In March 2010, Masterworks Gallery exhibited a retrospective of the “Broach of the Month Club”, a collaborative year-long project between 12 makers, 12 wearers and 12 Brooches in 2008/2009.
The Broach of the Month Club 2008/2009 was created to reinstate the community aspect of traditional craft into contemporary jewellery culture. It focuses on the emotional and physical experience of wearing.
Twelve emerging jewellers each submitted a brooch reflecting their unique attitude or mode of approaching jewellery. Each brooch had its own travelling box, and short blurb about the jeweller and the brooch. Meanwhile, twelve “care takers/wearers” were recruited to wear, reflect and swap brooches in a book club format.
The Broach of the Month Club officially kicked off in August 2008 with an opening night party where wearers meet jewellers and photos were taken of all parties. Commenting on the blog was encouraged and each wearer was given a ‘journal’ to write more private thoughts about the brooches and the project. Once a month, the wearers got together to exchange brooches and stories of their wearing experiences. There were quarterly “gatherings” organised for the makers to interact with the wearers. The club concluded in October 2009 with a closing night party at the Queen of Tart’s Café where many of the wearers, makers and fans of the Broach of the Month Club exchanged stories and reflected upon the project. Detailed information, photos and stories about the Club can be found on this blogsite:http://broachofthemonth.blogspot.com/
Masterworks has decided to partner with Broach of the Month Club for the 2010 season, including six original BOM makers, six Masterworks makers and twelve regular Masterworks clients and friends of the Gallery.
