TACTILE CHRONICLES:
JUNE 4-24

The 2022 Silver Society of Canada NSCAD Student Competition of Fine Metal Sculpture

The 2022 Award work: Mavis Chen's teapot, Will There Be a Bird. The two honorable mentions are: Hannah Craig's Coleoptera and Mackenzie Reid's Tied to Home. Congratulations students!

I had the pleasure of co-organizing the exhibition Tactile Chronicles: The 2022 Silver Society of Canada NSCAD Student Competition of Fine Metal Sculpture, which promotes and rewards student excellence in silversmithing. 

The Silversmith honours the knowledge and experiences required to understand their materials and control complex processes. In addition, the Contemporary Silversmith values the artistic endeavour to push the boundary of traditional practice to redefine what hollowware can be.

In the jurying process, we were looking for one of kind pieces rooted in traditional craft materials and techniques coupled with individual expression that transcends skill.

We examined each piece not only looking at how well it was made but also discussed the intent of maker, material, and process.  

Congratulations to the selected artists! Sincere thanks to the Silver Society of Canada and L.A. Pai Gallery for promoting and celebrating these young silversmiths.  

Kye-Yeon Son
Professor
Jewellery Design and Metalsmithing
NSCAD University
Halifax, NS
Canada

Emma Piirtoniemi reviewed the exhibition work in her article for MetalAid Canadian Art Jewellery Network:  "While the projects presented include making specific functional objects like candle holders, teapots, and other vessels, it’s clear that students imbued these objects with rich storytelling— often biographical—reaching far beyond functionality. They brave the complexities of life, loss, change, and challenges through these works that in one form or another, all come our way. To celebrate student achievement and make space for them to share their artistic voices is indeed a powerful way to encourage the next generation of metalsmiths. As Son hints, “This is my small effort in this small corner of Canada to keep a little flame of hollowware [alive] for students so when they leave, they keep this flame of interest. I just want them to have confidence [that] they can do it, and be proud of what they’ve done.”

MAVIS CHEN

Sterling silver and basswood teapot

View: Will There Be a Bird
MAVIS CHEN

Copper sake bottle

View: Snow Capped Sake bottle
HANNAH W. CRAIG

Sterling silver and labradorite teapot

View: Coleoptera
HANNAH W. CRAIG

Copper vase

View: Fleurs du mal
RAYCE MIN

Copper and silver ashtray

View: Cigarette Monster
RAYCE MIN

Copper and silver teapot

View: Adulthood
HAOMING NAO

Copper and green patina candle holder

HANNAH PROCTOR

Silver, liver of sulfur, and driftwood teapot

LOUIS STOCK-RABBAT

Copper and sterling silver cup

MACKENZIE PEARL REID

Copper teapot textured with quartz

NOORE SALEH

Brass and silver plate ladle

YUANXIN SHI

Copper, silver, and cast bronze hourglass vase

View: Time
YUANXIN SHI

Copper, brass, and sterling silver teapot with leather handle

View: Dog’s Home
VANESSA SHUM

Sterling silver and brass teapot with 24K gold plate and ribbon

View: Sweet Tea Teapot
VANESSA SHUM

Copper, brass, and wax candle holder

View: Snail Candle Holder
LARA STURZENBAUM

Copper and brass teapot

View: Patagonia
LARA STURZENBAUM

Copper, green patina, and cork salt and pepper shakers

View: De la puna
MEICHAN YUAN

Sterling silver teapot

NAOMI ZAMIR

Copper and patina teapot