesome, happened at a tricky time, and I wasn’t sure if I would even get this work finished.  I’m glad you helped me by giving me the time to work.

I will bring the remaining jewellery to A Boutique Design Life Market on March 15 for those who might have missed out on seeing it in person.

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Red stickers

Banrock Station wine bottles were used to make the beads for this necklace!

Asymmetrical necklace - handmade glass beads, made from a Peroni Beer Bottle

Some people would say that the success of an exhibition is measured by the number of red stickers on the wall.  And while I agree that red stickers are lovely, I don’t think they are the only measure of success.

For me, the real payoff for an exhibition is in the creation of new ideas and new work.  The pressure of the deadline certainly helps to push my creativity.  And the confines of the concept help to contain the creativity.  Looking for new ways to expand (or contract) my practice is the aim.  Concept, design, creation, display.

I’m never going to feel disappointed if there are no red stickers on the wall.  There can be so many reasons for this, only one of which might be the actual work!  It can also include: not enough promotion, wrong customer base for my work, too many other things going on (SALA, Fringe), heat waves, rain, economy etc.  A lot of those things are out of my control, so it doesn’t help me to worry about them.  I just have to accept that there are many reasons why my work might not sell.  But at least I have done the work.

Here is an example: I designed a collection of new work as part of a SALA exhibition last year.  The beads were all etched, and there was a huge variety of pieces for people to choose from (and colours).  I found the exhibition sales were OK, bits and pieces sold, and I was happy with that.  BUT.  Then I took the leftover jewellery and displayed it in some of the galleries that sell my work.  I had some in one particular gallery that was seen by the manager of another gallery.  I got a phone call about the work. “We want some of that in our gallery.”  It went on to be the best-selling pieces over Christmas for that gallery and for me!  So, the number of red stickers at the exhibition, did not match at all the success of that range of jewellery.

That is why, when I am happy with the work that I have created, that is when I feel successful.  It may not translate straight away into sales, and I’ve learned to be OK with that.

p.s the necklaces pictured above have SOLD as part of the Resonate exhibition, showing at Gallery M until March 8.