No U-turns for Pumas is a one-of-a-kind handmade art magnet that I created at River Studios in West Melbourne. There I am an artist-in-residence, working as a found object assemblage sculptor. I gathered the bits and bobs to make this brooch on my daily walks.
Previously I created only sculptures from the wood, metal and tiles I found 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.
How I became a magnet designer
So I started making brooches and exhibited them at the Australian National Brooch Show and numerous other venues. Of course, I also kept them in stock at Incube8r Gallery. But at some of these venues, people asked if I could convert the brooches to magnets. They loved the idea of the art, but didn’t wear brooches, or their friend or their husband didn’t.
Each art magnet is unique and sustainable
So now I’ve started creating art magnets as well. I first exhibited them in April 2022 at the Joel Gallery in Altona. Now they are also in stock at Incube8r Gallery and in their online shop.
Each art magnet is handmade, each is named and signed, each is unique. And just as are my sculptures and brooches, they are inspired by my strong interest in sustainability through repurposing and upcycling.
My hope is that this art magnet makes you smile. At the same time, may it remind you of the 5Rs to help our planet: refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle.
A very affordable and useful gift of sustainable art for a friend, a relative, or yourself!