The Ultimate Art Collection For Foodies
It’s not every day that a famous chef, restaurateur and judge of a multiple award-winning television throws his support behind a young Australian artist.
But that’s what MasterChef’s Gary Mehigan did recently with the gorgeous pieces in ‘Table Tools’, a special exhibition by gold and silversmith Alison Jackson. Gary summed up Alison’s new work to a tee, calling it ‘the ultimate art collection for foodies’.
Alison, who hails from Canberra, is a rising star. Although only 29 years of age, she already holds several awards and has exhibited nationally and internationally, including during Milan Design Week.
Table Tools, on at Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre until Saturday 24 October, is Alison’s first solo exhibition.
The exhibition features about 48 high-end pieces made from materials such as fine silver, silver, copper, brass and steel wire. Alison has handcrafted spoons of varying shapes and sizes, scoops, pouring vessels, whisks, bowls and more. Each one is unique. Each shines with its own personality.
To create this collection, Alison used traditional and intense silversmithing processes and techniques. She starts with a flat sheet and hammers the metal over many stages and through many processes to create a whole new form.
The technique takes time, patience and a high level of precision and skill. It’s a primitive process, and a dying art, but one close to the artist’s heart. ‘It’s a way for me to explore different ideas and processes that are ticking over in my head,’ says Alison.
The result with Table Tools is a series of one-off designs that will be treasured forever and a day.
Alison describes all of her work as ‘simple, refined and pared back’. The aesthetic is contemporary. The work is beautiful but also highly functional and Alison says she’s always delighted when people use her tools every day instead of tucking them in drawers and only bringing them out on special occasions. ‘They’re great for special occasions, but not only for special occasions,’ says Alison.
While all pieces in Table Tools have names, Alison doesn’t dictate how they should be used.
‘Pieces are designed to be flexible. I want people to be inspired by their imagination and not restrict themselves to one use,’ she says. ‘I want the objects to transform everyday experiences, like eating out of a bowl, into something special.’
Alison works full-time out of her own fully equipped silversmithing workshop, called Pocket Studio, where she also teaches short courses. She studied at the Australian National University of Art, Gold and Silversmithing Workshop, and spent six months studying in Germany at the University of Applied Sciences, Gemstone and Jewellery Design in Idar-Oberstein.
Table Tools was made possible in part because of an Australia Council 2015 New Work Grant and artsACT project funding.
Craft ACT: Craft + Design Centre
Level 1, North Building, 180 London Circuit, Canberra City
Tuesday to Friday 10 am to 5 pm
Saturday 12 pm to 4 pm
