Five Minutes With... Kath Inglis
Kath Inglis, Pink Epiphyte Neckpiece, 2019. Photo: Grant Hancock.
JamFactory Alumni and contemporary jeweller Kath Inglis spends 5 minutes discussing her new role as Head of JamFactory’s Jewellery and Metal Studio
You were an Associate in the Jewellery and Metal Studio what do you remember of that time? What were some of the highlight projects you worked on?
The strongest memory from my time as an Associate in 2002/2003 was the infectious, industrious energy of talented creative people, working hard to hone their skills, concepts and pushing their practice. It’s a rare buzz.
I was very fortunate to have Sue Lorraine, one of the founding members of Gray Street Workshop as the Head of the Jewellery and Metal Studio. Sue was (and still is) a great mentor and generated a diverse range of projects for us to work on. Being able to design and collaborate across studio disciplines within the JamFactory was a great highlight from this time.
Kath Inglis at work in her Hahndorf studio. Photo: Rosina Possingham
Kath Inglis, Orange Epiphyte Neckpiece. 2019. Photo: Craig Arnold
What do you believe were the benefits of the Associate Program to your career?
The Associate Program was a brilliant platform to work from – it really did push the fast forward button on my career, giving me access to opportunities that may have taken years of hard work to realise. Sue Lorraine curated exhibitions showcasing the work of Jewellery and Metal Studio Associates and alumni that travelled to galleries in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. From this exposure, my work continued to be represented by Fingers Gallery in Auckland and Velvet daVinci in San Francisco.
You have run your own successful jewellery business since your time as an Associate, what are the features of this business ?
Since my time as an Associate, I established Soda and Rhyme|Jewellery Design Studio in North Adelaide with Naomi Schwartz who had been working as a tenant in one of JamFactory’s studios. The collaboration was very successful – we had a gallery space where we featured a South Australian jeweller each month. The studio was also a functioning workshop where customers could learn how pieces were made and gain a better understanding of jewellery making processes. The space closed however when we started having children. Naomi now has opened her own gallery in Henley Beach which features many South Australian jewellers.
I continued to focus on my own contemporary craft practice, always learning more about my chosen material Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). To me, plastic is a precious material with endless possibilities – an exciting medium that I love working with. Currently my beautiful studio is based at the Hahndorf Academy and my work is represented in Australian and international galleries.
As the incoming Head of Studio what do you see are the greatest potentials in the studio?
I really want to see the Jewellery and Metal Studio become a hive of activity and interaction, a hub for the community of makers that we have here in South Australia. We are currently converting a workshop into a dedicated space for teaching short courses and workshops in jewellery making. I’m excited about the possibilities of having a strong programme of diverse workshops and makers having the opportunity to share their expertise through teaching. There are many other plans in the works so you’ll need to watch this space.
Discover more about the Associate Program
Kath Inglis, Green Epiphyte Brooch, 2019. Photo: Grant Hancock.