In 2011, the Fine Ounce Goldsmiths’ Collective was
established in Cape Town, South Africa, originating from the ambition to build
an ornate bridge between the shimmering, ethereal realms of art and the sobering,
cold gleam of noble metals and precious stones essential to the process of jewelry-making.
'Jewelry is jewelry and art is art; never the twain shall meet.' Members of the Fine Ounce Goldsmiths' Collective grappled endlessly with this statement before their collective decision to embark on an arduous journey to bring to lovers and collectors of jewelry in southern Africa, unique, handmade pieces strongly influenced by art and nature.
'Jewelry is jewelry and art is art; never the twain shall meet.' Members of the Fine Ounce Goldsmiths' Collective grappled endlessly with this statement before their collective decision to embark on an arduous journey to bring to lovers and collectors of jewelry in southern Africa, unique, handmade pieces strongly influenced by art and nature.
(Photo: Ring by Adi Cloete)
Eight goldsmiths
from southern Africa form the core of the collective, including Namibia’s very
own, Frieda LĂĽhl. The other
goldsmiths are:
· 1. Jubi (Adeline Joubert)
– a red-haired goldsmith with a sense of humour, specialising in small-scale
sculptures using a variety of metals;
· 2. Adi (Adeleen Cloete) –
an adventurous goldsmith revelling in sophisticated patterns and details;
· 3. AnGela (Angela Tölken) –
a Namibian by birth with that tell-tale aestheticism of pure, clean lines,
muted and natural colours, overlaid by textures of varying depth;
· 4. Giselle Petty - an admirer of
the nomadic tribes of northern Africa, such as the Touareg, her range of
products includes mirrors and cutlery;
· 5. Jane McIlleron – a goldsmith
inspired by the ocean, marine life and plants, in particular;
· 6. Maike Valcarel – deserted Germany
to live permanently in Africa, specialises in African jewellery and pursues little-known
techniques in jewellery making;
· 7. Megan Meredith – a cultural
sensualist who loves wax and uses the ‘lost wax’ method to cast into metal,
objects carved in wax.
‘Between the Lines’
as an exhibition has travelled South Africa to great acclaim and along the way,
the goldsmiths promoted uniquely handmade as an alternative to mass-produced
jewellery. Omba Gallery will host
for ten days the travelling exhibition by the Fine Ounce Goldsmiths’ Collective
from Monday, 30 June 2014, to Wednesday, 9 July 2014. You are hereby
cordially invited to join us for the opening
of the exhibition on Monday, 18:30,
at Omba Gallery in the Namibia Crafts Centre
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