Completion of 'Calamity'

Hello, my name is Nigel Ireland, I'm a sculptor and jeweller and the newest associate member of the Solihull Artists Forum. By way of introduction I'd like to show my latest sculpture 'Calamity' and how it was produced.
It is a sculpture and a fountain which I have been planning for some time. Getting my hands on the constituent parts proved a little harder than I expected but feel my patience has paid off. To plan the construction I built a scale model of the pond and fountain so I could accurately plan the structure (Picture 1).


Picture 1, Scale Model
Picture 2, Drilling Cups (Bottom)

Picture 2, shown above, shows probably the most stressful part of the build, drilling the cups. Slow and steady really does win the race. With the cups drilled, I glued in the flanged pipes ready for assembly onto the tray.


Picture 3, Recreating The Model
Picture 4, Pipe Work (Bottom)

With a lot of balancing and adjusting I recreated my model and brazed the pipes into place (Picture 3). If you're a plumber please don't look too closely at picture 4 which shows the pipe work connecting the teapot and cups to the manifold. Once connected to the manifold (Yes it is a Tupperware container !), I applied sanitary silicone around the lid and shut it tightly. Having to wait for the sealant to dry was frustrating but I had saucers to fit to my tray to occupy my time. The saucers were fitted by brazing copper plates to bicycle spokes and gluing these to the underside of each saucer. By fixing spoke nipples to the tray I could then screw each spoke in position. When the sealant had dried and it was in place I attached the feed hose and crossed my fingers. With very little time tinkering with the water pressure I was really happy with the result. I'm pleasantly surprised with how striking the white ceramic is against the green in the garden and I'm quietly hoping the shallow pools in the cups will attract birds, the not fish-eating variety of course!


Picture 5, 'Calamity'

Enamelling Day at Rachel's Workshop

Last Friday I attended Rachel's Gogerly's very interesting and enjoyable enamelling day at Winyates Craft Centre. Myself and four other folk - all of different skills and experience (mine being none) were introduced to the background, process and techniques of enamelling onto Silver. We had a go at grinding the material and applying and firing the enamel onto prepared silver pieces and we all produced two finished items by the end of the day!

The setting in an old courtyard was very pleasant and we all spilled out onto the grass for our lunch and some chat. Rachel was great - providing all the necessary equipment and materials, and it was great to be in her workshop seeing where she makes her wonderful pieces and she was generous in providing plentiful breaks with a supply of hot drinks and biscuits and cakes, which gave opportunities to hear from Rachel and the other folk attending about work they have done or are intending to do and see examples. There is also scope to work on individual projects for those already familiar. A great day which I would recommend for jewellery makers and interested parties alike, wishing to discover a new skill or have a day learning something new and seeing how someone such as Rachel, who has achieved so much, goes about her work. Julie Robertson

Recognition for Rachel from Goldsmiths

Rachel Gogerly, a Designer Maker working in precious metals and enamel and founder SAF Member, received two prizes for her distinctive Silver and Enamel work at this year’s Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design Council National Awards earlier this month. She received Silver Awards in two categories; the Small workers Design-led section and the Enamellers Senior section, both being the top prize in their category.

The Awards Ceremony was held at Goldsmiths’ Hall in London, with certificates and prize money presented by Hector Miller, the Prime Warden of the Goldsmiths’ Company. Rachel’s work was then on display along with the other prize-winners at the Goldsmiths’ Hall for the press and public to view.

Award winning Rachel said ‘I am absolutely thrilled to have won these awards! It is always great to get recognition for all the time and effort you put into making a special piece’.


Pill Box, Silver and Enamel, 60mm diam. Silver Award, Enamellers Senior 2010

The Goldsmiths’ Council Awards come after Rachel’s success at the craft & design magazine Selected Awards last year, where she won the Silver Award in the Jewellery category following a public on-line vote, where members of the public voted for their favourite makers through an on-line gallery, which features a selection of the best craft makers based in the UK. To see Rachel’s page, visit www.craftmaker.co.uk/rachelgogerly

Rachel, who is a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths’ and a Designer Maker of over twenty years, will also be showing her work at RHS Wisley Craft Marquee between 15-18th April. Full details of this and other shows where Rachel sells her work are available on her website, http://www.rachelgogerly.co.uk/ RG