Barbara Cohen, Pearl Pod (2011), sterling silver, pod, fresh water pearls, wood, paint [Circle Craft Gallery, Vancouver BC, Jul 8-Aug 2]

Barbara Cohen, Bloom (2009), sterling silver, fur, foam, gold, pearl [Circle Craft Gallery, Vancouver BC, Jul 8-Aug 2]

Material Bloom presents work by two highly skilled West Coast artists with more than 25 years’ experience. Both hand-craft their meticulous pieces combining wood, metal, stone or other natural materials.

Jewellery maker Barbara Cohen unveils a new series of sculptural rings with themes of growth and transformation. After having open heart surgery in 2008, her artwork shows a renewed focus on the fragility of life. She uses a variety of organic materials, including bamboo, cocoons, wood, feathers and corn husks along with more traditional sterling silver, pearls, pyrites and gold, often combined with unexpected, non-traditional materials like rubber, nylon and plastic.

The juxtapositions of light and dark sensibilities in her “blooming” rings create humourous and sometimes whimsical effects. Cohen’s award-winning mesh and cocoon collections are shown in galleries in Canada, the United States, France, Korea and Bangkok.

Wood furniture and jewellery boxes by Pierre Pierobon explore relationships between organic materials and clean, sophisticated forms. With indigenous cultures as his inspiration, Pierobon’s classy pieces are a natural fit for contemporary spaces.

This exhibit showcases work inspired by Vancouver’s mountains and the ocean. As in Cohen’s pieces, many forms emphasize properties of balance and scale. Pierbon is the recipient of many grants, including three Canada Council Individual Artists Grants.

Pierbon will also be exhibiting in July at the Duthie Gallery (formerly Saltspring Woodworks) on Saltspring Island, BC as one of four artists featured in their annual “Summer Lights” exhibition. The Night Gallery is open Thursday to Monday evenings from 9-11 pm during July and August.

www.circlecraft.net

Mia Johnson