As part of my SALA exhibition “Upper Glass” I set myself the challenge of making beads from a “Tally” wine bottle from the Balnaves of Coonawarra winery. The challenge was to use ALL of the glass from the bottle, and make all sorts of beads.
It took a few torch sessions to make all of the beads that I could possibly make and the end result was: 274 beads!
Now to make the jewellery!
I will be setting up my “Upper Glass” SALA exhibition at Local Images in Penola!
Very excited about the work I am doing, and I can’t wait to see it all hanging.
I remember travelling to New York many years ago, visiting one of the art museums there, and seeing a Kandinsky “Concentric Circles in Squares” painting. I was transfixed by the colours and movement in the painting. I wanted to buy the painting! I settled for a postcard.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I love dots and circles, so it’s probably no surprise that this painting became the inspiration behind a collection of jewellery that I started making. My Kandinsky collection. I’ve made assorted earrings, necklaces and bracelets for many years now. Here are some pictures of bracelets that I’ve made in various colours (thanks to Urban Cow for the photo):
However this year I was challenged to do something a little bit different for the T’Arts SALA exhibition, so I started playing with the idea a bit more, and created these beads which I will make into pendants. I’m excited about the colours in the beads, and the interactions with the background colours, and I can’t wait to see where these new pendants go in terms of experimenting with the design.
“Upper Glass”
August 2-25
Opening August 2 at 5.00pm
Local Images Art Gallery Penola
An exhibition of jewellery by Julie Frahm featuring recycled glass made into beads, and other up-cycled components.
I’ve been collecting, and also been given, a variety of glass over the past few years. Ranging from beer and wine bottles, to Green Depression Glass, and all sorts of other glass objects, I am turning these old wares into beautiful glass beads to be incorporated into my jewellery pieces. Along the way I have also found myself accumulating a selection of all sorts of other bits and pieces that I am also using in the jewellery…from vintage sequins to seed beads and old copper to biscuit tins! Part of the fun of the exhibition will be discovering what “old” things have been used to create these beautiful new pieces.
Wow, what a year it has been since then.
Right now I am:
Valid only until Midnight 30 June 2013
I am very excited to announce that my necklace, pictured above, has been selected for the Toowoomba Contemporary Wearables 2013 exhibition.
I made the beads from a Coopers Ale bottle, and embellished the flat beads with 22K Gold Leaf.
The Toowoomba Contemporary Wearables Award and Exhibition is an important event on the calendar for Australian jewellery makers. First prize is $5,000.
Seriously, I am just honoured to be part of it. This is my artist statement for the piece:
I imagine there are many uses for an empty beer bottle. Put it in the recycling bin, use it as a vase, maybe even put a candle in it. Or, if you are like me, smash it then melt it down again into beautiful glass beads embellished with gold leaf. It’s all about the Upper Glass.
I have listed a few new pieces of jewellery in my Etsy store.
I am getting ready to list some new recycled glass jewellery online, and would like to offer 40% discount on my current range of recycled glass jewellery in my Ethikl Store.
Simply use the coupon code: ENDOFYEAR to secure your discount. Free shipping too!
