Welcome to HandShake 8, 2023-24
HS8 is a two-year programme designed to encourage experimentation, feedback, development, and exhibiting for emerging artists. The HS8 development program aims to challenge and support each artist in their creative development, helping them to grow their capability, excitement, and endeavour through a range of masterclasses, professional support, and feedback.
The programme is comprised of eleven artists selected by Estela Saez Vilanova from Barcelona, who began with a series of masterclasses that delved deep into the content and depth of the artist’s work practice.
Estela Saez Vilanova’s masterclass is a source of inspiration and support for each HS8 artist, providing them with various design options and ideas opportunities. Her passion, succession of briefs, and direct feedback stimulate the development process in terms of ideas, material exploration, and art-making.
A special face-to-face masterclass gathering was held during the Nelson Jewellery Week in mid-April 2023, featuring the successful Push-Pull workshop of Renee Bevan (12-16 April 2023).
In the second half of 2023, the HS8 artists refined and developed their ideas from explorations and discoveries from the two masterclasses and a series of feedback sessions by three international mentor coaches who helped them refine their ‘process‘ explorations.
Another masterclass with writing expert May-Jane Duffy focuses on blog writing, content writing, and artist statements.
From 4 – 20 December 2023, HS8 artists exhibited their 2023 ‘process’ work (including some finished artwork) at DEPOT Art Space, Auckland. See their exhibition.
In the second year (2024), the HS8 mentees are matched with their mentors. The mentees develop their ideas and materials in a body of work with the assistance of their mentor.
Andrea Daly and Neke Moa’s online masterclass on ‘theory and history’ integrates art and design theory with the depth of the HS8 artist’s work through experimentation and exploration. Neke Moa introduces how connections to the art practices of tangata whenua are explored within her own artworks and those of others.
In 2024, the final masterclass will focus on innovative presentation methods. This includes using images and videos to explore different ways of presenting artworks for the HS exhibition online programme and social media platforms. The masterclass will also concentrate on producing a collaborative video expressing the unique group dynamics of HS8 alongside their artworks at their Pah Homestead exhibition.
HS8’s second and end-of-project exhibition MATERIALISE: 8 Nov 2024 – 16 Feb 2025 will take place at Pah Homestead, Auckland, opening on Thursday, 7 November 2024, from 6-8 pm.
HS8 blog posts:
My dream Jewellery
Story of BK What do you do for a job? I work as a technical teacher at a secondary school. May I ask how old you are? I am 49 years old. If you could have any neckpiece of your choice in the world, what would that piece look like? I don't know. Maybe a noose (laugh)....
My dream jewellery project
Story of YJ What do you do for a job? I work as a night nurse in aged care. May I ask how old you are? I am 35 years old. If you could have any neckpiece of your choice in the world, how would that piece look like? I haven't thought about that kind of stuff. I'm not...
My Dream Jewellery Project
My Dream Jewellery Project (by Ordinary, Mundane, and Maybe Boring People) For some time now, perhaps since the pandemic began, I've had a hard time describing what I do—or who I am—more than before 2019. When you're a minority in this country, people often ask you...
Intermission – a trip to Japan
Back in July I was lucky enough to have short trip to Japan. It was my first time visiting that part of the world, and it was incredible introduction to the place. I have been pondering how to write a blog post, to try and capture the wonder of the trip. I had such...
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...
Getting soft
What happens when I swap out my diamond burrs for a needle and thread?
Welcome to HandShake 8, 2023-24
HS8 is a two-year programme designed to encourage experimentation, feedback, development, and exhibiting for emerging artists. The HS8 development program aims to challenge and support each artist in their creative development, helping them to grow their capability, excitement, and endeavour through a range of masterclasses, professional support, and feedback.
The programme is comprised of eleven artists selected by Estela Saez Vilanova from Barcelona, who began with a series of masterclasses that delved deep into the content and depth of the artist’s work practice.
Estela Saez Vilanova’s masterclass is a source of inspiration and support for each HS8 artist, providing them with various design options and ideas opportunities. Her passion, succession of briefs, and direct feedback stimulate the development process in terms of ideas, material exploration, and art-making.
A special face-to-face masterclass gathering was held during the Nelson Jewellery Week in mid-April 2023, featuring the successful Push-Pull workshop of Renee Bevan (12-16 April 2023).
In the second half of 2023, the HS8 artists refined and developed their ideas from explorations and discoveries from the two masterclasses and a series of feedback sessions by three international mentor coaches who helped them refine their ‘process‘ explorations.
Another masterclass with writing expert May-Jane Duffy focuses on blog writing, content writing, and artist statements.
From 4 – 20 December 2023, HS8 artists exhibit their 2023 ‘process’ work (including some finished artwork) at DEPOT Art Space, Auckland.
In the second year (2024), the HS8 mentees are matched with their mentors. The mentees develop their ideas and materials in a body of work with the assistance of their mentor.
Andrea Daly and Neke Moa’s online masterclass on ‘theory and history’ integrates art and design theory with the depth of the HS8 artist’s work through experimentation and exploration. Neke Moa introduces how connections to the art practices of tangata whenua are explored within her own artworks and those of others.
In 2024, the final masterclass will focus on innovative presentation methods. This includes the use of images and videos to explore different ways of presenting artworks for the HS exhibition online programme and social media platforms. The masterclass will also concentrate on producing a collaborative video expressing the unique group dynamics of HS8 alongside their artworks at their Pah Homestead exhibition.
HS8’s second and end-of-project exhibition MATERIALISE: 8 Nov 2024 – 16 Feb 2025 will take place at Pah Homestead, Auckland, opening on Thursday, 7 November 2024, from 6-8 pm.
PROOF of concept, HS8 exhibition
4 November – 21 December, opening Saturday 4 Nov, 2 pm ‘Proof of Concept’ is an exhibition at DEPOT Artspace , Devenport, Auckland that marks the halfway point in the journey of HANDSHAKE 8; a two-year professional development programme for 11 contemporary jewellers....
Walking, walking, walking
I have been in Aotearoa for over 12 months now. My main mode of getting to know this incredible place is by walking. Walking the streets, the beaches and the volcanic cores that sprinkle throughout the country. Walking helps me create a map of where I am. By exploring...
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...
Ever Present: First Peoples Art of Australia [reflection]
sunlight drips into my third eye... Ancestors at the door. Eyes as voids, portals to other worlds. My body begins to hum, tingle, energy rushes to my feet as I enter their world. With their eyes they communicate, invite, invoke, warn, acknowledge. In endlessly dry,...
Ever Present
Not long ago I visited Auckland Art Gallery Toi O Tamaki to see the exhibition Ever Present: First Peoples Art of Australia. It was a wonderful reminder of home. The exhibition presented a cross section of the vibrant and diverse collection of artworks from indigenous...