Candescent Project Features Green Gold Exhibit in London

Press Release From . The Candescent Project:

The Candescent Project produces exhibitions, events and public art ventures that encompass craft, design, creativity and thought. With an interest in sustainability and the environment, Candescent facilitates projects where objects are not only beautiful to look at but have a story to tell. The Candescent Project seeks to educate and inform through interesting and thought provoking exhibitions, events and public art ventures, empowering people with knowledge to enable change.

A Candescent Project exhibition, ‘Green Gold’ profiles Oro Verde ® (Green Gold), the first organisation to certify responsibly mined, small-scale artisanal metals. Oro Verde ® is based in the verdant, rainforest region of Chocó in Colombia and works with mining families to ensure that working practices are fair and environmentally friendly, with miners receiving a premium for the ‘green’ gold which is re-invested back into the community and a method of extracting the gold that does not involve the use of mercury and cyanide.

‘Green Gold’ will feature jewellery created by Stacey Whale, whose award winning, innovative and original jewellery uses a variety of precious stones and lenses and is handcrafted using gold and silver. Stacey has been commissioned by the Candescent Project to produce jewellery using gold sourced from Oro Verde ®. The fairly traded gems for the jewellery are to be supplied by Columbia Gem House in Vancouver, Washington, U.S.A. The jewellery will be a cuff (bracelet) and ring, hand crafted by Stacey, the cuff being delicately laced with exquisite gems in colourful summer colours. The exhibition will highlight the fact that using ethically sourced materials doesn’t mean that design has to be compromised, and that cutting edge, beautiful jewellery can be achieved. The final piece of jewellery will be based on the cuff design below.

A painting inspired by trompe l’oeil by Francis Martin and photographic portraits by Kike Arnal will accompany the exhibition. Francis works as a fine and applied artist on private commissions and feature film productions. Kike is a still photographer and videographer whose work has appeared in the New York Times and Life magazine.

The exhibition is to be held at the venerable Art Workers Guild, a hidden gem in Bloomsbury, London, established in 1884 by a group of young architects associated with the ideas of William Morrris and the Arts and Crafts Movement.

Part of ‘Coutts London Jewellery Week’ 8th-14th June and Respond! An RSA Arts & Ecology initiative in June.

The Candescent Project: Tanya Bowd
Exhibition Title: Green Gold
Exhibition Content: Gold Jewellery, Trompe l’oeil Painting & Photography
Venue: Art Workers Guild
6 Queen Square
Bloomsbury
London WC1N 3AT
Dates: 8th – 14TH June 2009
Times: 9.00am – 4.00pm Monday-Sunday (late view 6-8 pm Wed)

Jeweller: Stacey Whale
Visual Artists: Francis Martin & Kike Arnal
Gold: Oro Verde ®, Colombia
Gems: Columbia Gem House, Washington, U.S.A

Funded by: Cordaid & CAFOD
Event: Coutts London Jewellery Week & Respond! An RSA Arts & Ecology Initiative June 09

For Further information:
email: [email protected]
www.the-candescent-project.co.uk
http://the-candescent-project.blogspot.com/

---