'Intrigue'. This has been pushing Stuart's work of late, the "how do you open this?", "what is it for?" type of question. Rings with hinges that once opened, but are rivetted shut, knots tied in the ends of spoon handles,
boxes that have to be 'figured out' before opening!
Coming from both a fine art, and decorative art based back ground, Stuart has always felt that objects should be a feast for the eye, and also engage the mind.
Contrast is used to create a visual palette, rough with smooth, texture with polished, black with white, the silver becomes a painterly and sculptural material, in which the surface retains all evidence of the creative
act.
Stuart’s artistic training has been rich and diverse, following the path of both fine art and the decorative arts
Whilst studying for a fine art foundation course, he was introduced to the world of silversmithing, jewellery making, and craftsmanship, by a local, leading British silversmith, Michael Bolton. An informal apprenticeship taught him techniques of the past, to combine with design ideas, for the future.
After graduating from Bretton Hall University College in 1997, with a first class honours degree in fine art (painting), Stuart moved to London, setting up a workshop, enabling him to slowly start making up his own collection, whilst working as a freelance maker for other jewellers. After 8 years he then moved down to West Sussex. Setting up his studio, from were he now works, creating items of jewellery and silverware, to adorn the body, heart and mind.
“Many pieces born from an idea quickly scrawled on a piece of paper, sometimes from an image held in my minds eye, then worked out cold at the workbench, where it takes on a life of it’s own.
Creating pieces in silver is very satisfying and rewarding, because it is such a forgiving material. It can be shaped, worked, and pushed as far as you are willing to take it!
The surface retains all evidence of the creative act, and becomes a document of it’s own history. When you see a piece years after you have made it, it becomes even better! Through wearing, a piece gets knocked, marked, and aged, adding to its beauty, its history.
Inspiration and ideas comes from many places, nature, man-made objects, architecture, wind worn surfaces, waiting for trains and looking up at the station ceilings; but mostly they come from the shear joy that is the creative act.”
2011
'Inhorgenta', Munich, Germany, 25th-28th February.
'Desire', Bank of England sports center, London, 4th-6th March.
The Sussex Guild, Ditchling , 9th-10th April.
Craft in Focus , RHS Wisley Gardens, 29th April- 2nd May.
'Rising Stars', British Silver Week , Pangolin Gallery, London,12th May.
'Metal Works' , Standen House, Sussex, 11th-29th May.
'British Silver Week' , Urban Armour, Norfolk. 6th-12th June.
The Sussex Guild, Parham House , Sussex, 11th-12th June.
The Sussex Guild, Michelham Priory , Sussex, 4th-7th August.
The Sussex Guild, Pashley Manor Gardens , Sussex 27th-29th August.
Goldsmiths' Fair , Goldsmiths' Hall, London, 4th-9th October.
The Sussex Guild, Hurtpierpoint College , Sussex, 5th-6th November.
'Desire', Guild Hall, Winchester, 18th-20th November
2010
Desire, Queen Charlotte Hall, Richmond, 5-7 March
Ditchling Handworkers Guild, 3-5 March
Craft in Focus, RHS Wisley, Surrey, 15-18 March
Brighton Open Houses, The Grange Gallery, Rottingdean, 1-23 May
Project Workshop Summer Exhibition, Quarley, Hamps, 7-9 May
British Silver Week Palterman & Thomas, Swansea, 5-19 June
British Silver Week Hamilton & Inches, Edinburgh, 5-19 June
The Sussex Guild, Parham House, 12-13 June
Metal Works, Standen House, Sussex, 16 June-4 July
The Sussex Guild, Michleham Priory, 5-8 August
The Sussex Guild, Pashley Manor, 28-30 August
Goldsmiths Fair, London, 5-10 October
The Sussex Guild, Hurst College, 6-7 November
South Hill Park, Craft Fair, Berkshire13-14 November
Desire Guild Hall, Winchester, 26-28 November
The Sussex Guild, Midhurst, 4-5 December
2009
Desire, Queen Charlotte Hall, Richmond, 6-8 March
Boxed, Rye Art Gallery, Sussex, 21 March- 20 April
Open Workshop Angmering, Sussex, 18-19 April
The Sussex Guild, Parham House, 30-31 May
Contemporary Art & Crafts Winchester, 3-12 July
The Sussex Guild, Michleham Priory, 6-9 August
The Sussex Guild, Pashley Manor, 29-31 August
Unit 7, Staplehurst, Kent, 25-27 September
The Sussex Guild, Hurst College, 7-8 November
Autumn Gift Fair, Petersfield, 14-15 November
The Sussex Guild, Ditchling, 21-22 November
Wild at Art, Ticehurst, Sussex, 27-29 November
The Sussex Guild, Midhurst, 5-6 December
iamstuartjenkins_hotmail.com
Tel: 07941772050
