„The changes initiated in 1989 also significantly affected the contemporary jewellery market, both its commercial, educational, and artistic segments. Mental re-evaluations resulted in new phenomena, trends, artistic attitudes; there was an increase in creators and companies dealing with jewellery,” says Monika Szpatowicz from the Art Gallery in Legnica, which is co-realising this project with the International Trade Centre. The project is commemorative in nature, and its intention is to symbolically summarise the artistic and organisational achievements of Polish contemporary goldsmithing over the last 25 years. This summary is planned in the form of an exhibition. 25 by 25. Freedom Time Jewellery and the establishment and granting of 25th Anniversary Honorary Distinctions.
Exhibition 25 by 25. Freedom Time Jewellery
„The exhibition is not intended to be a survey, nor does it aim to present the full spectrum of figures or phenomena in contemporary Polish goldsmithing over the last 25 years. It is intended to be a partly objectified – taking into account exhibition statistics, awards and honours received – and partly arbitrary curatorial selection of works by artists who have clearly, distinctly, and permanently marked their presence on the goldsmithing scene during this period, sometimes even initiating certain styles, trends, or fashions in jewellery with their creative output” – this is how Monika Szpatowicz explains the assumptions of the exhibition, of which she is the curator. She will select 60 names for participation, considering the activity and artistic achievements of the creators. A selection of 25 of them will be made by the Programme Board, which will include: Prof. Irena Huml, Andrzej Bielak, Wanda Gontarska, Magdalena Kwiatkiewicz, Prof. Andrzej Szadkowski, and Katarzyna Rzehak. The opening of this exhibition, which will showcase over 100 works by 25 Polish creators, will take place on the first day of the Złoto Srebro Czas fair. Its participants will be honoured with a specially designed „25 for 25” badge. The exhibition will be accompanied by a catalogue.
25th Anniversary Honours
However, the changes in the contemporary art jewellery market have been driven not only by the creators themselves but also by a wide range of disseminators of this field: art historians, galleries, magazines, online portals, and organisers of exhibitions and fairs. The project initiators would also like to honour them, hence the idea of awarding honorary distinctions in three categories (three distinctions in each):
- 25th Anniversary Jewellery Designer, meaning, a person who stood out from the rest due to their activity and artistic achievements, as well as their positive, inspiring role in the development of Polish jewellery.
- 25th Anniversary Promoter, which is a person, company, website, or magazine that has contributed most to the promotion of jewellery and the popularisation of knowledge about it.
- 25th Anniversary Organiser, meaning the institution, company, or organisation that has done the most for the development and popularisation of contemporary and Polish jewellery both domestically and abroad.
The jewellery community will co-decide on the winners through participation in a survey (available in the annex). Completed and signed forms (anonymous ones will not be considered) should be sent by email to: 25na25@galeria.legnica.pl by 25 August 2014 (or by post to the organisers' address provided in the survey). The final selection of the Designer, Populariser, and Organiser of the 25th anniversary will be made by the Programme Council, also taking into account the survey results. The ceremony of presenting the laureates with commemorative diplomas and medals (medal design: YES Gallery, manufacturer: Jerzy Macur) will take place during the Gold Silver Time trade fair in Warsaw.