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The eighth annual Brilliantly Birmingham season of contemporary jewellery will open this November in the heart of the city’s Jewellery Quarter, launching a season celebrating the best new contemporary jewellery.

From November 22nd until January 13th 2008, the work of more than 80 designer makers will be exhibited across Birmingham and the West Midlands. 

The selling showcase of Brilliantly Birmingham will be Flux, an exhibition of the best new and emerging contemporary designer makers from the UK and around the world, held at the School of Jewellery, Birmingham City University.

This year Brilliantly Birmingham is profiling the striking work of Birmingham City University graduate Lisa Juen. 

Lisa, originally from Germany, graduated this year with an MA in Jewellery and Silversmithing from the School of Jewellery and has also studied in her home country.  Last year she received a commendation at the Designer and Craftsmanship Competition and Exhibition at Goldsmith Hall in London and was awarded a distinction in her MA.

Her work is concerned with escaping from the pressures of the modern world in to a self-created realm of fantasy; her pieces offer the viewer access points, pathways and doors to the world of dream and the inner self. 

Brilliantly Birmingham is a unique celebration of Birmingham’s long standing reputation for jewellery design and production, and offers the public a unique opportunity each Christmas shopping season to buy innovative and affordable contemporary jewellery directly from those who designed and made them.  

Some of the best new designer makers will exhibit their work this year, from as far a field as
Hong Kong and Ireland, as well as the cream of talent from the West Midlands.

A programme of associated exhibitions, one off events and workshops will accompany Flux, including:

Sara Preisler presents: Glenn Campbell, “Works From Nature”
Glenn’s work is beautiful hand forged jewellery, which echoes the subtle qualities of shapes found in nature.  Seeds, pods and leaves are amazingly translated in to precious metals forming exquisite pieces begging to be worn. 

Heroes
Heroes documents the results of a unique collaboration between the traditional and the contemporary, and will be exhibited at The Custard Factory.  Emerging designer makers were paired with one of ten “Heroes”, practitioners working with skills and techniques in danger of extinction, including gun engraving and pen making.  The results are fascinating. 

We Are Here
Launching the Association for Contemporary Jewellery in the West Midlands, We Are Here will be an on-foot touring exhibition where exhibitors will wear their own transportable display case in the style of an ice cream usherette.  With each exhibitor creating their own personal display, visitors will be able to meet and talk direct to emerging contemporary designer makers. 

Open Studios, venues across The Jewellery Quarter
 An intimate look behind the scenes at where unique, hand made jewellery has been designed and made for centuries. 

Walks In The Quarter
Now enjoying cult status, the local historian Chris Upton’s annual walks around the Jewellery Quarter, uncovering its amazing history, are always over subscribed.

Susan McNally, Brilliantly Birmingham Project Manager, said:

“Each year the standard of contemporary designer makers submitting their work is amazingly high.  Birmingham has a rich jewellery heritage and Brilliantly Birmingham is increasingly becoming a celebration of innovative jewellery design and the city’s thriving jewellery community, giving new and emerging designer makers from the region and beyond a platform for their work.”

Councillor Ray Hassall, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Culture, added:

Brilliantly Birmingham has grown over the past eight years to such an extent that it has become synonymous with innovative, emerging contemporary designer makers.  We would all like to see the Brilliantly Birmingham brand and its ethos of celebrating jewellery design become a sustainable, ongoing process over the next few years.”

Lara Ratnaraja Sector Manager Creative and Knowledge Industries Business Link West Midlands said:

“Brilliantly Birmingham has grown into a significant showcase for regional designer makers, providing ever growing audiences the opportunity to see the best of the most innovative and creative designer makers both regionally and nationally.”

For detailed listings and information about events, venues and participating designer makers, visit www.brilliantlybirmingham.com or call 0121 464 1187.