“A friend once remarked “A brooch?! Oh no! Only old ladies wear those!”

As I have come to understand it, the general consensus is that a brooch is a decorative object that is placed, pinned or worn on the body’s landscape, at the neck, shoulder or breast and is worn especially by women.
Especially by women?! Rubbish! I believe brooches have almost universal appeal and you do not have to be the most ‘daring’ gentleman or the ‘trendiest’ of ladies to wear a one.
A brooch does not need to ‘fit’ like a ring or bracelet nor does it require the use of punctured holes through the body and is not restricted in placement by its name sake like the ‘necklace’. It may be a small pin worn on the edge of the collar, a monumental chest-covering piece or perhaps modest in size but potent with meaning.

The brooches in this exhibition are no exception, such as Ky Curran’s Trouble series in which ceramic brooches are adorned with images of handguns. As well as Melbourne jeweller Roseanne Bartley’s beautiful floral forms that are fashioned from discarded detritus, such as bottle caps, number plates, tin lids and tennis balls.

There is nothing ‘old lady’ about these contemporary brooches, and as such they could be owned and worn by anyone. So Ladies and Gentlemen, adorn your breast, puff out your chest and show the world that wonderful old ladies don’t get to have all the fun”

Zoe Brand (contemporary jeweller, writer)

Artists list:
Alice Potter, Alison Jackson, Anna Davern, Bridie Lander, Cheryl Sills, Christopher Hodges, Claire Mc Alister, Emma Fielden, Jessica Dare, Jo Piper, Ky Curran, Leah Tarlo, Marina Antoniou, Marta Miguel, Melissa Cameron, Natalia Krasnodebska, Peter Deckers, Regine Schwarzer, Roseanne Bartley, Sharon Turner, Sonya Scott, Sorcha Flett, Susan Frisch.

Opening drinks 6-8pm Wed 3rd June