VCC jewellery instructor among recipients of 2022 Carter Wosk Award in Applied Art + Design
Congratulations to VCC jewellery instructor Louise Perrone, recipient of the 2022 Carter Wosk Award in Applied Art + Design!
The award “celebrates British Columbians whose creative, innovative work contributes directly to the cultural and economic fabric of the province and enhances day-to-day life for individuals,” according to the BC Achievement Foundation, who manages the awards program.
Louise joins three other awardees selected by an independent jury of industry professionals and creatives.
Left: Louise employs a variety of techniques when crafting her jewellery. Photo credit: Frieda Mestinsek. Right: Necklace hand sewn from waste swimsuit Lycra, stretched over plastic cherries and an aubergine. Image courtesy of Louise Perrone.
According to Louise, “art jewellery is a relatively small, niche area of the fine craft world. Being selected for this award by a panel of artists from many different craft and design backgrounds not only validates my work but that of my peers across Canada.”
Through her work as a textile jewellery artist, Louise explores issues of gender, labour, and sustainability. Employing techniques that combine the traditions of goldsmithing, hand sewing and mending, her materials are derived from domestic and industrial textile and plastic waste.
“Although my materials have little or no intrinsic value, the time-consuming hand sewing techniques I have developed from English paper piecing patchwork and hand quilting diverts waste from landfill, creating wearable objects with new meaning and value,” adds Louise.
Louise’s work has been shown in numerous local, national, and international exhibitions, including solo and two-person shows at the Craft Council of BC, and group exhibitions featured in New York City Jewellery Week, JOYA Barcelona, and Athens Jewellery Week. She is the recipient of several awards including the Governor General of Canada’s Academic Medal and The ACAD Alumni Legacy Award.
Louise is just as passionate about teaching her craft as she is creating. She is currently an instructor in VCC’s Jewellery Art and Design program, teaching Design and History & Culture of Jewellery courses.
“Working with students who have decided to pursue a career in the jewellery industry gives me a deeper appreciation for the skills and knowledge that have been passed down to me through my own teachers,” says Louise.
A combined exhibition showcasing the 2022 award recipients for the Fulmer Award in First Nations Art and the Carter Wosk Award in Applied Art + Design is currently on display at the Roundhouse Community Centre in Vancouver until November 18.
Get hands-on experience in the design and fabrication of jewellery. Attend an info session for VCC's Jewellery Art and Design program.