The Sea, O How I Love Thee

Hello everyone! I know it’s been more than a minute, I hope you are all well and have been able to stay safe throughout the craziest year to date.

It’s been a strange experience here in the studio to say the least. From searching high and low for hand sanitiser as the news of the virus unfolded; the BCTF postponing until next year; the brief, slightly insane move of essential studio equipment home for the first lockdown; the move back to the studio and arming myself with everything virus killer, from stylish PPE and military grade disinfectants, to keep clients and myself safe; to now hopefully finding my feet as we all figure out how to live safely.

I have been working away in the studio on some gorgeous pieces that I will share soon but first let me show you my latest art piece that I have been working on when inspiration struck during lockdown. I wrote a poem too!

This brooch is for the Pinned exhibition by the Association of Contemporary Jewellers and Silversmiths Northern Ireland (ACJ&SNI) hosted by Craft NI Gallery right here in Belfast. It’s on from Monday 2nd November 2020 until Saturday 2nd January 2021. There are a few online events happening for the exhibition so that everyone can experience it from the comfort of their homes. Craft NI have more information on their website.

Inspired by ocean conservationists, I am raising my voice through my work. A brooch and companion poem to ignite the conversation about how we treat our oceans and the need for change. Seaweed made from precious metal wraps around the lid from a Topps sweet, found discarded amongst the shingle with no thought of consequence. Set behind a perfect shell with a hidden sapphire which represents the value of our oceans that we do not see and the damage that we are doing to it. Without our oceans we will not exist. During lockdown we saw some recovering in nature, let’s do all that we can to improve our impact and protect it.

The Sea O How I Love Thee

Breathtaking beauty

A world unknown 

In your deepest depths we thought we couldn’t reach 

Our daily debris litters your darkest floor

Amongst your waves of many sizes, in the bellies of those who reside

Humanity’s plight upon your beauty

We stood still for a minute, a moment forced

A tide of change is upon us, the sea o how I love thee