Nets to necklaces

In a bid to raise awareness about plastic marine litter, Victoria Sewart and her gallery team announce a new exhibition in Falmouth.

Several exhibitions this year at Victoria Sewart Contemporary Jewellery Gallery & School have caught our eye, including the comeback, after a year off, of the popular ‘Ringing the Changes’ exhibition. Currently running until mid July, Ringing the Changes features ten incredible designers, producing everything including modern, contemporary, traditional and sculptural rings, as well as pieces featuring precious stones, art pieces and much, much more!

“to raise awareness and highlight the issues of ghost net entanglement, a serious issue for our seals and a threat to the wider marine ecosystem”

Now, in collaboration with the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, Victoria is very excited to announce her latest project, ‘Entanglement’. “We are creating some retail bracelets and pendants made from ghost nets, alongside a collection of art jewellery created by all the staff here at the gallery, all to raise awareness and highlight the issues of ghost net entanglement, a serious issue for our seals and a threat to the wider marine ecosystem.”

Held at Falmouth Poly from Monday 15th to Saturday 20th July, when the exhibition closes, the retail pieces will be available for purchase in the Seal Sanctuary’s gift shop, with proceeds going to charity.

Single use plastics and plastic marine litter have become a serious threat to our marine wildlife, an issue that’s nowhere more apparent than on the coast here in Cornwall. Every day, animals become entangled in rubbish; unable to escape, entanglement can lead to serious injuries and, in some cases, death. At the Cornish Seal Sanctuary the team are dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of grey seal pups, many of who have suffered the effects of marine litter entanglement.

Seals are, by their very nature, inquisitive creatures, and will investigate items they come across. Particularly dangerous to seals are plastic beach toys, dogs’ toys, diving equipment and netting – they will investigate an item and often get stuck inside it, or find it wrapped around their neck, body or appendages. As an entangled pup grows, the item gets tighter and tighter, causing serious wounds and even death in some cases, so the less litter there is in the oceans, the less chance there is of an animal suffering. After all, jewellery is meant for humans to wear; seals shouldn’t find themselves wearing a fishing net like a necklace!

To support this fantastic new exhibition and to find out more about the growing issue of plastic marine litter and what you can do to help, be sure to go along.

Discover more

Victoria Sewart Contemporary Jewellery Gallery is home to a diverse range of collections to suit all budgets and occasions. The team’s Jewellery School, above the gallery, is great for those who want to learn the tricks of the trade, with courses that even allow couples to make their own wedding rings!

VICTORIA SEWART CONTEMPORARY JEWELLERY GALLERY & SCHOOL

01752 220011

jewellery@victoriasewart.com

www.victoriasewart.com