​Nail Heads

Head Shakers, Found nail, steel and brass nuts, bronze, cotton. 2017. Image: Michelle Bowden.

As a fastener nails have had little variation since their first invention. An ancient Roman nail does not differ considerably from a modern machine produced one. They continue to serve a vital purpose in a wide range of applications such as horse shoeing, building, picture hanging, upholstery, but are easily discarded as valueless once removed or if bent while hammering. I work with nails that I find. My interest in them is once they have been discarded, when they no longer hold 'value' or 'purpose'.  

The first works in the Nail Head series were exhibited in Why Jewellery? 2 2017 which showed in the Project Gallery at Queensland College of Art Griffith University before touring to Hong Kong. www.why-jewellery.com  

A series of three Head Shakers, also featuring found nails, were exhibited in Jewelry and Music curated by Ana Pina at Tincal Lab Portugal. www.tincallab.tictail.com

Three works from the series were included in the JMGQ exhibition USE curated by Lisa Bryan-Brown. The exhibition showed at the POP Gallery Woolloongabba in February 2018 and is on an extensive tour 2019-2020.www.JMGQ.com.au/use

Nail Head Ring. Found nail, reused sterling silver, 2017. Image: Michelle Bowden.

Nail Head Bracelet. Found nails, steel wire, reused sterling silver, 2017. Image: Michelle Bowden.

Nail Head Ring. Found nail, reused sterling silver, 2017. Image: Michelle Bowden.

Head Ring, Reused sterling silver, 2017. Image: Michelle Bowden.