Algures Escola de Joalheria Contemporânea

Contemporary Jewellery - Fundamental Program

01Aug2024 - 25Jun2025
Application
Management person:  Nicole Uurbanus

The 2-year Fundamental Program aims to offer a solid base for the comprehension and development of contemporary jewellery practice, with access to experienced teachers and a broad context.  Students will have the chance to find and reinforce their personal identity in their work as they learn to make choices through experimentation and research under the guidance of the team.

Date: 4 semesters (February to June and August to December of each year); upcoming semester:  August 12 to December 13, 2024; Hours: a total of 960 hours (in two years).
Hours: a total of 960 hours (in two years).
Online: Mondays to Fridays, from 9 am to noon (BRT);
In-person at partner jewellery schools: 3 hours per week; all classes taught in Portuguese.
Price per semester: €2080 (R$10.800 reais)
*Jewellery techniques in partner schools only included in Brazil

The complete Program:
Body, Body Territory, Brazilian Culture, Casting Techniques, Contemporary Art, Contemporary Jewellery I, Contemporary Jewellery II, Drawing, Engraving and Embroidery, Gemmology, History of Jewellery, Jewellery Techniques, Jewellery Design, Materials, Photography, Portfolio/artist book, Project, Project Orientation, Sustainability, Technical Solutions, Writing.

 

Contemporary Jewellery - Advanced

01Aug2024 - 30Jun2025
Application
Management person:  Nicole Uurbanus

The 1-year Advanced course is aimed at students who wish to further their development of contemporary jewellery upon the conclusion of the Fundamental course. Its objective is to deepen their knowledge and strengthen their identity in their work while preparing for the Individual Project.

Date: 2 semesters (February to June and August to December).
Hours: a total of 480 hours (in one year).
Online: Mondays to Fridays, from 9 am to noon (BRT).
In-person at partner jewellery schools: 3 hours per week.
Price per semester: €2080 (R$10.800 reais)
 

Short Courses

12Aug2024 - 13Dec2024
Application
Tags:  Technics ,  Design ,  History ,  ProfessionalPractice
Management person:  Nicole Uurbanus

A choice of disciplines is available from the Fundamental program for students who wish to complement their training in jewellery or other areas, according to their interests and availability.

Date: August 12 to December 13, 2024.
Hours: 30 hours per semester; online, Mondays to Fridays, from 9 am to noon (BRT).
For a detailed description of courses: www.alguresescola.com or alguresescola@gmail.com.
Price per semester: €405 (R$2100 reais)
 

• Body Territory

Body Territory will address the body as a transdisciplinary and multimedia device of language and creative thought within the field of body arts, especially performance art and performativity. The body will be explored as power, presence, and process, reflecting on action, image, movement, sound, time, space, objects, technologies and digital media, experienced as a work of art and a space of construction and deconstruction. References from contemporary performance artists and a theoretical bibliography will be studied, complemented by practical exercises based on a methodology developed over more than 10 years. Discussions and experiments will address the relationship between performance, resistance, resilience and the challenges of the anthropocene and the future of the planet, connecting art, social, political and ecological context with technology. Issues concerning the body and performance in the social and political context will be investigated, and the body as a mediator of experience with the world and the other. We will study artists such as Grada Kilomba, Zanelli Muholi, Marcia X, Regina José Galindo, Tânia Bruguera, Shu Lea Cheang, Hito Steyerl, Carolee Schneeman, among others.

Online, Thursdays from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. (BRT), in Portuguese
Dates: August 12 to December 13, 2024
Deadline: August 10, 2024
Link Website: www.alguresescola.com
Teacher: Andressa Cantergiani
Application Link: https://forms.gle/rD7vsfBovbijbvck7

 

• Brazilian Culture

Recovering aspects of the history of Africa and the African diaspora for the Americas. 
In 1996, diplomat, poet and Africanist Alberto da Costa Silva wrote that the History of Africa is important for us Brazilians because it helps to explain ourselves. And for this reason, he stated later, “the obá of Benin and the Angolan quiluange are closer to us than the ancient kings of France”. The objective of the course, based on an overview of studies and interpretations on the History of sub-Saharan Africa, is to provide elements that contribute to a deeper understanding of the African diaspora and the movements that gave rise to significant portions of our population and, along with them, the constitution of expressive aspects of the Brazilian culture. From an anti-racist perspective and in opposition to prejudices and stereotypes established by the slave society, colonialism and patriarchy, the course will consist of presentations, readings and discussions of accompanying texts and talks about literary works produced by African authors and Atlantic women who wrote about their experience in the context of the slave society and post-Abolition, in the Americas and in Brazil.

Online, Fridays from 10:30 - noon (BRT), in Portuguese
Dates: August 12 to December 13, 2024
Deadline: August 10, 2024
Link Website: www.alguresescola.com
Teacher: Cristina Wissenbach
Application Link: https://forms.gle/rD7vsfBovbijbvck7

 

• Casting techniques

In jewellery, casting has practically always been present: with copper, the first metal to be melted by man, becoming even more pronounced in the bronze age, with the appearance of metal alloys. This semester we chose several casting techniques used in jewellery to discuss and experiment with, illustrating specific processes to help understand the behaviour of metal and its possibilities. Practical classes allow students to develop pieces in their workspace and videos and images will help to understand what happens at each stage. We will carry out constant exercises so that the student can explore and come across possible paths and discover new interests.

Online, Mondays from 10:30 - noon (BRT), in Portuguese
Dates: August 12 to December 13, 2024
Deadline: August 10, 2024
Link Website: www.alguresescola.com
Teacher: Renata Porto
Application Link: https://forms.gle/rD7vsfBovbijbvck7

 

• Contemporary Art

Based on the presentation of paradigmatic artists and exhibitions from the second half of the 20th century, the course addresses various developments in contemporary art in terms of its relationship with the field of art and with the political, social, economic, ecological and cultural contexts of our time. The notions of dematerialization of the artistic object, conceptual art, institutional criticism, the blurring of boundaries between artistic forms, as well as the art system and curatorship will be developed during the semester, considering the singularities of contemporary art processes. The activity also aims to seek connections between manifestations of contemporary art and contemporary jewellery in terms of the work of the participants.

Online, Thursdays from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. (BRT), in Portuguese
Dates: August 12 to December 13, 2024
Deadline: August 10, 2024
Link Website: www.alguresescola.com
Teacher: Gabriela Motta
Application Link: https://forms.gle/rD7vsfBovbijbvck7

 

• Contemporary Jewellery I

The contents gathered in this course are starting points for various reflections on topics related to the area of Contemporary Jewellery, including research in terminology, international contextualization and analysis of works by fundamental authors. Participants must also acquire skills that allow them to understand the universe of Contemporary Jewellery as a result of a chronological journey, along which needs and questions emerged that led the practice of jewellery in different directions. The objective is for participants to construct a critical discourse about the diverse context of Contemporary Jewellery. Each individual will also seek to develop an awareness of the distinction between the various categories within the broad area of Jewellery, with regard to approaches, objectives and functions. At the end of the course, students will have more tools to understand how to place their own work in the broader context of Jewellery and its main events.

Online, Mondays from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. (BRT), in Portuguese
Dates: August 12 to December 13, 2024
Deadline: August 10, 2024
Link Website: www.alguresescola.com
Teacher: Áurea Praga
Application Link: https://forms.gle/rD7vsfBovbijbvck7

 

• Contemporary Jewellery II

Theme: Trajectories of Contemporary Jewellery: Authors and Contexts. 
Contemporary jewellery emerged with public visibility in the 1960s, and at that time was still referred to as modern and later as new or design. In this course, classes focus on the redefinition and new meanings that this segment of jewellery acquired, through the singularity of the artists who asserted themselves, reverberating the era and the underlying artistic contexts until the beginning of the 21st century. The works of a broad group of artists from three generations will be presented, whose elective affinity lies in the various types of connections to schools and other contexts, and we will talk about a time when many countries still lacked research and analysis of facts, actions and trajectories of artists who worked in the context of this discipline. The classes will be supported by testimonials from artists, experts and others, and by a bibliographic reference on international contemporary jewellery. 

Online, Mondays from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. (BRT), in Portuguese
Dates: August 12 to December 13, 2024
Deadline: August 10, 2024
Link Website: www.alguresescola.com
Teacher: Cristina Filipe
Application Link: https://forms.gle/rD7vsfBovbijbvck7

 

• History of Jewellery

Jewellery has existed since the dawn of humanity and yet, compared to other arts, it is little studied. We all know what jewellery is, or at least we all have an image of jewellery, which, in fact, may not correspond to the more contemporary works of today's jewellery artists.  Contemporary jewellery, however, is very much present in this historical continuity. In this course we go through the history of jewellery since its beginnings, from the first shells found in archaeological sites until the beginning of the 20th century.  We will seek both the continuity and the differences in jewellery and humanity's relationship with them, the functions they fulfil, the relation with the body and, above all, look at many pieces, creating an iconographic record that inspires us and helps us in our work.

Online, Wednesdays from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. (BRT), in Portuguese
Dates: August 12 to December 13, 2024
Deadline: August 10, 2024
Link Website: www.alguresescola.com
Teacher: Marta Costa Reis
Application Link: https://forms.gle/rD7vsfBovbijbvck7

 

• Jewellery Design

Drawing allows us to express human creativity, whether as a pure work of art or to represent objects that are still only imagined but will soon become real. In this course, we will use both freehand drawing and also make use of templates and rulers for more precision. Within this principle, through exercises, we will learn to draw rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets. However, it is not enough to just draw. The jewellery we create must be made. Thus, through technical drawing, we will represent them in their orthogonal views, with the measurements and elements necessary to transform what we have designed into actual pieces.

Online, Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. - noon (BRT), in Portuguese
Dates: August 12 to December 13, 2024
Deadline: August 10, 2024
Link Website: www.alguresescola.com
Teacher: Miriam Farah
Application Link: https://forms.gle/rD7vsfBovbijbvck7

 

• Jewellery Techniques (only available in Brazil)

Techniques taught at partner schools, in-person, according to the student’s level and need.
60 hrs per semester
Dates: August 12 to December 13, 2024
Deadline: August 10, 2024
Link Website: www.alguresescola.com
Teacher: Partner Schools (only available in Brazil)
Application Link: https://forms.gle/rD7vsfBovbijbvck7

 

• Materials

One of the subjects most discussed, analysed, questioned and experimented is the material used in contemporary jewellery. While for some it becomes the starting point of the creative process, the concept itself, for others it is a path of discovery and enchantment. For us, it is an essential basis for the work to be developed with intention. In this course we will discuss the materials from different points of view so that students can make informed choices and understand the reasons for their choices. We will experiment, do exercises and research, aiming to create a habit for future work. With references from anthropologist Tim Ingold, we will learn to respect the material that passes through our hands to be transformed. We will talk about the creative process discussed by Cecília Salles, and how Making is present. 

Online, Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to noon (BRT), in Portuguese
Dates: August 12 to December 13, 2024
Deadline: August 10, 2024
Link Website: www.alguresescola.com
Teacher: Nicole Uurbanus
Application Link: https://forms.gle/rD7vsfBovbijbvck7

 

• Portfolio/Artist Book

Putting together a portfolio is a seemingly simple task, but a series of details can compromise its effectiveness in successfully synthesizing and conveying the poetic thought of the person presenting it. Although each author needs to highlight the specific characteristics of his or her production, there is a general base that can be applied as a common ground for putting together a concise and efficient portfolio. 

The artist book, on the other hand, is a work in itself, in the format of a book, whose reading transcends its usual codes, and its material characteristics are often as important or even more important than its written content. Thinking about these two issues in parallel can prompt a series of poetic triggers, which will be developed in exercises and practical proposals throughout the semester.

Online, Tuesdays from 10:30 a.m. - noon (BRT), in Portuguese
Dates: August 12 to December 13, 2024
Deadline: August 10, 2024
Link Website: www.alguresescola.com
Teacher: Guilherme Dable
Application Link: https://forms.gle/rD7vsfBovbijbvck7

 

• Project

"Jewellery in action" is a course that promotes an active position in society through artistic work. In order to do this, we investigate participants' ideas, values and intentions and reframe them through the language of contemporary jewellery to bring the artist's work into the public sphere in a politically active and meaningful way. This presents an opportunity to investigate what we really want to express, why and for what, shedding light on loyalties, values and commitments to the outside world. Consisting of a combination of group discussions, interactive classes and work to do at home, students will engage in self-reflective exercises and improve their aesthetics and technique through experimentation and sharing information with other participants.

Online, Tuesdays from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. (BRT),in Portuguese
Dates: August 12 to December 13, 2024
Deadline: August 10, 2024
Link Website: www.alguresescola.com
Teacher: Manuel Vilhena
Application Link: https://forms.gle/rD7vsfBovbijbvck7

 

• Project Orientation

Do you have an idea in mind that you would like to develop? Have you started a project and would like support to continue it? This course is designed for people with embryonic or ongoing projects, as well as those who are still looking for a guiding principle for the development of their production. Through dynamic classes, we will collectively raise questions and reflections that will be transposed into the materialization of one or more pieces of jewellery. We will constantly exercise critical analysis during/resulting from the practical processes to enhance the identity of each person in their creations. We will seek to connect the knowledge of the participants in a transdisciplinary way, envisioning a cohesive and in-depth production, with the aim of collectively presenting these results. During this orientation we will make sketches, prototypes, explore material possibilities, technical solutions, until the final development of the project, as a whole.

Online, Tuesday evenings from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. (BRT), in Portuguese
Dates: August 12 to December 13, 2024
Deadline: August 10, 2024
Link Website: www.alguresescola.com
Teacher: Alice Floriano
Application Link: https://forms.gle/rD7vsfBovbijbvck7

 

• Technical Solutions

Jewellery must be outstanding regardless of the material or finish you want to apply. Looking at the piece carefully is essential for a good result and to do so, you need to learn to see every detail. Our proposal is to offer tools so that the jeweller, contemporary or not, can find their own technical solutions. When you start to learn about and experiment with other materials, you also start to have doubts about how to solve that piece of jewellery in the best possible way. We understand that the structural part of the piece is essential for a good result. We will provide examples and suggestions of mechanisms, techniques and materials that can be applied in different situations.

Online, Thursday evenings from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. (BRT), in Portuguese
Dates: August 12 to December 13, 2024
Deadline: August 10, 2024
Link Website: www.alguresescola.com
Teachers: Nicole Uurbanus and Renata Porto
Application Link: https://forms.gle/rD7vsfBovbijbvck7

 

Contemporary Jewellery - Individual Project

01Aug2025 - 30Jun2026
Application
Management person:  Nicole Uurbanus

The 1-year Individual Project is aimed at students who have completed the Advanced course and wish to develop their work guided by one of our teachers. Unlike the other courses, students do not follow a daily program but have access to any discipline being offered in the program and to a workbench at one of our partner schools. This course also offers exchange programs.

Date: 2 semesters (February to June and August to December); available in August 2025.
Hours: a total of 480 hours, online and in-person.
Price: to be confirmed