Stories of the Stone
New work by master enamellist and goldsmith, Debbie Sheezel

It is hard to communicate the complexity and beauty artist Debbie Sheezel is able to construct in her many layered glass enamel and metal forms.

Part of a small group of internationally renowned master enamellists, Sheezel's work is well known among collectors on the east coast and internationally. This exhibition Stories of the Stone is the artist’s most accomplished and refined.

"The process of making this new collection is entirely intuitive. The excitement of creating began when I came across some fascinating natural stones while overseas. They inspired and sustained my interest for the 18 months that it took to make this series. They are 'one of a kind' miniature paintings and wearable art.

The Stories of the Stone tracks my discovery of the delicate tracery hidden beneath, what to others may seem unremarkable rock. Each piece of stone I selected as inspiration was embedded with evocative imagery of such complexity and beauty, sometimes displaying an intricate map or surprisingly geometric striations – at other times the visual softness of their internal structures – evocative of a different mood.

The task I set myself was to realize the mystery of each piece of stone by translating what I saw into a painterly interpretation using fired enamel (vitreous glass) colours with 24ct gold and pure silver.

Debbie Sheezel - STORIES OF THE STONE

Setting aside the complexity and rigorous nature of the technique, it affords me a uniquely fine palette of vitreous enamel colours that can be very finely worked to interpret the many beautiful and intricate structures in nature."
Debbie Sheezel, 2007

THE GALLERY
Completed in November 2004, the Katherine Kalaf Gallery is the first venue in Western Australia exclusively devoted to the promotion and presentation of contemporary jewellery and objects. The gallery is part of a new combined residential and retail development designed by the Hillam group of architects comprising 10 apartments, 2 penthouses and three retail spaces in a mainstream shopping precinct, 800 metres from Cottesloe Beach.

Chosen for its strategic location in Perth’s art, fashion, design and recreation precinct, the development is adjacent to designer shopping to the north and south by Napoleon and Jarrad Streets and is bound by the main conduits between Perth and Fremantle of Stirling Highway and the railway line to the east and west. The location offers extensive passing exposure to users of the rail network and street exposure to local, outer suburban and international visitors drawn to the well known recreational and shopping assets of the area.

The gallery space provides 14 metres of direct street window frontage with an additional 5 x 4 x 1 metres of display window purpose built for video or photographic presentations adjacent to the gallery space.

KATHERINE KALAF
Katherine Kalaf (formerly Noakes) first presented hers and others jewellery work in the 1980s-90s at Studio Noko at Crown Street Surry Hills then expanded into bigger premises at 2 Bay Street, Double Bay as 'The Australian Jewellery Designers Gallery'.

Since returning to Perth she has worked in the arts as a curator, jewellery maker, consultant and writer including retail advisor to the Art Gallery of Western Australia and since 1998 as the Education Publications and Public Programs co-ordinator for ART ON THE MOVE, The National Exhibitions Touring Structure for Western Australia, Inc. The development of the Katherine Kalaf Gallery is the culmination of a goal to build on the experience gained during those and intervening years.

The gallery mission will be to present innovative work of high quality which is not currently being presented in local galleries or mainstream retail.

THE ARTISTS
The Katherine Kalaf Gallery currently represents 45 contemporary Australian jewellery designers. These artists represent a group of the most innovative makers of contemporary jewellery. Many can be considered among the core group who are the founders of the Australian contemporary jewellery movement.
In common, they continue to explore the jewellery object as significant, unique and personal. A significant link among them is their interest in exploring alternative materials and ideas.

"The work I'm interested in is made by jewellers throughout Australia who position their work outside of the mainstream jewellery industry. I see their work as skilful, innovative, full of ideas, yet before this gallery was conceived no suitable dedicated venue existed to present or develop an audience for it."

These artists represent a group of the most innovative makers of contemporary jewellery. Many can be considered among the core group who are the founders of the Australian contemporary jewellery movement. In common, they continue to explore the jewellery object as significant, unique and personal. A significant link among them is their interest in exploring alternative materials and ideas. They are the experimenters.

"They are the research and development arm of the industry. Ideas, techniques and images from these makers filter through and influences the mainstream. But this is the cauldron. This is where the ideas start."

TIME
Western Australia has not had a space devoted exclusively to contemporary jewellery and objects. Local jewellers have had to limit themselves to opportunities for exhibition and sales through craft galleries or promote their work through the travelling exhibition or gallery networks of the Eastern States. Similarly there have been limited opportunities for jewellery makers from other states to exhibit in Western Australia or for local audiences to experience the diversity of interesting contemporary jewellery makers from other states.
There is an increased awareness of contemporary design among the WA general public fostered by an appreciation of the scope of the arts and culture and the role they play in our lives. Supported by magazine and mainstream media, design is now central to people’s consumption of clothing, home interiors and a factor in the objects they buy and use. A portion of this audience are also interested and ready to support specialised venues which provide even finer and more discreet definitions of art, fashion and design.