Delve Into An Open Studio This Weekend
The Jewellery Quarter is a veritable treasure trove of fantastic activities this weekend, none more so than Brilliantly Birmingham’s Open Studios, where some of Birmingham’s best designer makers will open up their workshops for one day only, offering a fascinating insight in to traditional jewellery making techniques. You can even commission a new piece of work direct; a perfect Christmas gift for someone who deserves something a bit special.
The studios are open for most of the day; download a Brilliantly Birmingham catalogue Here to find out participating designer makers and locations, or call 0121 464 1187.
Comments (0)Take A Ghoulish Walk in the Quarter
Our favourite local historian Chris Upton’s Walks in the Quarter continue apace this weekend, with a ghoulish tour of some of the Quarter’s spookiest streets.
Ghostly Jewels focuses on the quarter’s Victorian cemetaries; listen as Chris tells some ghostly tales, and gives you tips on how to avoid being buried alive!
One for lovers of the paranormal everywhere, and with a whole raft of other activities taking place across the Quarter this Saturday, this is your chance to really make the most of what’s on offer.
The walk begins at the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter on Vyse Street at 2pm. Places, as ever, are limited so book now to avoid disappointment by calling the Brilliantly Birmingham hotline on 0121 464 1187. Happy ghost hunting!
Comments (0)Walks in the Quarter
Local Historian Chris Upton returns this year to the Jewellery Quarter with a brand new set of walks to amaze and inform audiences. Walks begin in front of St Paul’s church in St Paul’s Square and are always over-subscribed, so book now to avoid disappointment! To book your place, call Prim Currie on 0121 464 1187.
This Saturday, Chris brings us….
Streets Paved with Gold
Saturday 8th December 2pm - 3.30pm
They handle more gold and silver in Newhall Street than anywhere else in Britain. You’ll see where it is done, and then follow Birmingham’s forgotten canal back to the city centre. And on the way you’ll take in what is surely Birmingham’s most unusual factory.
Comments (1)BIRMINGHAM’S TRADITIONAL CRAFTS ARE GIVEN A NEW LEASE OF LIFE IN A CONTEMPORARY JEWELLERY COLLABORATION
Heroes
An exhibition of new jewellery pairing contemporary designer makers with traditional Birmingham-based craftsmen such as gun engravers and pen makers
Heroes, a brand new exhibition launching in Birmingham on 7th December, has breathed new life into traditional craft techniques close to extinction, such as gun engraving and pen making, as the last generation of craftsmen join forces with contemporary jewellery designer makers.
Heroes is the culmination of a week-long workshop pairing traditional craftsmen, mostly over 60 years old, with contemporary studio jewellers from across the globe, including Europe and the USA, alongside young designer makers from the West Midlands.
The Heroes worked with the jewellery artists to create new work using skills and techniques made famous in Birmingham but which are now in danger of extinction, from gun engraving and pen making to comb making and chasing.
In many ways, the Heroes are the sole survivors of once widely held skills nurtured in industrial Birmingham, skills in real danger of being lost forever. The project was not only about learning specific techniques but about reinterpreting them in a very personal way.
The exhibition is a fascinating contrast between Birmingham’s bygone reputation as the city of 1,000 trades, and its current position as the UK’s jewellery capital, with the 250-year old Jewellery Quarter still unique in Europe.
It has also focused the attention of the world’s on Birmingham, with designer makers from as far a field as the Netherlands, USA, Hungary, Brazil and Israel working alongside six British designer makers, with project co-ordination by Dutch designer maker Ted Noten, an International Research Fellow at the renowned Birmingham City University School of Jewellery.
Photographs, film and jewellery made as part of the project will go on display during Brilliantly Birmingham 2007, the eighth annual season of contemporary jewellery celebrating the city’s rich heritage and growing reputation for cutting edge contemporary jewellery design.
Heroes is on from 7-13th December at The Custard Factory Gallery, Birmingham
Comments (0)Launch Photos Are In!
The photos are in, and as you can see, the spirit of Brilliantly Birmingham was firmly kept alive as the eighth celebration of contemporary jewellery kicked off at the School of Jewellery.
From the awesome performance by 2nd year students to the gathering of some of the best contemporary jewellery designer makers, it was an unforgettable night and the perfect start to what we’re sure is the best Brilliantly Birmingham yet.
Don’t forget to scroll down to download your Catalogue before it’s too late!
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