GRK Magazine 12

Five years: In 2007 the year 2012 seemed far away. In these five years we have organised 63 exhibitions and taken part in eight art-fairs; autumn 2011 saw the opening of our Annex at Galerie Hüsstege in Den Bosch, a city to the south of Holland. 

The energy in the world of jewellery certainly hasn’t diminished in those five years. On the contrary, our established artists continually surprised us with their work, and students were graduating with pieces that made our pulse race. We are so excited to now be working with several of these young talents. It was our honour to welcome many renowned designers to our team: Ruudt Peters, Evert Nijland and Terhi Tolvanen, and from outside the Netherlands Suska Mackert, Helen Britton, David Bielander and Marc Monzó. 

Small wonder the time passed so quickly! Our first magazine dealt with the first year of the gallery, number two reviewed the folowing year and a half. The present issue covers the last two and a half years. Just like its predecessors it gives an overview of all the exhibitions we had during that period, the
artfairs we attended and other special events. This edition has something extra: an essay. The circle of people connected to jewellery – makers, galleries, wearers, collectors and museum curators – remains something of a closed system. Fortunately there are developments everywhere: the amount of artists, galleries and buyers is rapidly expanding, and the understanding of the medium is growing, informed by museum exhibitions, publications in the press, books, fairs and symposia. Yet the recognition from the
general art-world is not what it should be. The essay investigates the possible underlying reasons from an historical perspective. Of course it is preaching to the converted, but hopefully it will sharpen the understanding and stimulate the fighting spirit. 

The gallery would remain a pie in the sky without the beautiful work our artists make and the open minds of our customers, ready for new challenges and sudden love affairs. The gallery owes its existance to you all, for which we are most grateful! We are proud to present this magazine and hope you will read it with pleasure.

Rob Koudijs and Ward Schrijver 
April 2012