Contemporary Metal

In October of last year I got a heads up email from Perth jeweller Claire Townsend about a new venture that she and local luminary Philip Noakes had started in Perth, aptly called Contemporary Metal. I’ve waited patiently for more news, and in the interim chatted with another amazing Perth maker, Christel van der Laan, who told me more good things about the space and their mission.

Finally this week Claire posted on Kit and Caboodle, and on seeing that their website was still MIA, I decided to take the bull by the horns and email her directly, to see what the deal was. Happily she was very forthcoming with news and photos, so I can present a few images of the studio and tell you their raison d’être.

First up, from their Kit and Caboodle spiel:

“We are Claire Townsend and Philip Noakes, contemporary jewellers teaching and creating a vibrant, supportive scene for contemporary jewellery in Perth. We offer classes, casual bench and workshop hire, design consultation, custom makes and remodels, a gallery, and a studio [where] jewellers can come to learn, discuss and develop their work”

this from Claire’s initial email:

“We are planning on running classes for beginners and more advanced, specialist technique workshops, casual bench rental and workshop usage, design talks and lots of information about contemporary jewellery in general.”

and finally this from our email conversation:

“We … hopefully can create a place makers and students can come and develop their work, so we can “raise the bar” so to speak.”

The space itself looks great, and alongside the images Claire mentioned that:

“there is one big main room, with benches for 8 plus Philip and myself, then a hammering room, and glass wall with a couple of plinths which will eventually be a small exhibition space, and a office/library/coffee room.”

The workshop is Unit 4, 77-79 Howe St, Osborne Park, and you can expect a visiting/returning artist talk to happen there one evening around mid-March. Oh, I hate being coy… Just pop Tuesday the 19th in your diary, eh?