| Artist Profile of David McLeod |
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David McLeod is a Dunedin based jeweller.
McLeod initially trained as a sculptor, completing a Diploma of Fine and Applied Arts in 1973. He worked in this field for 20 years, only changing his focus and scale in the past decade. In 1998 he completed a Masters degree in jewellery at Monash University in Melbourne.
Much of McLeod's work has a social or political narrative, although sometimes a process, technique or way of attaching or combining materials may be the main motivation in creating a work.
McLeod primarily uses materials sourced in New Zealand and Australia, in combination with fine metals, placing the work in a regional context.
His most recent collection derives from a passion of frequenting the 'op shops' and second hand stores for materials and inspiration. McLeod likens such places to folk museums, displaying an ever-changing snap shot of our lives.
It was in Eketahuna two years ago that McLeod found a piece that has sparked several new directions in his work: tucked in a cupboard was a matchstick box inlayed with a variety of paua patterns. This classic piece of kiwiana inspired the 'tinder box' series, the matchstick shell and stone 'cultural constructs' as well as the 'sampler brooches' which use matchstick sized pieces of paua, mother of pearl and pounamu in frames of silver and gold. Currently McLeod's fascination with the matchstick continues in silver, red gold and rose gold.
Please contact the gallery for information on available work.
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Selected works of David McLeod
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