Industrial design gives choker necklace edge in Contemporary Wearables '11 award exhibition

A choker necklace with a shiny, industrial edge has won top prize at Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery's showcase award exhibition, the 12th biennial Contemporary Wearables '11.

Brenton Langsford of New South Wales was named the 2011 award winner for his anodised aluminium necklace featuring nickel-plated brass, stainless steel cap screws and rare earth magnets. The necklace bridges artistic form and function.

Victorian Brendan Adair-Smith was judged runner-up with Bin Dixon-Ward, also of Victoria, named the inaugural Student award winner.

These three winning works and New South Wales artisan Mark Vaarwerk's 3 brooches were acquired for the Gallery's collection.

This year's exhibition attracted entries from 110 Australian artists. Fifty artists, including 14 students, had works selected for the Contemporary Wearables '11 exhibition at Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery until October 16.

Toowoomba Regional Council Cultural, Heritage and Facilities portfolio leader Cr Ros Scotney said the biennial award exhibition showed Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery's ongoing commitment to supporting and promoting the decorative art form.

Cr Scotney said all entries and the chosen exhibition pieces highlighted the creative skills of Australia's contemporary jewellery artists.

"I admire the vision of jewellery artists who can imagine and produce unique and extraordinary art works," Cr Scotney said.

"It is amazing to see how artists can turn the traditional notion of jewellery into decorative and stunning pieces to wear or display as interesting works in their own right.

"The Contemporary Wearables Jewellery Award recognises and promotes innovation in design and use of materials in the creation of jewellery."

Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery and the Toowoomba Gallery Society devised the award exhibition in 1989 to promote the profile of contemporary jewellery artisans.

They initiated the first Contemporary Wearables exhibition, Contemporary Wearables '89, which attracted entries from around Australia.

The inaugural winner was Phill Mason of Tasmania. The second Contemporary Wearables exhibition in 1991 saw invitations extended to New Zealand jewellers.

From its beginnings, the importance, size, presentation, reputation and prestige of this Award exhibition has increased dramatically.  It now is established as an important event on the calendar of leading jewellers.

The first jewellery acquisitions were made in 1993 using a grant from the Gordon Darling Foundation. Since then, Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery has been building a significant contemporary jewellery collection from Australian and New Zealand artists. Historical pieces also are collected to give context to the collection.

Award winner:

Brenton Langsford Heavy pondering

Necklace (choker) made from anodised aluminium, nickel-plated brass, stainless steel cap screws, steel cable and rare earth magnets, using a metal lathe and vertical mill.

Runner-up:

Brendan ADAIR-SMITH A wing and a prayer for Brother Eilmer

An object hand-fabricated and carved from oxidised sterling silver, copper, brass, aluminium and 18 ct yellow gold.

Student Award winner:

Bin DIXON-WARD Girder series

A brooch and ring drawn in Rhino (CAD) and 3D printed in SLS nylon exploring forms in the built environment. Sintered nylon, stainless steel and 925 silver. Hand-finished.

Other acquisitions:

Mark VAARWERK 3 brooches

Objects made from polystyrene food boxes, acrylic car brake light covers, cellulose acetate cigarette filters, coloured pencil, sterling silver and stainless steel. The polystyrene is coated with coloured pencil, liquefied cellulose acetate and acrylic then shrunk by reaction with an acetone vapour.

Katie Scott, Director of Gallery Funaki, Melbourne was this year's judge. The selection panel included Grace Cochrane (retired senior curator of Australian decorative arts and design, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney) and Brenda Ridgewell (Director of Jewellery and 3D Design,Curtin University, Western Australia).

 Curated by Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery and touring to other galleries during 2012.

From top to bottom: Brenton LANGSFORD - Heavy pondering, Brendan ADAIR-SMITH - A wimg and a prayer for Brother Eilmer, Bin DIXON-WARD - Girder series, Mark VAARWERK - 3 brooches