Bronwyn Simons has recently
added a bold new look to her 'Unbuttoned Jewelry' line in the form of
oval-shaped pendants formed by hand from smooth white, porcelainous
stoneware. A second firing in the production process involves the
application of glaze and tiny chunks of coloured glass that melt and
fuse together, resulting in a deep, rich crackle pattern. The
finished pieces resemble thin slabs of polished torquoise stone or
amber topaz, with a dazzling refractive quality.
Simons' beautiful button necklaces
sometimes include fused glass as well. Many are first formed by hand
and others are slipcast in molds made from found objects like
bakelite buttons, and even tiny muffin tins! The porcelain settings
are meticulously glazed in shades of amber and delicate aquamarine,
then matched with unusual Victorian and Edwardian buttons, vintage
chain, beads and gemstones.
An impressive assortment of artisan tiles by Simons and her husband Bob are another popular attraction on the tour. The image of the Buddha is a well-loved motif in many of the tile installation pieces the couple have crafted for home decor over the years. More recently, this sacred theme has inspired what Bronwyn Simons calls 'The 108 Buddhas Project'. She plans to document both the contemplative process involved in making devotional art, and the physical process of creating ceramics (through photography, video and on-line journal entries) as she embarks on the goal of creating 108 images of the Buddha. Patrons will be invited to contribute photos of her artwork in its new home for both a website and self-published book, as an exciting part of this uniquely multi-media endeavour.
