Fortitude
Arielle de Pinto - Crochet and Metal Wearables and Jewelry
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Christa Assad & Kevin Wickham - Paintings
March 18 - May10, 2017
*Opening March 18, 5-8 PM
SHIBUMI GALLERY presents Fortitude, a show featuring avant-guard metal crocheted jewelry and wearables by Canadian artist Airelle de Pinto alongside paintings by local artists Christa Assad and Kevin Wickham. With the uncertainty of our current times these artist’s works explore their unique vision and understanding of power and individuality. They create pieces that are not afraid to challenge and confront the vulnerability and absurdity of both fashion and the political symbolism of the modern world.
ARIELLE DE PINTO introduced chain crochet to the worlds of both contemporary art and fashion. Combining vintage elegance with modern sensibility and intuitive, self-taught jewelry techniques, de Pinto’s signature aesthetic and unmistakable visual identity was quickly recognized and garnered her a dedicated international following.
Alongside her jewelry--which ranges from crocheted chain and metal necklaces to brutalist carved figurines and imaginative hair accessories--stand de Pinto’s art pieces, including expressionistic metal masks and painterly chain tapestries.
De Pinto’s sense of hand-worked intimacy crosses into all aspects of her projects, including a personally trained team of artisans in Montreal where she has developed a studio anchored in the tradition of fine jewelry ateliers. With intense attention to detail and employing old world, Italian-sourced silver and gold vermeil, every handmade piece is produced in limited numbered editions. De Pinto infuses her sense of fun and exploration into every piece; the designer recently called on an MIT-trained physicist to develop a digital-age colour palette, and has also launched a line of colourful crochet-top sandals with the European art collective LVMM.
Now approaching her 9th year of professional practice, de Pinto's work has appeared in such publications as Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, i-D, and Dazed & Confused, among many others. De Pinto has also been featured in contemporary jewelry books and industry publications, exhibited at international museums and galleries, and produced commissioned work for fashion houses and numerous public figures.
CHRISTA ASSAD and KEVIN WICKHAM are the creative force behind ReUpped, a studio art and design business with a focus on sustainability and creating fine art and furniture from up-cycled materials. Assad’s background in ceramics and Wickham’s architectural design/build experience reveal a shared interest in clean lines and functionality. Their move toward collaborative works evolved organically along with their explorations with repurposing materials.
This show features paintings on wood. The images represent the ability to rethink and change the course of the destructive paths we can have towards each other and the planet. They serve as a medium to help bring together our consciousness rather than to separate us as fear and war do.
The studio’s works include original designs for sculptural furniture and vessels, large-scale public art, interior design and architecture.
1402 Fifth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
GALLERY HOURS:
Thursday & Friday 11-5 pm
Saturday 12-6 pm
Sunday 12-5 pm
And by appointment