Master Makers

Since the 1980s, leading Australian and international Gold and Silversmithing artists have delivered and participated in masterclasses in the RMIT School of Art which has had a profound impact on the training of the craft in Australia.

This major exhibition explores the masterclass legacy, showcasing both recent works of the visiting ‘master makers’ and work produced at the master classes, as well as recording the cultural, artistic and technical shift in contemporary jewellery and object.

Featuring beautiful handmade work, intricate detailing and an incredible array of materials and unusual combinations, MasterMakers is a celebration of skill and devotion.

Featuring artists:

Ruby Aitchison, Helen Aitken-Kuhnen, Robert Baines, Nicholas Bastin, Peter Bauhuis, Dianne Beevers, Doris Betz, Renee Bevan, David Bielander, Julie Blyfield, Zoe Brand, Helen Britton, Sue Buchanan, Melissa Cameron, Bifei Cao, Pamela Chan, Yu Fang Chi, David Clarke, Anna Clynes, Katie Collins, Conversation Piece (Beatrice Brovia & Nicholas Cheng), Anna Davern, Helen Dilkes, Bin Dixon-Ward, Joungmee Do, Mark Edgoose, Sian Edwards, Ian Ferguson, Karl Fritsch, Emi Fukuda, Eli Giannini, Kiko Gianocca, Allona Goren, Rowena Gough, Wayne Guest, Caz Guiney, Marcos Guzman, Mary Hackett, Kirsten Haydon, Peter Hoogeboom, Marian Hosking, Katherine Hubble, Linda Hughes, David Huycke, Naoko Inuzuka, Kazuhiro Itoh, Nicole Jacquard, Tassia Joannides, Cara Johnson, Hermann Jünger, Jiro Kamata, Jung-Hoo Kim, Inari Kiuru, Wendy Korol, Daniel Kruger, Otto Künzli, Andrew Last, Benjamin Lignel, Sue Lorraine, Carlier Makigawa, Stefano Marchetti, Marion Marshall, Chris Massey, Claire McArdle, Kelly McDonald, Lindy McSwan Sam Mertens, Karl Millard, Yutaka Minegishi, Marc Monzó, Shelley Norton, Michaela Pegum, Jana Roman, Lucy Sarneel, Elise Sheehan, Debbie Sheezel, Bettina Speckner, Michelle Stewart, Leah Teschendorff, Elizabeth Turrell, Renée Ugazio, Manon van Kouswijk, Michael Wong and Aurelia Yeomans.

Further details from RMIT Gallery here

(Text: https://rmitgallery.com/exhibitions/3887/)

Tea Caddies

Jana Roman, Four Tea Caddies, 2019, repoussé worked steel Altoids tins 

made for the exhibition Tea & Dumplings, presented for Radiant Pavilion 2019

Jana Roman, Camellia sinensis, 2019, tea caddy, repoussé worked steel Altoids tin, 97x62x30mm (shown open)

Jana Roman, Buddha's Tears, 2019, tea caddy, repoussé worked steel Altoids Smalls tin, 62x41x22mm (shown open)

Jana Roman, Jasminum sambac, 2019, tea caddy, repoussé worked steel Altoids tin, 97x62x31mm (shown open)

Jana Roman, Cherry Blossom Sencha, 2019, tea caddy, repoussé worked steel Altoids smalls tin, 62x41x23mm (shown open)

Tea & Dumplings

Pamela Chan & Jana Roman, Tea & Dumplings, 2019, dimensions variable, ceramic, copper, reclaimed Eucalyptus. 

Photo: Jana Roman

At this one-day popup exhibition the artists invite you to join their ten-year conversation about making by sitting at their table to handle an all-new series of functional vessels and utensils. Highlighting texture and form using metal, timber and ceramics, these handmade individual and collaborative works centre on the functional aspects of consuming Tea and Dumplings. The works are made to fit right in the user’s hand.

Jana Roman and Pamela Chan employ repetitive and meditative methodologies in their making; tools become extensions of their hands through repetitive processes in the forming of objects. The ritual of a shared meal is a reflection of the repetition of making simple functional vessels. Inspired by the natural environment, materials show the passage of time with surfaces marked by the process of making. Beautiful surface imperfections and the feeling of impermanence are expressed by subtle changes of colour and texture.

7 September 2019, 11am-9pm
Testing Grounds1 City Road, Southbank 3006

View the Tea & Dumplings blog here

Architectural Fragment Earrings

2013.105, 2013, Earrings

PUK welded mild steel, sterling silver

each 38 x 21 x 12mm
(limited edition)
[Donated to the RMIT Gold & Silversmithing Jewellery Auction 2018]

For meritorious conduct

Jana Roman, For meritorious conduct, 2017

Sash

Reclaimed denim, reclaimed computer components, cotton

L 3850 x W 170 x D 35mm

Jana Roman, For meritorious conduct, 2017

Sash (detail)

Francis Ormond was the Bill Gates of his time. 

Even in his early days as a sheep station manager Ormond funded evening classes to better the education of his station hands. As Ormond’s pastoral wealth grew so did his philanthropic endeavours, contributing generously to the education, health and spiritual betterment of 19th century Melbourne and the city's future development by funding hospitals, churches, Ormond College at the University of Melbourne and driving the foundation of the Working Men's College that would become RMIT. 

The presentation of an order of merit sash in working persons' blue denim honours Francis Ormond's service to science, art, literature and the promotion of culture and social justice.

Made to dress the Francis Ormond statue, RMIT

for URBAN A-WEAR-NESS

a Radiant Pavilion exhibition presented 2 September 2017

Air-Cooled

Jana Roman, Air-Cooled, 2015

Brooch

PUK welded mild steel, stainless steel, copper

32 x 64 x 16mm

This was my donation to the RMIT Gold & Silversmithing Jewellery Auction 2016.

1:4

Jana Roman, 1:4, 2015

Brooch

PUK welded mild steel, magnet

This was my donation to the RMIT Gold & Silversmithing Jewellery Auction 2015.

Hyperbolic Paraboloid

Jana Roman, Hyperbolic Paraboloid, 2012

Pendant

Cast 925 silver, silk

This was my donation to the RMIT Gold & Silversmithing Jewellery Auction 2012.

Auditory Membrane

Jana Roman, Auditory Membrane, 2011

Earrings

925 silver, polypropylene

This was my donation to the RMIT Gold & Silversmithing Jewellery Auction 2011.

Radial series, 2015

Fields of corn suddenly give way to finely mown grass and in the sunlight bright airsocks flutter over what becomes apparent is a private airstrip.  Nearby in a seemingly endless series of huge interconnected sheds are hundreds of airplanes, their parts and memorabilia.  From fading photographs smile the enthusiasts who designed, hand-built and piloted all these machines before donating them to the Airpower Museum.  Complete planes are wheeled up to one another with wings and tails interleaved, drones and gliders hang from the rafters, and racks of propellers stand opposite glass cabinets filled with unique scale models.  Wing frames are hooked to the walls and an experimental amphibious plane sits adjacent to a circa World War II flight simulator.  Bolted to heavy, solid stands are various configurations of radial engine waiting to once again spin into action.

Jana Roman, Radial 3C303, 2015

Pendant

Mild steel, copper, PVC

H77 x W73 x D19mm

Jana Roman, Radial 5C304, 2015

Pendant

Mild steel, copper, PVC

H76 x W72 x D19mm

Jana Roman, Radial 5C305, 2015

Pendant

Mild steel, copper, PVC

H77 x W72 x D19mm

Jana Roman, Radial 5C306, 2015

Pendant

Mild steel, copper, PVC

H76 x W72 x D19mm

Jana Roman, Radial 3C307, 2015

Pendant

Mild steel, copper, PVC

H77 x W73 x D19mm

Jana Roman, Radial 3C308, 2015

Pendant

Mild steel, copper, PVC

H76 x W72 x D19mm

Jana Roman, Radial 5C309, 2015

Pendant

Mild steel, copper, PVC

H77 x W73 x D19mm

Radial

Jana Roman, Radial 5C305, 2015

Pendant

Mild steel, copper, PVC

H77 x W72 x D19mm

From a new series of works to be premiered as part of the exhibition

RENDER 2015

A group design expo

Brunswick Street Gallery

30 October to 12 November 2015

Sakura-cha

Jana Roman, Sakura-cha, 2013

Teapot

Fine silver, 925 silver, silver and gold plated copper, japanned brass, cherry stone

H165 x L135 x W85 mm

Selected for exhibition in the Contemporary Australian Silver & Metalwork Award 2013, Bendigo Art Gallery.

Meet Me...

Jana Roman, Meet Me..., 2015

Pocket object

Repoussé, reclaimed steel container, plastic, 925 silver, paint

H62 x L67 x D27mm

Jana Roman, Meet Me..., 2015 (showing inside)

Jana Roman, Meet Me..., 2015 (showing outside)

The proposal for the exhibition re:make at First Site Gallery was for each exhibitor to randomly draw from a hat the name of another of the artists in the group.  I drew Sue Buchanan and then selected one of her existing works to re:make.

Sue Buchanan, Meet Me in Eagle Alley Assemblage, 2014

(detail of selected object)

Steel, vitreous enamel

Visit suebuchanan8 on Instagram.

I make memory devices using repoussé to record landscapes or events on reclaimed steel containers.  Last year Sue gave me an unusual heart-shaped steel tin her husband had received at a conference.  Handing it to me, Sue said 'I think you could do something interesting with this.'  For the re:make exhibition I used this tin given by Sue and accepted her invitation to meet her in Eagle Alley by making for her a 'site specific body object.'

The tin in its original condition.

RE:MAKE is coming to First Site Gallery

click to Visit the First Site Facebook page

Topologies series, 2014

Chautauqua, 2014

Repoussé, reclaimed steel container

H61 x L97 x D33mm

1000 steps with Lyrebird, 2014

Repoussé, reclaimed steel container

H61 x L97 x D26mm

Crop Circles, 2014

Repoussé, PUK welding, reclaimed steel container

H76 x W43 x D27mm

29000ft, 2014 (interior detail)

Repoussé, PUK welding, reclaimed steel container, salvaged steel, fused sterling silver

H56 x W56 x D22mm (closed)

29000ft, closed (left) and open (right)

Farmington, 2014, brooch (interior detail)

Repoussé, PUK welded, reclaimed steel container, mild and stainless steel

fused sterling silver and shibuichi

H41 x W61 x D23mm (closed)

 

Farmington, closed (left) and as worn on the body (right)

Farmington is part of the McMillan Collection, RMIT University, Melbourne

The Topologies series received the 2014 Wolf Wennrich Award for Craftsmanship.
Chautauqua, 1000 Steps with Lyrebird, Crop Circles and 29000ft were selected for the Marzee International Graduate Show 2015, Galerie Marzee, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Architectural Fragment #10

Architectural Fragment #10, 2014, brooch

PUK welded salvaged mild and stainless steel

H45 x L85 x D26mm

simple brooch back

This is my donation to the RMIT Gold & Silversmithing Jewellery Auction 2014.

Architectural Fragments

Architectural Fragments, 2013, installation of eleven brooches

PUK welded salvaged material and surplus components: found steel container (Eclipse mint box), mild and stainless steel, acrylic, polycarbonate, aluminium, copper, sterling silver, vitreous enamel, magnet

dimensions variable

Installation includes the following items:

 2013.002 (Character), 2013, brooch

PUK welded salvaged steel, magnet

60 x 56 x 32mm

2013.101, 2013, brooch

PUK welded mild steel, vitreous enamel, stainless steel

68 x 54 x 34mm

2013.102, 2013, brooch

PUK welded, mild steel, vitreous enamel, stainless steel

44 x 44 x 15mm

2013.103, 2013, brooch

PUK welded, mild steel, stainless steel, sterling silver

27 x 31 x 27mm

 2013.003, 2013, brooch

PUK welded found steel container (Eclipse mint box), mild steel, stainless steel

95 x 130 x 42mm

2013.004, 2013, brooch

PUK welded mild steel, stainless steel, salvaged copper

65 x 40 x 24mm

2013.005, 2013, brooch

PUK welded salvaged mild steel, sterling silver, stainless steel

59 x 60 x 22mm

2013.006, 2013, brooch

PUK welded salvaged mild steel, stainless steel

120 x 43 x 15mm

2013.007, 2013, brooch

PUK welded salvaged aluminium, salvaged mild and stainless steel, salvaged acrylic and polycarbonate, 

74 x 92 x 40mm

2013.008, 2013, brooch

PUK welded salvaged mild and stainless steel, salvaged acrylic and polycarbonate

72 x 90 x 43mm

2013.009, 2013, brooch

PUK welded salvaged mild and stainless steel

140 x 52 x 60mm
[This brooch was selected for the National Contemporary Jewellery Award 2014 and exhibited at Griffith Regional Art Gallery, Courtesy of the Artist Sydney and Sturt Contemporary Craft and Design Mittagong]

Other items from the Architectural Fragments series:

2013.105, 2013, Earrings

PUK welded mild steel, sterling silver

each 38 x 21 x 12mm
[Donated to the RMIT Gold & Silversmithing Jewellery Auction 2013]

2013.106 (Robin egg), 2013, brooch

PUK welded mild steel, stainless steel, vitreous enamel

38 x 40 x 22mm 
[Donated to the RMIT Gold & Silversmithing Jewellery Auction 2013]

2013.104 (Red), 2013, brooch

PUK welded mild steel, stainless steel, vitreous enamel

34 x 30 x 8.5mm
[Donated to the RMIT Gold & Silversmithing Jewellery Auction 2013]

2013.107 (Sky blue), 2013, brooch

PUK welded mild steel, stainless steel, vitreous enamel

47 x 44 x 28mm
[Donated to the RMIT Gold & Silversmithing Jewellery Auction 2013]