1. Beads. Kakariki/kikorangi Vintage knitting needles, polyester cord, oxidised silver. $750 L3165 x Dia.4mm
2. Kapeu.
Oxidised sterling Silver, polyester cord, 18 karat yellow gold. $860 Kapeu: l130 x W12mm, Cord L445mm
3. Holey. Mā.
Sterling silver, polyester cord.
$850 L545 x Dia.5mm
4. Putiputi.
Oxidised silver, polyester cord.
$545 Dia.60mm, Cord L785mm
5. Beads. Rōhi.
Vintage knitting needles, polyester cord, silver
$685 L2110 x Dia.3mm
6. Kawakawa/gold jumpring. Oxidised sterling silver, polyester cord, 18 karat yellow gold. $1160 W77 x L80mm, Cord L780mm
7. Beads. Whero
Vintage knitting needles, polyester cord, oxidised silver.
$685 L1940 x Dia.5mm
8. Kapeu/putiputi Silver, polyester cord
$520 Dia.40mm, W10 x L120mm, total L140mm, Cord L790mm
9. Beads. Kakariki/kikorangi/whero Vintage knitting needles, polyester cord, oxidised silver
$785 L2175 x Dia.5mm
10. pepeke
Oxidised silver, polyester cord.
$685 L70 x W48mm, Cord L235mm
11. Beads. Kōhai.
Vintage knitting needles, polyester cord, oxidised silver. $770 L3470 x Dia.5mm
12. Kawakawa (Small) Oxidised silver, Polyester cord. $610 L77 x W80mm, Cord L720mm
13. Holey. Pango. Oxidised sterling silver, polyester cord. $1375 L930 x Dia.4mm
14. Beads. Kakariki/kikorangi/purūpōuri.
$685 Vintage knitting needles, polyester cord, oxidised silver; L2285 x Dia.5mm
15. Putiputi. (Matt finish, with catch.) Oxidised silver, polyester cord. $560 Dia.60mm, Cord L450mm
16. Beads. Whero/māwhero Vintage knitting needles, polyester cord, silver $670 L1745 x Dia.5mm
17. Kapeu. Hiriwa, Polyester cord
$385 W13 x L130mm, Cord L740mm
18. Beads. Kikorangi. Vintage knitting needles, polyester cord, silver
$670 L1610 x Dia.5mm
19. Kawakawa. (Large)
Oxidised silver, polyester cord. $1035 W103 x H90mm, Cord L700mm
20. Beads. Kakariki/māwhero/waiporoporo Vintage knitting needles, polyester cord, silver. $670 L1730 x Dia.5mm
Artist statement
It is a week before the exhibition opens and I can’t think of a name for this group of work. I also am struggling to write a statement.
I facetime one of my sisters to tell her I can’t think of what write and say ‘but it’s just *expletive* beads’. She googles ‘puns for beads’ and makes me sit through list of terrible film titles where the word bead has replaced a word in the title. ‘Assassin’s Bead’ ‘Bead for Speed’ and ‘Bead of Chucky’. The titles are very bad but I love my sister.
I am a knitter, but I have never really used straight needles. This has not stopped me from accumulating old straight knitting needles and storing them in jars so I can admire the colours. I’ve wanted to make jewellery out of them for ages, and because bead making is a core part of my practice making beads was a logical course. It is also very nice to play with colour, rather than my usual choices of white or oxidised silver, paired with the yellow of gold.
Bad bead movie titles are out though, because it isn’t just beads, there are pendants as well. For me jewellery is about memory and identity. And how memory and identity sit on, (or in) the body.
When I oxidise silver, I am very aware that this surface is temporary. The oxidation will wear back to silver. Recently, I find myself explaining the oxidation wearing as being like wearing in a pair of jeans. The way this happens, and the speed it happens at, will depend on the way the piece is worn. Jewellery only makes sense to me when it is worn. When I make things, I think they begin their proper life when they find a wearer.
Artist Biography
Frances Stachl (Ngāpuhi) completed her training at Whitireia Polytechnic in 1999 and is now based in Whanganui. Frances has exhibited widely across Aotearoa, including at The Sarjeant gallery in Whanganui. Her work is in private collections across the globe.