Artist to make ‘park jewels’

Jeweller Lynn Kelly has been selected as Auckland Council’s regional parks Artist in Residence for 2014. This is the first time a jeweller has been chosen for the two month residency, which this year is based at Scandrett Regional Park (near Warkworth) from mid-October to mid-December.

Councillor Alf Filipaina, chair of council’s Arts, Culture and Events Committee and member of the selection panel says Lynn’s application stood out because it was directly relevant to a residency in a natural environment.

“We loved Lynn’s work because it delivers detail, colour, texture and form in small meticulous packages which we believe will encourage people to look closer.

“Lynn’s pieces are not only beautiful, and wearable, but they appeal to our sense of nostalgia – they reflect plants we have grown up with but, thanks to her skills, we see them in a new light.

“Her work will celebrate what’s special about Scandrett – not in the big picture sense but by looking at the precious little things,” he says.

Lynn Kelly’s small but exquisite pieces often encapsulate botanic and colonial heritage references. She often starts with natural ‘found’ materials or treasured heirlooms and occasionally includes unusual elements like maps or fossils that are significant to the area.

Regional park ranger Sue Hill says Scandrett Regional Park will offer plenty of inspiration for Lynn’s work

“Scandrett has an array of creatures and features that park visitors often overlook. Whether its crabs under the rocks, ‘amber’ in the fallen trees or shells and fish bones littering the shore – there’s loads of inspiration here,” she says.

Research undertaken at local museums and with local families will be part of Lynn’s residency process.

The jewellery produced during the residency will be exhibited locally and will then tour beyond Auckland.

Ends

© Scoop Media