2012 – January – 'Adaptations of Objet Trouve'

A solo exhibition by New Zealand Jeweller Julia Middleton

Celebration drinks coincide with the gala reopening of 2 Danks Street Arts Complex
Wednesday 18th January 2012 – 6-8pm

Julia Middleton explores the ornamental qualities of the absolutely natural and the preternatural in ‘Adaptations of Objet Trouve’, an exhibition at Studio 20/17 opening on Jan 18^th.  Indelibly sculptural, Middleton’s pieces are crafted from her direct environment. The NSW bush offers up a multitude of organics to be fused with metals and abandoned industrial miscellania. The pieces represent the marriage of installation art, found art, appropriation art and of course…contemporary jewellery.

Middleton’s latest exhibition,  ‘Adaptations of Objet Trouve’ evokes images of ancient villagers fossicking in the woods,weavers, alchemists…there is such attention to detail in each ring, each a little package, a charm, a talisman of sorts. But it isnt all fairy tales – there’s a dystopian undercurrent through the pieces, be it discarded industrial wiring or some other (now) useless ephemera. The rings when displayed together look like ancient alphabet – little picto-grams.

Here’s an insight into the creation of the series in the artists own words:

“One of my latest series on display in the exhibition comprises of cast objects from the aussie bush setting, manipulated in to a wearable form, heavily sculptural, wearable yet awkward and oversized. Roots, seed pods, grub pods, leaves, twigs, twine, rope, and pine needles  were  cast to form these rings.  Colouration techniques bring them back to an original state. Oxidised and blackened, treated with bleach, lime sulphur, vinegar and salt to create various effects. Once delicate and fragile, they now all sit like miniature sculptures on the hand. A Kiwiana perspective of Australiana. I wanted to represent where I live geographically,  by creating works that use the surrounding environment, all hand picked found pieces of natural materials from the creek next to my house, the opals were found on the shed floor amongst the dust, the twine and rope twisted around a piece of strewn boat from the recent floods…”