New Website and Instagram

I am pleased to announce that I have made myself a lovely new website, complete with an e-commerce online shop. To have look please click on the following link www.catherinehendy.co.uk.

I have also recently signed up to Instagram, you can follow me @CATHENDYJEWEL.

I'm super busy at the moment on the workbench getting my final pieces ready for Made London and the Designer Jewellers Group winter exhibition at the Barbican. Check back for a more in-depth update about this shows soon!

Bolivia: Silver Mine Tour of Cerro Rico (The Mountain That Eats Men)

It's been quite a while since I have updated the blog. The last few months have been exceptionally busy, not only with making new work but I have also been off exploring! Towards the beginning of April I spent 6 weeks travelling across South America visiting Peru, Bolivia and Chile. I saw some incredible historic sites, such as Macchu Picchu and the Moai heads on Easter Island.

Whilst on my travels I found some new inspirations and have gotten the ball rolling with design new work since I have returned. But there is one part of the trip that struck a chord very firmly with me. In Bolivia, my friend and I took a detour from our planned route through the country to visit the city of Potosi. Founded in 1545, the vast amounts of silver mined at Cerro Rico (meaning rich mountain) made it one of the wealthiest cities in the world and it was known as the jewel in the crown of the Spanish empire. However, once the silver resources were depleted it led to an economic decline. These mines are still in used today.

Cerro Rico (English translation rich mountain)

We decided to take a tour with the Big Deal Tours company. This is the only tour company that is run solely by current and ex-miners, with all the profits going to the miners themselves. The first thing was to change into our protective clothing, including hard hats and rubber boots. Before going into the mine our group stopped of at the Miner's Market to buy gifts for the miners such as coca leaves, soda and colouring books for their children. Also available to buy was dynamite, anyone (and I mean anyone!) can buy dynamite in Bolivia for as little as 13Bs (£1.20) per stick. We then continued on to the refinery plant where the minerals (silver, tin, lead and zinc) from the mine are extracted and purified. The noise inside the refinery was incredibly loud.

(Video from inside the refinery plant)

The conditions within the mine are terrible. Although the shaft was quite open to begin with, it quickly narrowed and we spent much of our time hunched over with our feet ankle deep in water. In one section the tunnel was so narrow we had to slide down on our backs to get through. There was very little air (it was pumped in through pipes above our heads), making it more of a challenge to breathe. At one point our guide Pedro shouted to our group to stand to the side, suddenly a cart of minerals was pushed at a very fast pace by hand along the tracks we were walking on. We were told that the miners tend to not use modern technology so to prevent any job losses. 

Half way through our tour we stopped off to visit Tio, the 'God of the miners'. Here we offer thanks to him and Pacha Mama (Mother Earth) by lighting cigarettes and offering coca leaves to bring the miners fortune and keep them safe. The men are superstitious and women are not allowed to work in the mines, they are thought to bring bad luck. We also got the opportunity of trying the 96% proof alcohol many of the miners drink (it tastes horrendous, similar to nail varnish). Many of the miners have problems with alcohol. 

(Tio, 'God' of the miners)

The miners all have a great (and very dirty) sense of humour. We were made to feel very welcome and the miners were proud to show us where they worked. The mine is the main employer for the city. The average wage of a miner is 2000-3000Bs (£175-£260) per month. This is three times the wage that could be earnt at an office job, but the nature of the work and the health risks involved are high. On average 12 miners die a year in the miner, usually caused by explosives and lack of protective equipment. This figure does not include the number of miners who die each year from illness caused by working in the mine, such as lung cancer caused by inhaling the dust. Life expectancy of a miner is just 45 years old and there are children as young as 14 working there. Towards the end of the tour I saw a miner working with only one arm (it was implied by Pedro that his arm was loss during an incident at the mine). Historians believe that up to 8 million people have died working in the mine since it opened, this is why Cerro Rico is know as the 'mountain that eats men'.

Although I felt safe at all times, I was relieved once the tour was over and to feel the fresh air on my face. We only spent 2 hours in the mine, so I can only imagine the horror of what it is like to spend 10 hours or more a day, 7 days a week. I did feel slightly voyeuristic at times being in the mine and watching the suffering of the men (this is not tourist visit, it is working mine), but Pedro insisted the miners want tourists to visit and see where they work. I feel very humbled by the experience and I now keep the mineral rock that was given to me by one of the miners on my workbench.

Christmas Exhibitions and the Stephen Maer Award

Christmas is almost upon us and I will be showcasing my work in two exhibitions this year.

The first exhibition is at the Barbican with the Designer Jewellers Group. Towards the beginning of the year I was awarded the Stephen Maer award. This award was set up in honour of Stephen who passed away in 2004. Every two years, one of the New Designers who exhibits at the Winter Show is selected to become an Associate member with the group for a further two years. I was very fortunate to be chosen. Previous winners include Tom McDowell and Misun Won.

The exhibition will in the foyer of the Barbican, between the 15th November 2013-1st January 2014. It is open daily between 12-8pm.

The second exhibition will be with Handmade in Britain at the historic Somerset House in London. Handmade in Britain exists to support, promote and celebrate British based designer-makers who make their work within the the UK and Northern Ireland.  Exhibiting will be a range of handmade products including Jewellery, Ceramics, Gift and Interior Products.

'Handmade in Britain and Somerset House are inviting British designer makers to take part in the Christmas Arcade at Somerset House – a contemporary and very British celebration of Christmas. Complementing 7 weeks of festive celebrations, including the famous ice-rink Skate, the Christmas Arcade showcases the best of British Brands.'

I will be showcasing a range of my work at the Christmas Arcade between the 10th November 2013-15th January 2014. 

Christmas Showcases: Somerset House and Barbican

Happy New Year everyone! 

Little update on the blog. This Christmas I showcased my work at two exhibitions. The first being with Handmade in Britain at Somerset House, during the Christmas Arcade. This was not only a jewellery exhibition but focused on crafts, including textiles, prints and ceramics. There was some stunning work on display, I especially loved the work of Enclosed Spaces who make modern graphic prints.

I also exhibited once again at the Barbican with the Designer Jewellers Group for the Winter Showcase. There was some great jewellery on display, not only from exisiting group members but the New Designer guest exhibitors. They were hand selected from the New Designers graduate show in the summer, just as I had been the year before.

Scottish designer Kelly Munro's work is influenced by the fishing industry heritage where she grew up. She combines manipulated burnt wood with rubber and hand pierced structures.

Bola Lyon combines porcelain and silver. Her collection is inspired by hidden structures within the anatomy.

Ciara Bowles' work explores colour, pattern, scale & material. Her hand pierced and powder coated structures are striking.