I have long admired the work of Jane Adam. I think I was probably first aware of it in those formative years as artist in residence at Ruthin Craft Centre in the early 1990s. There was an affinity between her then colourful anodised aluminium pieces (a technique she mastered) and my own woven work at undergraduate level and then in the early stages of the residency (particularly the primary coloured Kites series which you can see an example of in the Textile Design section of this website).
I’m really not sure when we first met, but it feels like I’ve watched Jane’s work develop over many years and have enjoyed lots of chats about it at Cockpit Arts open studios (where Jane was based for years) and at events like the annual Goldsmiths’ Fair and in the past, Chelsea Crafts Fair. Her move into precious metals, and combinations of that and her signature anodised aluminium have yielded stunning results that continue to mature and evolve.
Around eighteen months ago, Ruthin asked if I would work with Jane on putting her new solo exhibition together for its showing at their venue - which opened a year ago (just before we were plunged into this doom-laded pandemic). It was such a thrill to work with Jane more closely and to see her catalogue raisonné as it were, at first hand.
During the planning of the exhibition the Goldsmiths’ Fair came around again. I had already decided I had to have a piece for my little collection and so on one of my many sojourns around the Fair (I was working for the Goldsmiths’ Company at the time), I asked her if she could make me the brooch you see below.
It is as far as I am aware, a unique piece, as it’s a hybrid from other work we looked at in her collection. It is oxidised silver with 18ct gold bimetal (gold fused to silver) and a fresh water pearl. Jane insisted that it be a gift from her to me by way of a thank you for my work on her exhibition - an incredibly kind gesture for which I am so grateful.
What a thrill to have a beautiful piece at last from a modern day master of her craft.
Links: see names in bold above
Jane Adam, brooch, oxidised silver with gold leaf and fresh water pearl, 2019