ABSOLUTE LEEDS
NOVEMBER 2006
THE GLITTERING PRIZES
An
ambitious exhibition bringing together new collections from 35 leading
jewellers and metalsmiths from the UK, Europe and beyond, '10 Years
On', is a celebration to mark the successful first decade of Kath
Libbert Jewellery at Salts Mill, Saltaire.
The exhibition is combined with a competition based on the theme
of 'The Mill in Miniature'; each designer has been invited to create
a special piece of work based on their response to Salts Mill, which
will form the centrepiece of their collection.
Ten years ago, Kath Libbert moved her fledgling jewellery business
from a table-top stall in Leeds' Corn Exchange to Salts Mill and
she has since firmly established KLJ as the region's only gallery
specialising solely in contemporary jewellery, silver and metalsmithing.
To celebrate this achievement - and her strong links with the Mill
- Kath has invited 30 designers whose work has been exhibited at
the Gallery, along with five promising new talents, to participate
in '10 Years On'. The competition pieces all take their inspiration
from the history of Salts Mill ¬whether it be the architecture,
the workers, the textiles produced there or Titus Salt himself.
This challenge has produced a fascinating range of responses, translated
by the designers through both traditional and innovative techniques
and using a diverse mix of materials.
The winner will be awarded a prize of £500 by an expert panel
of judges, including Professor Dorothy Hogg, head of Jewellery and
Silversmithing at Edinburgh College of Art; Muriel Wilson, of the
Association of Contemporary Jewellery; Simon Palmer, painter and
winner of the Royal Academy 2006 Windsor Newton Turner Award; and
Jennifer Hallam, from the Arts Council England. A further prize
will be awarded by a public vote with visitors to the Gallery being
invited to choose their favourite piece. The winner of the 'popular'
vote will receive a special commission from the Silver family, the
current owners of Salts Mill. All of the competition pieces are
for sale, creating an opportunity to own a unique piece of history
- and maybe an antique of the future!
Kath said: "Many of our designers have visited Salts and have
a great affection for it, so part of my thinking behind the competition
was to give them the opportunity not only to be involved in celebrating
our 10 years here, but also to reflect their impressions of the
mill. We have received some really imaginative entries and I can't
wait to see the final collection all together."
