Mary Michelmore
About Mary
Mary Michelmore is a full time jeweller and sculptor working on individual jewellery for exhibitions, and developing a production range of Australian flora and fauna accessories in sterling silver.
Her sculptural interest concentrates on an interpretation of wildlife in bronze for a limited edition series.
She originally self taught her skills, then developed them further through part time studies at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and with Vagn Hemmingsen at the Jam Factory workshops in Adelaide, South Australia.
From Mary
"I have always worked in different materials designing and making a variety of objects. Gradually I have incorporated my interest in and concern for our Australian wildlife into my designs. By creating my jewellery and sculptures in silver and bronze, I hope to encourage a lasting awareness of the beautiful creatures whose world we share."
"As a method of casting metal objects, “Lost Wax” Casting has changed little in over 5,000 years. The object to be case is modelled in wax. This is covered in clay and baked in a flask, with vents being left for the wax to escape. Hence the name ‘lost wax’. The mould cavity left is then filled with molten bronze. When the metal cools and hardens, the outside clay shell is broken leaving an exactly metal copy of the original wax design. This is then cleaned – filed and polished before finally being coloured – lacquered and hand signed."
Education
- 1973 - 1983: Various workshops and summer schools, Crafts Council of South Australia
- 1977 - Tuition in sculpture, Ieva Pocius, SA
- 1972 - Jam Factory Workshops with Vagn Hemmingsen, Jam Factory, Adelaide, SA
- 1971 - Jewellery Design and Technique, RMIT, Melbourne, VIC
Recent Exhibitions
- 2007 - Wild Things, Pepper Street Arts Centre, Magill, SA
- 2006 - Lifetime of Treasures, Top of The Torrens, Birdwood, SA
- 2003 - Birds of Australia, Porter Street Wildlife Gallery, Goolwa, SA
- 2000 - NU Exhibition, Royal SA Society of Arts, SA
- Artists in the Field- A Retrospective, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin
- 1999 - Noah’s Art, Wildlife Art Society of SA, National Trust Gallery
- Miniatures, Royal SA Society of Arts, Adelaide, SA
- 1998 - Untamed, Wildlife Art Society of SA, Royal SA Society of Arts Festival Exhibition, Adelaide, SA
- Wildlife Exhibition, Hahndorf Academy, Hahndorf, SA
Recent Commissions
- Jubilee 150 Wool Awards, Dick Smith, Newfoundland Dog Trophy, Phil Henshall Memorial Plaque, Beaver Galleries and Urrbrae Agricultural High School.
