Held out of Holding Place

If the content of this message is not displayed properly, please click here The Gem and Jewelry World's Foremost = Resource on The Internet. Open to the public, Free of Charge! The Ganoksin Project S i n c e   1 9 9 6 Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Techniques http://www.ganoksin.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 10, 2013 Ganoksin is pleased to announce its third annual International Online Jewelry Exhibition. This year's theme is "Holding Place: A Repository of Containers and Vessels by Metalsmiths Around the World". http://www.ganoksin.com/gnkurl/holdingplace2013 Black Basket, 2011, silver, 21x11x7 cm raised, mounted, oxidised Paul Derrez, Galerie Ra, Amsterdam, Netherlands Online Exhibition: "Holding Place: A Repository of Containers and Vessels by Metalsmiths Around the World".http://www.ganoksin.com/gnkurl/holdingplace2013 These containers and vessels definitely hold their place in the world of stunning art objects as well as in the world of metalsmithing. Since the dawn of time humans have created containers to hold things that were important to them, from large vessels to hold food and harvests to intimate containers for small precious things. They might hold memories, ashes, medicine, beverage, fruit or food - but all spring from the imagination and skill of the maker. Some have specific religious functions, some are meant for everyday use. When one thinks of a vessel or container the inclination is to think of something with solid walls - yet many of these works involve the exploration of positive and negative space, and the use of negative space to help create the illusion of the wall of the vessel. As the world's largest jewelry related internet site, Ganoksin strives to develop exhibitions showcasing work from around the world. This exhibition was open to all metalsmiths, professional and amateur, advanced and beginner. Participants are from The Netherlands, the USA, Canada, Australia, Costa Rica, the United Kingdom, Israel, Hong Kong, Colombia, Romania, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia and Denmark. While most of the pieces are by an individual metalsmith, some are collaborations, one of three artists spanning 50 years. In total 319 artists contributed 729 show pieces for the permanent online exhibition. Objects in the exhibition include boxes, lockets, urns, ash containers, bowls, wine cups, reliquaries, match holders, vases, teapots, pitchers, sugar bowls, baskets, nests, pillboxes, clutches and a range of sculptural forms. A variety of techniques are showcased covering a wide range of metalsmithing techniques. Materials used include everything from gold and silver to less expensive metals. Ornamentation includes the addition of enamel, chasing and repousse', gemstones and found objects. The exhibition was curated by Beth Wicker, President of the North Carolina Society of Goldsmiths in the United States, and Adjunct Instructor at Northeastern Technical College in South Carolina. Director of the exhibition is Hanuman Aspler, founder of The Ganoksin Project, the world's largest internet jewelry site. Visit the online exhibition 'Holding Place: A Repository of Containers and Vessels by Metalsmiths Around the World' at http://www.ganoksin.com/gnkurl/holdingplace2013 "He Said, She Said..." copper, sterling silver, CZ 29"x4.5"x5" Lauren McAdams Selden Nacogdoches, TX. USA For more information about the Exhibition please contact: Beth Wicker, the exhibition curator, or Dr. E. Aspler (Hanuman) All rights reserved © The Ganoksin Project 1996-2013 | Unsubscribe |

Ok - I didn't make the cut. I'm going to put that down the quality of my photographs, which on seeing the majority of the pieces featured, is the most likely reason (??)

The overall selection of work is well worth taking a look at. Although a good number of the objects are more 'standard', there are some very interesting shapes and certainly textures. The blending of techniques is often extremely interesting.
*I* certainly got some ideas from some of the work illustrated.

I will comment that the layout of the exhibit itself leaves a bit to be desired. The curator's statement is repeated in full on every one of the 122 separate pages. There are only six objects shown via thumb nail per page. It takes forever to scroll through the entire exhibit. The objects are listed alphabetically by the title. (Which does not really allow you to fast forward either - unless you knew ahead the title?)