6 December 2010 – 9 January 2011, enCOUNTER 24/7 window
Launching Saturday 11 December, 2-4pm
Craft Victoria, 31 Flinders Lane Melbourne

Images (L-R): Meagan Parry, Bendigo Senior Secondary School (2010), Simone Hope, Bendigo Senior Secondary School (2010)

Young people work with Craft Victoria professional members to define their sense of place.

Places and Pieces is a joint Craft Victoria and Regional Arts Victoria initiative developed to engage a wide range of students and emerging community members in the craft of jewellery making. Participants included students from Bendigo Senior Secondary College, Castlemaine Secondary Collage and young members of the Karen Community, refugees from areas in and around Burma who have settled in Bendigo.

Led by Craft Victoria professional members Anna Davern, Tamara Marwood and Sarah Fowler, participants were encouraged to explore and develop their creative skills via the production of jewellery pieces constructed from nonprecious materials found within their own localities. The idea of ‘Place’ can be interpreted in many ways; as an abstract concept, a physical location, a point of view or a designated social level or situation. All interpretations are informed by the individual’s perception of their position in the world around them.

Artists and participants in Places and Pieces have been guided by this commonality, the resulting artworks providing invaluable insights into the similarities and differences between the groups. A selection of the artworks developed throughout the project will be exhibited in Craft Victoria’s window gallery enCOUNTER from December 6.

A Craft Victoria mentorship will be offered to one Places and Pieces participant to further develop their jewellery practice in 2011.

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