12th November - 31st Jan 2004

Nine New British Graduates

Yorkshire Journal, Winter 2003 review of Fresh

YORKSHIRE JOURNAL
WINTER 2003

Fresh discoveries of jewellery at Saltaire
Fresh is an eye-catching exhibition featuring the work of nine new designers at Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery at Salts Mill in Saltaire. There is elegant jewellery in gold and silver; witty pieces to turn heads; and soft, cuddly accessories in felt and wool.
Having visited numerous graduate shows and design exhibitions', explains Kath Libbert, 'I was so impressed by the quality of work being produced by the cream of this year's graduates that I decided to put together Fresh. The work is refreshingly strident and confident, really bold and colourful and often humorous.'
At the cutting edge of fashion and design, Lynne Kirstin Murray's colourful jewellery mixes silver and gold with paint, felt and wood - but it's not for the faint-hearted.
Cute red felt slippers and delicately embroidered merino fleece handbags are the work of Suzanne McCulloch. Her pieces are bright and tactile, from funky tea-cosies to her large-scale 'Bagdress' and 'Umbrelladress' display pieces. 'Colour is the most important aspect of my work', she admits.
In Nina Osborne's work, traditional patterns such as paisley meet modern materials and techniques in bold and striking silver brooches. Sophie Reed displays cool, understated pieces - including necklaces, earrings and brooches - in silver and gold.
The Gallery is also home to Cathy Miles' gang of Yorkshire-inspired, cute (but not necessarily cuddly) birds and insects, created specially for Fresh. This eclectic group of small creatures, made from wire and found material, hang from walls on specially made plaques. Cathy describes her creations as being 'much like us; they have elders, speak various dialects and enjoy bickering'.

METRO
12 NOVEMBER 2004

Fun new British designs
There's a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed feel to Fresh, an exhibition of colourfully playful work by new British design graduates. Much of the bold, bright work selected by gallery owner Kath Libbert combines childlike drollness with a confident use of themes and materials. Befitting a show at a jewellery gallery, many of the exhibits are themed around personal ornaments. Sabrina Mallem strings brightly coloured plastic buttons on silver spirals to make necklaces that look like a chic take on a collar of cheap sweets. Another lively perspective comes from Lynne Kirstin Murray. Her forest-themed pieces include Tea Party In The Trees, a fancifully eccentric sculptural ring featuring gaily enamelled birds.
Libbert has made some idiosyncratic extensions to her usual remit of showing jewellery. Cathy Miles' wall-pieces allow birds and insects to have their say, including a piece where one bird remarks to another, peering at an old man, 'oi, ned - peck him, go on, peck his pink bottom'. Suzanne McCulloch's merino fleece and recycled textiles range from red felted slippers, which look like pretty pasties, to Bagdresses and Umbrelladresses, large pieces of tactile art.
Tina Jackson

Telegraph & Argus, 19th November 2003 review of Fresh

TELEGRAPH & ARGUS
19 NOVEMBER 2003

Dressed for the weather
A dress made from an umbrella, recycled woollen blankets and embroidered felt is one of the highlights of an exhibition of the hottest graduate talent, on display at Salt's Mill, Saltaire. The umbrella dress, pictured above with Fran Dodgson, of the mill's Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery, is by Suzanne McCulloch and is on show with other pieces designed by eight graduates. The exhibition is open from 10am until 6pm every day.

YORKSHIRE LIFE
DECEMBER 2003

Art & Exhibiton LIFE
by Justine Brooks
With Christmas fast approaching a good place to start looking for unusual and unique presents is in Yorkshire's vast selection of art galleries.
Inspirational Gifts
IT can't be denied that Kath Libbert has an eye for the bizarre, but she also has an eye for talent. For her latest show she's toured graduate shows around the country, and picked up nine British graduates who will be showing their work in her gallery this month and next. With jewellery in gold, silver and less conventional materiaIs, handcrafted accessories in felt and wool and charming little creations, this seasonal exhibition should offer inspiration for Christmas shoppers. Until 31st January, Salts Mill, Victoria Road, Saltaire, Shipley. Tel: 01274 599790

Fresh

Material Girl

Great Yorkshire Talent