PREVIEW: Kiwi Schmuck

 30 July- 30 Aug

“The Internationale Handwerksmesse (IHM), planned from 10 to 14 March 2021, has to be cancelled due to the continued restrictions in place to contain the coronavirus pandemic. A tightening of measures and a lack of certainty in the planning are what has led to this decision.”

Unless loved ones are directly affected, we in Aotearoa have been rather unaffected in comparison to what has been a major turning point in our global living experience.  While we often think of health, financial, social and travel abilities, we forget about the small connections that make a big difference.

One of these is the annual migration from around the globe to see ‘Schmuck’ in Munich, Germany, every March. The first inception of Schmuck was 1959. For the last two consecutive years, this epic meeting point of global contemporary jewellery, collectors, dealers, admirers and stumble-acrossers has been cancelled.

Many contemporary jewellers from Aotearoa have had their first international experience showing at Schmuck, or Talente (an emerging artist version), leading to a sustainable practice, connections and friendships for many years after. There has always been great support from Creative New Zealand to allow our artists from Aotearoa to be present on the global stage.

Kristin D’Agostino, jeweller and curator of such projects as ‘Broach of the Month Club’, decided to celebrate the jewellers from Aotearoa who would have otherwise gone unacknowledged, despite their international recognition by being selected for Schmuck 2020 and 2021.  So, a show, CANCELLED 2020-2021 Kiwi schmuck; was shown first at Nelson Jewellery week. With the aim to honour and celebrate the great achievement of these five jewellers we proudly display these exciting works which are challenging boundaries and experimenting in our field.  They are arguably the best in our class this year.

NZ Schmuck selection in 2020 Becky Bliss, Nina van Duijnhoven
NZ Schmuck selection in 2021 Karl Fritsch, Shelly Norton, Raewyn Walsh

POST SCRIPT!!
In July 2021 it was announced that the Munich Jewellery week 2022 will feature the cancelled works from previous years.  So with this knowledge we have re-named the show: PREVIEW Kiwi schmuck.  Hurray

The Jewel and the Jeweller is proud to present the work of these exceptional jewellers before it heads overseas.