I made this one-of-a-kind handmade brooch, which I named Chairlift, from three pieces of metal – one bright red and two silver. I found all the bits and bobs to make it on the streets of Melbourne. It reminded me of a cable car heading up a mountain in the snow. Not quite Australia’s weather in December, but a reminder of Christmas in the Northern Hemisphere.
I normally create wall sculptures and 3D sculptures from the wood, metal and tiles I find on the streets of Melbourne. However, through Instagram I met handmade jewellery designer Lynn Powers from New Orleans. She encouraged me to try making jewellery from the objects I found on the street, but I never had.
Then I saw that the Contemporary Art Society of Victoria was holding its annual brooch exhibition. I entered–and found that making brooches is great fun. Several of my pieces were on display in the 2019 Australian National Brooch Show. I had several in the 2020 Wearable Art exhibition at The Old Auction House in Kyneton as well. Others will be in an exhibition during Melbourne Design Week in March 2021.
My brooches are available through Incube8r Gallery, in the shops in Fitzroy and Prahran, as well as online. Be sure and check my Instagram account for my brooches, https://www.instagram.com/nancydeebrooches/.
