Ono
Eno |
I know
that Big Brovaz say that diamonds are a gal's favourite thing, but
with over 30 designers exhibiting some damn fine jewellery at Urbis,
I'm afraid I was spoilt for choice with all the bling bling going
on in the foyer (and believe me there wasn't a diamond in sight).
Over 75% of the jewellery on show provided the feel good factor
that a gal needs from time to time. Although this is the 92nd time
that Dazzle had exhibited in Manchester, this was the first time
they had shown in Urbis which is a real departure from their usual
gothic and more traditional setting of Manchester Town Hall.
Flourescent
necklaces |
Dazzle
director Tony Gordon tells me that this is a more contemporary collection
than usual, as its in support of up and coming young jewellery designers
and also more suited to the sculptured semi obscured modern glass
tower that we call Urbis.
Ann
Littler silver and copper bracelet at 拢490 was reasonably
priced and will more than suffice for those of us who cannot afford
diamonds. Of the 32 designers showing, her work was my favourite.
Ann is a Scottish designer who graduted from Edinburgh and received
a Bursary in 1994 from the Royal Society of Arts to visit Peru.
She tends to work in slate with gold, silver and base metal and
in 2000 had a book "teach yourself jewellery making" published
by Hodder and Stoughton.
Other
eye catching pieces were Stockport's Gilly Langton fabricated precious
metal pieces and also what looked (to me) like brightly coloured
plastic pieces. This local lass in 1994 received a setting-up grant
from the North West Arts Board and hasn't looked back since.
Of
course, there were many other very exciting pieces there, but apparently
there is plenty more where that comes from and that's why the exhibition
returns simultaneously to Manchester Town Hall and London Royal
Theatre in November 2003 - January 2004
听
听 |
