‘Fusion’, a new touring exhibition of collaborations between members of the Designer Jewellers Group and textile artists is on at the Bonhoga Gallery in Shetland during October. 

The Designer Jewellers Group was founded in 1975 by seven jewellers from the Society of Designer Craftsmen.  Today this has grown to 26 members who have, since 1993, exhibited on an annual basis over the Christmas period at the Barbican in London.

The exhibition aims to promote a better understanding and appreciation of cross-media interactions. It explores the creativity of communication through twenty-two sets of collaborations between textile artists and jewellers.  One third of the textile artists come from the Continent or North America so many perspectives are addressed.

The works include both functional and decorative objects from miniature textiles that masquerade as jewellery to jewellery that becomes a textile.

Stories of individual collaborations are told through explanatory boards with text and images which trace how ideas were exchanged and developed into the final works.

A catalogue features an introduction and foreword with images and text about the process of each of the collaborations. A range of textiles and jewellery by some of the makers in the exhibition is on sale in the shop.

The exhibition is on from 1 to 23 October 2005 at the Bonhoga Gallery, Weisdale Mill, Weisdale, Shetland ZE2 9LW, tel 01595 830400.  Opening hours Tuesday to Saturday 10.30am to 4.30pm and Sunday 12 noon to 4.30pm.