Melissa Gillespie 

Biography | Artwork

 

ARTIST'S STATEMENT   My name is Melissa Gillespie and I am an Adelaide based Contemporary Jeweller who has always been passionate about art.  Between the age of five and ten I attended Ruth Tuck Art School ( Burnside, South Australia) where I first began to develop the basic skills in painting and drawing.  Growing up, my Grandpa used to nurture my creative interest by teaching me how to draw, especially still life’s using coloured pencils and crayons.  My Grandpa also taught me a lot about sketching using contrast and tone and even showed me how to do Calligraphy.  I loved painting, drawing and sculpture so much that toward the end of High School I knew I wanted to pursue the only thing that made me happy, and that was art.   In 2004 I completed my Bachelor of Visual Arts (Jewellery and Metal) at the South Australian School of Art, University of South Australia, where I studied Jewellery and Metal as my Major subject and Sculpture as my Minor subject.  I often found it interesting that my ideas in each media would overlap, as my large sculptural objects would turn into wearable jewellery and my more intricate creations would evolve into objects three times the size of a person.  The precious time spent at my jewellery bench researching and exploring different materials and techniques both on a smaller (and larger scale) with no restrictions or limitations on creativity whatsoever, made my Undergraduate Degree one of the most invaluable and rewarding experiences of my life.

During 2005 – 2006 I designed and manufactured my own range of jewellery and objects as an Access Tenant at Adelaide’s most prestigious design studio Gray Street Workshop working beside mentors Julie Blyfield, Leslie Matthews and Catherine Truman.  Having the opportunity to work closely (and share many cups of tea) with these well established artists in such a vibrant and supportive studio space (a home away from home), ultimately pushed me in more ways than one and changed my mind-set to ‘think outside the box’.  The experience made me stronger and more inspired to further explore what I am most interested in, the more fragile elements of our natural environment.   In particular, I have an obsession with the idea of wrapping and binding objects.  For years I have used textural materials in my artwork including cotton thread, string and wool to wrap organic objects and other interesting forms that have an unusual shape or texture. I like to wrap them carefully and tightly so they almost look like a cocoon. Through the intricate and repetitive process of wrapping and binding these materials, I like to ultimately convey a nurturing quality in my art work that enhances the beauty of their rough, rigid form.  I also enjoy exploring ideas and processes involving the delicate manipulation of sterling silver wire into gentle, circular flowing forms that resemble the continuity in nature.  The contemporary jewellery and objects that I love to create not only convey an element of fragility but, also a subtle appreciation for the continuity and permanence found in nature and in life.

 

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EDUCATION

 

2002-2004 Bachelor of Visual Arts (Jewellery and Metal) Undergraduate Degree
University of South Australia, South Australian School of Art, Underdale

 

 

 

2008 Intricate Red Adelaide Arcade, Adelaide, SA (2008 SALA Festival)
2006 Artist of the Month (June Showcase) Soda and Rhyme, North Adelaide, SA
2006 Simply Natural Urban Cow Studio, Adelaide, SA
2005 Fifth Floor Grote Street Public Library, Adelaide SA (initiative of Adelaide City Council and Carclew Youth Art Centre)

 

 

2009 It’s Simple… they match Zu Design jewellery + objects, Adelaide, SA (2009 SALA Festival)
2009 Brooch – The subject … III Contemporary Art Society of Victoria, Fitzroy Library, Melbourne, VIC
2008 CONCURRENT Gallery 139, Stepney, SA
2008 National Contemporary Jewellery Award Griffith Regional Art Gallery, Griffith, NSW
2008 Hooked, on the ear Zu Design jewellery + objects, Adelaide, SA (2008 SALA Festival)      
2008 The Collectors Exhibition Contemporary Art Society of Victoria, Melbourne, VIC
2008 Linden Postcard Show 2008 Linden – Centre for Contemporary Arts, St Kilda, VIC
2007 My Happiness Exhibition Onya Soapbox, Adelaide, SA
2007 On the Cuff Zu Design jewellery + objects, Adelaide, SA (2007 SALA Festival)
2007 The Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize SA Museum, Adelaide, SA
2007 The Madhatter’s Tea Party Exhibition Pepper Street Art Centre, Magill, SA    
2007 30th Alice Craft Acquisition Alice Springs, NT
2007 The Rotary Club of Clare Art Exhibition Clare, SA
2006 Definitioncy The JamFactory Contemporary Craft and Design, Adelaide, SA
2006 Wrapped Zu Design jewellery + objects, Adelaide, SA
2006 Little Treasures Christmas Show, Pepper Street Art Centre, Magill, SA
2006 National Contemporary Jewellery Award Griffith Regional Art Gallery, Griffith, NSW
2006 Catch on Zu Design jewellery + objects, Adelaide, SA (2006 SALA Festival)
2006 My Happiness Exhibition Tin Cat Cafẽ presented by Onya Soapbox, Adelaide, SA
2006 SIGNATURE + FORECAST Bay Discovery Centre, Glenelg, SA
2006 Belair Hills Art Show 2006 St John’s Grammar School (Function Centre), Belair, SA
2005 I see RED! Red Poles, McLaren Vale, SA
2005 Little Treasures Christmas Show, Pepper Street Art Centre, Magill, SA
2005 Zuest Zu Design jewellery + objects, Adelaide, SA
2005 Elements: Fire, Earth, Air, Water Pepper Street Art Centre, Magill, SA
2005 Full Circle Zu Design jewellery + objects, Adelaide, SA (2005 SALA Festival)
2005 New Design 2005 Object: Australian Centre for Craft and Design, Sydney, NSW

 

 

 

2008 JamFactory Contemporary Craft and Design Award High Commendation (2008 SALA Festival)

 

 

2009 The JamFactory Contemporary Craft and Design (in conjunction with the Adelaide Festival Theatre)
Consignment Artist, Adelaide, SA
2009 eye2eye Fine Art  Consignment Artist, Rundle Street, Adelaide, SA
2008 Artist Business Workshop Adelaide Town Hall, Adelaide, SA
2008 SALA on Sale Rundle Street Markets, Adelaide, SA      
2008 Putting My Art Out There Forum, Fullarton, SA
2005-2007 The JamFactory Contemporary Craft and Design Volunteer, Adelaide, SA
2005-2006 Gray Street Workshop Access Tenant, Adelaide, SA
2005 Basic Silver Jewellery Making Course, Adelaide Central School of Art, Norwood, SA