Author: Fran Carter

Fran Carter is a Wellington based maker and 2016 graduate of Whitireia NZ Contemporary Jewellery programme, where she gained her BA and Graduate Diploma in Applied Visual Arts. She was the recipient of a scholarship from the NZ Federation of Graduate Women, and was awarded the 2015 Whitireia-Toi Pōneke Artist residency where she completed her postgraduate studies and subsequent major solo show, MOOP (Matter Out Of Place).

Fran continues to exhibit her work around NZ and internationally, including the selection to Wunderrūma, an iconic touring exhibition curated by Karl Fritsch & Warwick Freeman in 2014. Her work is held in private collections, and she is represented by The Jewel & The Jeweller in New Plymouth, Vu Jewellers in Queenstown, and Mason & Collins in Wellington.

Beginning to See the Light: Final Exhibition for Handshake 8

Lately, I’ve found myself resonating with a line from Lou Reed’s Velvet Underground days: “Well, I’m beginning to see the light.” Though Reed’s words may have come from a different place entirely, the sense of slow-building euphoria in those lyrics feels fitting as I find my way back to the light at the end of… Continue reading Beginning to See the Light: Final Exhibition for Handshake 8

MIRROR / IMAGE

It’s a grey, mist-enshrouded Monday. ‘A weather event’ has ascended on the region overnight, heavy rainfall swelling rivers and causing havoc on the land and commuters. I’m tucked up in my nest among the hills, exorcising a chest infection, huffing inhalations of hot eucalyptus-infused steam, downing panadol, and other sinus solutions. Whilst I haven’t been… Continue reading MIRROR / IMAGE

Finding Fire

Finding Fire As it goes sometimes, I’ve been finding it challenging to connect to my creative pathway this year. It has been like trying to find the signposts at the start of the walking track, only to realize there are none, and what awaits me is a sickle and the realization that the only way… Continue reading Finding Fire

OBJECT & EGO: PART 2

The following is an unpublished journal excerpt from 2015 when I was studying for my Graduate Diploma through Whitireia NZ Reflecting on a walk-about It’s mid-summer, and I’m walking through the Mt. Vic greenbelt as the sun is going down and the moon rising, darkness creeps into the forest. Both a wondrous experience and also… Continue reading OBJECT & EGO: PART 2

OBJECT & EGO: Part 1

The following is an unpublished journal excerpt from 2015 when I was studying for my Graduate Diploma through Whitireia NZ  Object & Ego I find it an ill fit when telling someone my occupation my response “I’m studying contemporary jewellery” Then asked “Oh, what kind of jewellery do you like to make?”… I hesitate for… Continue reading OBJECT & EGO: Part 1

Observing the Struggle

We have now come out the other side of our Masterclass experience with Estela Saez. It was a fast-paced time of invigorated energy put into quick-fire unfolding exercises and sessions of feedback and discussion. It was a lively time and I did enjoy the respite from having to do too much thinking, and just focussing… Continue reading Observing the Struggle

Winter/reflect

We are now marching down the path into winter here in Aotearoa, New Zealand and we have now come to the end of our online Masterclass Zoom sessions with Estela Saez-Vilanova. As new handshake mentees, we began our time with Estela in late Summer in February. It was more late in timing as our Summer… Continue reading Winter/reflect

A Little Deeper

Suddenly we are at that point in the year where we wonder how we are now halfway through it! Feeling the centrifugal force of time consolidating at speed and everything happening all at once. Well, that has been my feeling anyway as I have been thrust from bouts of deep sickness, recovery, and back to… Continue reading A Little Deeper

April: Push/Pull

Reflecting on the month that was April, what an exceedingly full-to-the-brim kind of time. I don’t think I’ve quite processed or recovered from it yet!  With Nelson Jewellery Week scheduled in the second week of April, there was a lot to get done in the lead-up as I and others had works going into various… Continue reading April: Push/Pull