ARI – Laura Deakin’s Studio

1. Laura Deakin ‘Conuropsis Carolinensis, 1918’ – Brooch 2010
Polyester Resin, Thread, Steel Pigment

Artist Run Initiatives (ARI’s) are organizations purely run for artists by artists, whether it’s a gallery space or a studio/workshop. The goal is to create an environment where your creativity is stimulated/inspired/appreciated, and has an outlet for exposure to the outside world. This could be through exhibitions, grants and workshops.

In other words ARI’s are exactly what graduating/or studying practitioners and artists need once they leave the comfort of their Education provided workbench. A surrogate creative family to help you continue growing.

In 2011 as part of an extension course I took for Jewellery and Object at Sydney College of the Arts, we travelled to Munich and Amsterdam two of the richest cultures for Contemporary Jewellery and Objects, to witness the event called ‘Schmuck’, a celebration of the current up and coming practitioners in our field of interest.

Whilst in Munich we also visited Laura Deakin’s studio. Laura being an Australian born Contemporary Jeweller, it was interesting to hear what it was like to move to a new country to pursue your art, and to establish a shared studio/workspace with other practicing artists.

Currently residing in this studio space alongside Laura Deakin, are Italian practitioner Florian Weishsberger, and German born jeweler Constanze Schreiber and Astrid Steinbeisser.

When researching the works of the above Jewellery and Object makers, it became evident how the right ARI shared studio space could provide you with the means to expand and articulate your practice in the broader Jewellery and Object world.

Reasons why I believe this artist created space is so important and works so well, is they provide a mutual space for practitioners to share the funds for equipment, especially heavy duty machines such as sandblasters, hydraulic press’s etc.

That would be otherwise hard to come by, particularly for those who have just graduated and are starting out on their own with limited funds. This also expands the amount of techniques an artists can utilize in their practices, as the equipment is readily available to do so.

We all know the frustrations of having limited equipment, and how it can affect your work ethic, motivation and how it can also restrict your works conceptually when you have limitations. An excuse some may say, but let’s be honest here, it is hard to ignore/ put aside an ‘epiphany’ concept for a work simply because you don’t have the means to produce it.

And finally we all know that you are your own worst critic so having people around you helps you escape the artist bubble you get yourself into, having extra opinions from people you know share the same passion as you can be invaluable!

Whilst talking to Laura about her life in Munich and in the shared studio, it was clear that for her this was exactly the environment she needed to be in, the right creative minds and complimenting aesthetics and access to a workshop space that allowed her concepts to take physical form. A Freedom of expression.

In other words, the shared studio/workshop space that forms many of the ARI’s in Australia and around the world are the foundations for the creative communities all of us practicing artists no matter what discipline, all wish to establish and be members of.

FOOTNOTE

Deakin, Laura. ‘Conuropsis Carolinensis, 1918’ – Brooch 2010. Polyester resin, thread, steel pigment. Laura Deakin: Contemporary Jewellery, http://www.lauradeakin.com

Examples of Works produced by the members of Laura Deakin’s shared Studio Space.

Bibliography

Artworks

  • Deakin, Laura. ‘Conuropsis Carolinensis, 1918’ – Brooch 2010. Polyester resin, thread, steel pigment. From ‘A Gap in Nature’ series. Reproduced from Laura Deakin: Contemporary Jewellery, http://www.lauradeakin.com  (accessed 4/4/2012)
  • Deakin Laura. ‘Coua Delalandei, 1834’ – Brooch 2010. Polyester resin, thread, steel pigment detail. From ‘A Gap in Nature’ series. Reproduced from Laura Deakin: Contemporary Jewellery, http://www.lauradeakin.com  (accessed 4/4/2012)
  • Schreiber, Constanze. ‘Katharina’  – Collier. Fur, lead and silver, 42x25x2cm. From the ‘Ornament and Crime’ series 2002/2005. Reproduced from Constanze Schreiber:  Works, http://www.contanzeschreiber.com (accessed 4/4/2012)
  • Weichsberger, Florian. ‘Brooch – Gift’ 2011. Brass, Fired linseed oil, silver, 60x60x40mm. Reproduced from Florian Weichsberger: Archive, http://florian-weichsberger.tumblr.com (accessed 4/4/2012)

Websites

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