- Gallery MARZEE
Its Huge! over 850 feet square and the largest gallery for modern art jewellery in the world had its beginnings 40 years ago as a small jewellery shop run buy the director Marie-Josè van den Hout. by chance The annual MARZEE International Graduation Show was on, this exhibit is a very important event for MARZEE and has become an international event with a great amount of prestige for the graduates involve. The 2018 included jewellery and objects from art schools and academies from Europe, US, Asia and Australia and also wonderful to see the work two Whitireia graduates in the mix. After an extensive look around at the MARZEE works for sale displayed in back lit wall cabinets and the hundreds of works in the mobile drawers, I met a very friendly and welcoming Nikki Heffels who was kind enough to take time out of her day to talk with me about the space. Something that Is very special is the scope that MARZEE provides. The message is that contemporary jewellery is a big picture, and there are more pieces to come, I can see that the gallery appreciates and looks for innovation an concept in choosing maker, Thats what makes it successful. It feels like a hub and has an air of an institution to it, offering everything you want to see and more. In talking with Niki who is actually Marie Joses daughter, I learn that the gallery by its sheer size has in a way a life of its own, Advice is to take it slow in terms of building a business, Niki relayed to me there is are real advantage of starting off small and building solid foundations and networks. Another topic is the importance of clear communication especially in the artist gallerist relationship. The MARZEE collection was incredible and vast, a personal collection, selected by Marie-Jose from the galleries stable of artist throughout the years. In both collecting and selecting work the Van den Hout's criteria is that of education quality and concept,the thinking behind jewellery is important to MARZEE and it shows. highlights for me were, peices by Iris Bodhemer, Lucy Sarnel, the work of Phillip Sajet and the list goes on the graduate show was very impressive. I really loved it all and am still now processing the experience. The gallery also has a great array of publications for purchase and I brought some home to add to out TJATJ workshop library. - The Gallery Marzee Collection;international contemporary jewellery,
- the MARZEE collection complete postcard set
- MARZEE magazines #12 #13 and #14
- Sajet Jewellery ,Iris Bodemer
- Catalogue Notes,Good as Gold