Fran Alison

Fran Allison is a contemporary New Zealand jeweler based in here in New Zealand, working and teaching at Manukau School of Visual Arts. Her jewelry has rendered the ideas of re-formatting and past-histories.

The inspirations for her work varies and is influenced by many things including interest within the idea associated with found and discarded objects. She quotes Julian Schnabel: 'I work with things left over from other things' as a reference for her interest in found/discarded objects.
Fran’s works are often made from found items, household material, such as handkerchiefs, doilies, pins, fabric etc.

In regards to Collaboration and collective,

The Audio English dictionary describes Collaboration as the “act of working jointly” Or as Richard Loveless may put it "Collaborations become great only when everyone in them is free to do his or her absolute best — and is committed to seeing other members do their best as well” Collaboration may also give artists the opportunity to take risks or experiment in ways, that they would not be able to achieve working alone. Where as an artist collective is an idea that is the product of a group of artists working together, usually under their individual supervision, but with the same aims. The aims of an artist collective can include almost anything that is significant to the requirements of the artist. This can range from sharing equipment, space or materials purchasing bulk materials, through to following shared philosophies, visual and political views. It appears that a collaboration is a group of people working together and a collective is a group that is somewhat influenced by each other. Fran explained how collaboration raises questions about ‘ownership’ over the finished work. I feel that this could result in a dispute due to several proud artists wanting to claim credit for the handwork they put in. I can recall an example of a successful collaborative piece done by Deborah Crowe and Eldon Booth entitled Cantilever.

Fran is a member of Weeds (a group of New Zealand artists involved in Object or Jewellery making). They were all angry by a 'Bone Stone and Shell' lecture, which suggested these materials and this traditional style as being the definition of New Zealand jewellery practice. As a result Fran got together with Lisa Walker, Shelley Norton and Andrea Daly, to change things. The objects prepared by all four artists involved in Weeds is far from the traditional ‘bone, stone and shell’ jewellery, which they were against, it is more domestic and hand-made due to the ‘craft’ materials, symbols and techniques. Weeds gave Fran the opportunity to move her ideas, for her practice, from the house, into the garden.

Although I’m not much of a jeweler, Allison’s work has encouraged me to be more experimental in my own personal art practice.