XIV International Baltic Jewellery Show Amber Trip

Nevertheless there are very few works of contemporary art jewellery associated with nature morte. It may mean that such a subject is not an easy one for makers but it certainly is an interesting and inspiring one. Equally, amber, the recommended material (though not obligatory) fits well into the topic as it is itself often contains the fossilized remains of ancient life - and could be called a natural nature morte.

In 2013 Michael Petry - artist, curator, author, Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), London published a book entitled Nature Morte, Contemporary artists reinvigorate the Still Life tradition (Thames & Hudson). The introduction ‘Revisiting the Still Life’ contains a short history of the genre and its multi layered symbolism followed by a chronological review of examples of the ‘classic’ - from ancient Egypt and Leonardo da Vinci to Robert Mapplethorpe and Andy Warhol. He followed this with a review of contemporary examples in a wide variety of media. He widens the generally accepted meaning of still life often seen only as ‘flat’ - painting, drawing and photography to contains the 3D representations - sculpture, installation and objects. The review is divided into the historic areas of still life: Flora, Food, House & Home, Fauna and finally Death.

Normally a catalogue is printed to coincide with an exhibition. It was opposite this time. Shortly after the book was published Petry organised an exhibition of the same name based on the book.

The exhibition consists of historic still-life paintings and contemporary art works of leading artists of the 21st century. The exhibition has already been shown in Norway at Ha Gamle Prestegard, and since the beginning of May it is installed at the Bohusian Museum in Sweden. In the very beginning of 2017 a show at the National Museum in Wroclaw is planned, and from September 2017 to January 2018 the final stop of the tour will be held at London’s Guildhall Art Gallery in the City of London.

From the point of view of our competition it is especially interesting that in each venue some historic works borrowed from local museums as well as works of contemporary regional artists, who are working with the theme will be included. It was decided that in the Wroclaw edition some jewellery works from the local Academy of Fine Arts will be included, while the final edition at London’s Guildhall will be accompanied by a Nature Morte jewellery exhibition at MOCA London. This exhibition will consist of pieces from the Wroclaw jewellery appendix and the Amber Trip 2017 competition, chosen by the curators.

This competition offers the participants as well as the standard prizes, a chance of including their work in a very special exhibition showing art jewellery in context of the contemporary art as a whole.

Displayed during Amber & Jewellery Fair in Vilnius (Lithuania), 8-11 of March 2017.

Awards and Prizes:
Authors of three best art pieces will be awarded:
- Free space at Amber Trip 2018 show.
- Two pages of advertisement in Baltic Jewellery News September issue.

Art pieces selected by jury will be:
- Published in Baltic Jewellery News September Issue.

Displayed at:
- Michael Petry show Nature Morte in London.
- Legnica jewellery festival “Silver“ in Poland.
- Various European galleries, until 2018 December.

Jury:
- Michael Petry
- Giedymin Jablonski
- Kristi Paap
- Irina Slesarova
- Zane Zukovska
- Laima Keriene