2018 Vaccaro Family Scholarship finalists announced

by carly_midgley | August 2, 2018 8:48 am

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A shortlist of 18 finalists has been released for this year’s Giovanni Vaccaro Family Scholarship[2]. Jewellery and metalsmithing students from across Canada have been named, and will have their pieces displayed at CJExpos Toronto[3] and Edmonton[4] later this month.

CJExpos[5] and Beverly Hills Jewellers[6], the competition’s sponsors, will grant a prize of $3000 to the student whose design best embodies this year’s theme, ‘Starry Night.’ The winning designer’s school and program will receive an additional award of $1000.

Read on for details on this year’s finalists, as well as their artist statements.

Jessica Atkinson, Vancouver Community College

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“Living in British Columbia, I’ve been fortunate to go on camping excursions in some truly wild places. Away from the city lights, the night sky holds the Earth in a wide embrace. That vast darkness, punctuated by countless flecks of silver light, reminds me I have a place within something so much larger than myself. It has been a pleasure to create a piece of jewellery inspired by this humbling force of nature.

“The pendant I have fabricated is made from sterling silver plate that has been textured and domed. The silver has been treated with a liver of sulphur patina to create a dark background effect, providing contrast to the raised ‘star’ texture. The stone is a faceted smoky quartz, set in a handmade bezel. All parts of the pendant are handcrafted.”

Atkinson has graduated from fine arts programs at Langara College[9] and Concordia University[10] in addition to Vancouver Community College[11]’s (VCC’s) jewellery art and design program.

 

Hubert Bao, George Brown College

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“‘The Night of Silence’ is the ring I designed for the Vaccaro Family Scholarship. From a different point of view, I designed the outside view of the silent, starry night sky. With oxidized sterling silver, I was able to create a dark blue texture to represent the night sky. The light-emitting diode (LED) light under the dome is my other approach. I wanted to use different materials to introduce the element of light into the jewellery. The light passing through the gypsy-set gemstones will give a twinkle effect, like stars from the night sky.

“Many people tend to look at our world in a fixed way. I believe it is good for us to look at this world differently to be inspired. The possibility in our world is unlimited; we should not limit ourselves to a cage. I would like to explore the possibilities in jewellery design and crafting and set myself free from the cage.”

Vanessa Carrington, Selkirk College

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“I chose to embody the theme by fabricating a piece based on the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium[16], located in Brisbane, Australia, and named after Sir Thomas Brisbane (a well-known Scottish astronomer who first mapped the southern skies in 1822). Visitors can step inside the massive structure and explore the local starry night, or peer beyond at the millions of stars that line the universe.

“I designed this hollow pendant to showcase the domed, hinged rooftop of the planetarium. The handle used to lift the rooftop is set with two night-blue sapphires, and—when lifted—reveals a rich patina and the Southern Cross constellation. Included with the piece is a handmade ball clasp that resembles an orbiting planet.”

A student at Selkirk College[17]’s Kootenay School of the Arts, Carrington is a former technical writer who works out of a studio based on Gambier Island, B.C.

Dominique Dube, Vancouver Community College

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“The night sky has always sparked my imagination. There is so much beauty to be found in the stars that shine through the darkness. For my piece, I decided to make a locket to spark people’s imaginations. The whole locket is dark, with the gold keum-boo shining through the mountains and stars from the inside. I wanted the piece to be something that hides a secret inside, just like the many secrets the night sky holds.”

Dube is a student of jewellery art and design in her hometown of Vancouver. Her piece is made with sterling silver, 24-karat gold, and liver of sulphur.

 

Alexandro Gage Francois, Vancouver Community College

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“Inspiration for my art comes from my Mexican background and culture. I like to make art that makes the viewer stop and pay attention to the combination of colour and textures that forms the basis for understanding the overall theme of the piece. The nature and properties of metals and gems, their textures, the techniques, and the results they produce are elements that, combined with a particular state of mind, become the inspiration for each piece I produce. The piece I am submitting for the Vaccaro Family Scholarship represents the Virgo constellation, which was my first thought when I learned about the ‘Starry Night’ theme. Virgo is my zodiac sign, and in some way represents a direct link between my soul and a universal starry night.”

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Francois first took casting lessons when he came to San Diego, Calif., from Mexico. He later moved to Vancouver to connect with other artists as well as metalworking professors.

Kelsey Hines, New Brunswick College of Craft and Design

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“There is no greater feeling than staring into a dark and starry sky. It can make one feel insignificant and also completely connected to the universe at the same time. I have always been fascinated by planets and galaxies, and often take inspiration from stars, satellites, and orbital patterns. Duality and contrast are major focuses in all of my work and my submission piece is no different. Through my use of light and darkness, I’ve created a piece that embodies the vast depths of the night sky with its pinpricks of glittering stars amid looming planets and moons.

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“I’ve handcrafted a hinged bracelet in sterling silver with copper accents. Four panels are connected by three sets of hinges and a pin clasp system. The surface of the panels has been textured with a diamond burr to add dimension. I’ve oxidized the entire piece to blacken the silver and create a deep spacey background. I’ve achieved a starry effect by drilling into the panels and leaving the holes bright and reflective. The textured silver and copper domes represent planetary bodies floating amidst the stars.”

Having just graduated from New Brunswick College of Craft and Design[24] (NBCCD) with a diploma in jewellery and metal arts, Hines will be returning to the school next year to enter its advanced studio practice program. She has won NBCCD’s Antithesis Award, as well as ‘Best Collection’ at the school’s annual jewellery and metal arts exhibition.

Jiaxin Lin, Nova Scotia College of Art & Design University

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“My artwork often takes a critical view of social and cultural issues. This one is referencing the relationship between urban life and nature. The display of this brooch is unique. It has three different views in the front and one on the back. When people wear it, viewers can see the starry night and forest scene from the front. The wearer can also see a beautiful mountain and rusty building view when he or she looks down.

“There’s one more view that can only be seen when the brooch is lying down. In this modern age, people live inside the iron forest—that’s why I make the forest look so bright. When they look up, the city light is so bright, they cannot see stars. All they see are tall buildings and lights. That’s not starry night; it’s ‘starry lights.’ However, people still keep beautiful dreams about starry nights, so only when they put down the ‘dream’ can they see the reality.

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“The whole thing is made of sterling silver. There are three pieces of metal in total. The main one is the biggest one. The back sheet (black starry night) and the mountain were made from the same sheet using the fold-forming technique. Liver of sulphur is used in the ‘buildings’ and ‘mountain,’ to get the rusty look of the city and distinctive appearance of the mountain. Blackener was used on the back sheet to give the night feeling. Then, holes were drilled on it to create the look of stars. Some of the holes run all the way through; some, just halfway through. When there’s a beam of light behind the brooch, people can feel the starry night better.”

Lin is in her third year at Nova Scotia College of Art & Design (NSCAD) University[27].

Marina Kim, George Brown College

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“To me, the theme ‘Starry Night’ is an idea of a magical night full of shooting stars to make wishes upon. Everyone, deep inside, believes in magic or in something inexplicable. I have put nine shooting stars on my cuff—nine magical wishes that will surround the wearer’s hand. These stars will transfer their energy, help in accomplishing goals, and make wishes come true. Number nine is the number of magic in numerology. Also, it is a symbol of completion, fulfillment, wisdom, and the universal love.

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“All parts of the cuff have been hand-sawn out of a sterling silver sheet. The texture on the stars has been roller-printed and the lines on the star tracks have been engraved. Two layers of sterling silver sheets have been sweat soldered. The piece has been oxidized and touched with steel wool to give a gentle satin finish to the stars. Nine clear synthetic spinels have been flush-set in the centre of each star.”

Born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Kim came to Canada nine years ago and is in her second year in the jewellery arts program at George Brown College[30] (GBC). She also holds a degree in art and design.

Samuel Lin, Nova Scotia College of Art & Design University

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“When I got the theme ‘Starry Night,’ what I first thought of was a nursery rhyme that evoked memories of my childhood: “Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky.” It reminds me of how my mother taught me to sing it. Now, I’m far away from home. When I feel lonely at night and look up at the starry sky, I miss my family. When I sometimes get lost and become confused, my mother always gives me help and support. In my heart, she is the star to show me the way and give me hope in the darkest times.

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“I used sterling silver darkened by liver of sulphur to make circles. In the middle of the pendant, the big pearl, which has a mild and warm light, represents my mother, and the small pearl represents me. Surrounding the pearl are blue, green, and purple stones and a golden brass ball. I want to use these to show the colour of the stars. All the stars stand for my whole family, and we are together. Everyone has their own starry sky where their own very important person exists, who has the power to light up the night.”

Lin a second-year student in NSCAD University’s jewellery design program. He finds himself drawn to jewellery “because it has the magic to cure my ADHD and makes me patient and confident.”

Kaitlin McCord, George Brown College

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“Who hasn’t gazed up into the limitless night sky—those billions of suns, swirled galaxies, worlds; that infinite and profound darkness punctuated by bursts of brilliant bodies—and felt that awesome sense of insignificance wash over you? The starry night that hangs over our world (and many, many other worlds at that) prompts the big questions and calls us to the pursuit of knowledge.

“This necklace is a love letter to science, the spirit of exploration, and the magnificence of the cosmos. Its oscillating portals could perhaps reveal new dimensions, distant pockets of the universe, or rips in the fabric of spacetime. Heavily inspired by a love of science both real and fictitious, each piece of this necklace is hand-carved in wax and cast into sterling silver. Space is textured and oxidized to provide that familiar black and velvety vessel that holds the shimmering array of planets, stars, galaxies, asteroid fields, gas clouds, and other celestial stuff adorning this piece. ‘A Rip in Spacetime’ is a necklace to remind the wearer of the bewildering immensity that exists outside ourselves, the spectacular unknown, and the human experience.”

Patricia Melendez, George Brown College

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“My piece was created to represent the concept of personal journey. ‘Follow Your Star’ is a piece that reflects one’s own life journey, its pathways, and all life’s intricacies. At the same time, this piece also calls for others to reflect upon their own journey. No matter where you are, you always have your guide, your own star to follow. I find myself attracted to organic shapes that simulate movement and simultaneously incorporate simple geometric patterns. Part of my process also involves creating contrast within my pieces using texture. This piece was fabricated with 925 silver, 10-karat yellow gold, and one beautiful, imperfect Herkimer diamond. The techniques I used were metal forming and wax casting.”

Melendez comes from a family of creative women—her mother is a textile designer, and her grandmother was a dancer. Born in El Salvador, she had planned to become an interior designer before entering the jewellery industry.

Kelsey Merkeley, Alberta College of Art and Design

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“Having grown up in a rural lakeside community nestled amongst the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, I hold special memories of starry nights. Some of my fondest memories are of long summer days that faded into clear summer nights, allowing the stars their chance to shine. My sisters and I would play under the hot sun, running along the sandy shores, burning the bottoms of our feet on the scalding sand, and relishing the long solstice of summer days as we plunged into the cool, refreshing water.

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“As the sun set, the nocturnal moon would rise, large in the sky as it climbed over the mountains, commanding stillness and silence, radiating and reflecting on the mirrored surface of the lake along with brilliant pockets of brightness in the darkest depths of the sky. These pockets sparkled like diamonds dancing across the sky and down onto the black lake. Inspired by the spectacle of light, the loon would sing her song, inviting others to join the serenade of proud regale and falsetto wail. This piece is meant to capture the memories of my childhood and transport others to memories of their own.”

A student of Alberta College of Art and Design[39] (ACAD), Merkeley draws on raw materials and natural inspirations in her work. For this piece, she used sterling silver, cubic zirconia (CZ), ruby, and pearl.

Rana Mireskandari, George Brown College

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“This piece was inspired by my first camping experience at Killarney Provincial Park[42]. Our campsite was in a secluded area near the water, and the night sky was breathtaking! The stars had never looked so close to the Earth before. I fabricated this pendant based on that unforgettable memory; it represents the outline of a tent in 14-karat yellow gold, overlooking a forest created by roller-printed leaves near a lake, and the night sky that illuminates the scene. The stars are represented by diamonds as well as bright burr marks on the oxidized sterling silver background, depicting the Milky Way.”

Having studied both music and photography in the past, Mireskandari is entering her third year in GBC’s jewellery arts program. She hopes to explore storytelling and mythology in her next collection.

Kim Paquet, Nova Scotia College of Art & Design University

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“When the moon illuminates my sky and the mountains around me, then the sun comes alive with the rhythm of your city. Above us, beneath us, thousands of kilometres into the sky, the connection between us is still there. When I look out the window to the sky, I see the moon and the starry nights. I can feel the tranquility. If I close my eyes, I can touch you. I can feel the sun on your skin and the anxiety in your heart. Close your eyes and be patient. The moon will shine for you again, one night at a time.”

Titled ‘Connection,’ Paquet’s piece incorporates sterling silver, copper, tourmaline, concrete, synthetic plants, and steel. She is a graduate of École de Joaillerie de Montréal[45] and a previous winner of the Janis Kerman Prize.

 

Ruby Rue, Vancouver Community College

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“I was inspired by the painting by Vincent Van Gogh entitled ‘Starry Night.’ I wanted to capture the texture and movement this piece portrays and bring it to life as a three-dimensional form. Our interpretation of stars throughout history has constantly changed and inspired. The beauty of the stars has remained the same. I incorporated this into the design. Different techniques were used to produce this in sterling silver, including hammering, piercing, cutting, and stone setting—and the ancient Korean art of keum-boo to add a bit of glam. The ‘sky’ is illuminated using cubic zirconia.”

Rue, a Native American woman originally from Alberta, is a second-year student in VCC’s jewellery art and design program. Prior to this, she studied film and general arts at Vancouver’s Emily Carr University[48].

Wenjing Yan, Nova Scotia College of Art & Design University

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“My works usually reflect fun and freedom, and are rich in memories. Memories inspire me to create my artworks. Also, the process of making those pieces creates more memorable times in my life. This brooch, ‘Starry Night,’ comes from one of my beautiful memories from my childhood, which is about me, my grandma, and my cousin. In my memory, we enjoyed the quiet summer breeze, the sound of nature, and a gorgeous view by sitting beside the lotus pond under the stars. At that night, the stars were so bright and the lotus pond was shining. Therefore, this brooch is not directly picturing a starry night; it is a scene with a lotus leaf, lotus flower, dragonfly, and three small fish under the starry night.

“I put this beautiful feeling and atmosphere in my work, and I hope my audience can also feel the happiness and peace from it. The main lotus leaf and three fish are made from copper; the other parts are silver. To make the shape of the lotus leaf, I used the fold-forming technique. I applied enamel for colours. The back of the lotus and three fish also use the enamel technique. The lotus flower and dragonfly are riveted from the central piece to the frame back. The jump rings connect the fish under the leaf. Also, those different sized jump rings on the chain represent the bubble from the three communicating cute fish, just like me, my grandma, and my cousin.”

Zhan Zhan, Nova Scotia College of Art & Design University

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“For ‘Starry Night,’ the first thing I think of is a beautiful night with a bunch of stars. As I diffuse my thoughts further, I think about the planet, the universe, and the nebula. It’s interesting that everything in my eyes looks quite different than it does in other people’s. I could see a fish playing in the star ocean, and a little monster hiding behind a cloud and peeking at me. Those are where my inspirations come from. The techniques I used in these pieces involve using different transparent enamels together. Different times and temperatures give different appearances.”

A fourth-year jewellery design student at NSCAD, Zhan was raised in China and strives to bring a cross-cultural perspective to her work.

Yiwei Zhang, George Brown College

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“The starry night touches me most with its colour blended by the dark and changing backdrop with its tiny, yet glittering lights. Therefore, I chose enamel to express my design. I mocked up a fantasy scene with a bright red fish swimming in the night sky, in which the clear stones lying around the main piece represent the flickering stars. As for the chain, I chose moonstone beads so their gentle gloss could foil the three pieces of enamel and the glaring faceted stone. As for the metal components, I chose to work with sterling silver.”

Zhang is a recent graduate of GBC’s jewellery arts program.

Source URL: https://www.jewellerybusiness.com/news/2018-vaccaro-family-scholarship-finalists-announced/

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