Friday 13th March: Day Three “On Location”

The morning of

The third day in

Had us planned for a trip

To Laura Deakin - 

Whose studio she shared

With another –

A jeweler named

Mari Ishikawa.

We split up the group

Down into two

(There was no way we’d fit

Into the tiny room).

Mari was first

For our group to see;

She had already prepared

Her jewellery.

Spread out on a table

From oldest to new,

She explained how her work

Had taken its cue

From photographs

That were taken at night,

Changing the colours

And shifting the light.

Our view of the everyday world

Was changed           

As the normal was transformed

Into beautiful and strange.

Her work showcased natural forms

That were cast

In silvery colours

That would forever last.

We then swapped rooms

To hear Laura converse;

Her work includes necklaces

Strung of pearls.

These are embedded

In a polyester brooch,

Sanded back so that

These pearls peek through.

Her work challenges us

And brings up questions

Of traditional adornment

And jewellery conventions.

That a necklace is placed

Where a brooch is meant,

When earring studs are used,

As brooch hooks instead,

We are forced to change

Our original views

As non precious materials

And methods are used.

This studio visit

Was an enlightening day,

But it was now time for us

To make our own way

To visit the shows

And exhibitions

See galleries, artists
And museums.

Jessica McDermid