This morning, I headed back to the space with a camera in hand to meet the lovely people behind the project.
The brainchild of friends and jewellers Emma Madden and Myia Bonner, the collective was set up in the new year with the aim of encouraging people to connect with the making process and experience the pleasure in owning something unique and handmade as opposed to mass produced and faceless.
Myia Bonner and Emma Madden of the Metric Collective
Read more after the jump!
The group is a multidisciplinary collective comprising of jewellers Shimell And Madden, Myia Bonner, graphic designer/illustrator Jake Ambridge, visual artist Lora Avedian and contemporary craft publishers Chrome Yellow Books.
The 3 month exhibition set up at number 94 Columbia Rd is the first commercial venture by the collective, giving their work a presence in the community and giving them the opportunity to interact with customers.
A jeweller's workshop mid-week and a retail/gallery space during the weekends, the collective have managed to utilise the space ensuring the works of each artist can exist side by side and compliment each other beautifully.
Work by Myia Bonner
Work by Myia Bonner
Work by Shimell And Madden
Work by Shimell And Madden
Work by Shimell And Madden/ Art by Jake Ambridge
Wallpaper design by Jake Ambridge
Metric Collective Card designed by A+B Studio/Woven Thread Installation by Lora Avedian
Woven Thread Installation by Lora Avedian
Part of the their vision is to also engage the larger community with the joy of creating and investing in something special.
They have teamed up with the Esther Benjamins Trust, a charity dedicated to improving the lives of Nepal's most disadvantaged and vulnerable young people. Armed with techniques and knowledge imparted to them by voluntary silversmiths, young deaf women and trafficking survivors are given the opportunity to train as professional artists. Their creations are currently being stocked in the Metric Collective Space with all the proceeds going straight back to the makers.
The collective have also started working with local primary schools, introducing students aged 8-10 to design and the creative process. A design competition has been launched across 3 schools with the impressive finalists' entries (pictured below) taking pride of place in the store. The finalists will be given the opportunity to take part in a practical making workshop facilitated by the collective.
Competition finalists (image sourced from Metric Collection Facebook page)
The current Metric Collective exhibition runs through the summer until the 28th of August at94 Columbia Rd, London E2 7QB.
Be sure to head over and pay them a visit.
A big thank you to Emma and Myia for letting me share this brilliant project, I can't wait to see what happens next.
Also well worth checking out:
Metric Collective Website and Facebok page.
Shimell And Madden Website
Myia Bonner Website
Jake Ambridge Website
Lora Avedian Blog
Chrome Yellow Books Website
A + B Studio Website
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