I created this one-of-a-kind, handmade brooch called Never Smile at a Crocodile 2 just for fun. It’s made from a round disc of grey metal (approximately 4cm in diameter), rusted sheet metal, and a metal clip. I’m not sure of the original purpose for the clip – what it once was is anybody’s guess. I found all the bits and bobs to make this brooch on the streets of Melbourne.
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. In 2019 I displayed my brooches in the Australian National Brooch Show at the Fitzroy and Eltham public libraries. In 2020, my brooches were in two exhibitions. One was Wearable Art at The Old Auction House in Kyneton. The other was Survival Kit (online) at the University of Melbourne George Paton Gallery. Now my brooches are also available through Incube8r Gallery, in both shops as well as online.
