MIA STRAKA

Making contemporary jewellery since 2001, I employ metalsmithing techniques as a base from which to explore my own way of working.

Historically; jewellery has been primarily a signifier of wealth and social status, contemporary jewellery seeks to question these values.

My understanding of contemporary jewellery is as an artistic discipline where the work contains concept and method. I place value primarily on the care, thought and skill invested in the making of jewellery and the connections people make with it Creating a piece from inception to completion allows constant creative and technical decision-making individual to each piece. My way of working is driven both conceptually and by process. Some pieces seem to grow as I make them, the construction delineating the form. Other works are carefully planned and designed before fabrication begins.

I’m interested in exploring overlapping yet often conflicting notions such as protection and restriction, the private and public, freedom and chaos. ..the grey area where one merges into the other.

‘Mia’s jewellery is often a response to events in her own life, the process of making flowing from a need to express personal experiences and reactions.’

- Karl Chitham

BIOGRAPHY- MIA STRAKA

Mia Straka spent her childhood in her home town of Puhoi, a descendant of the settlers from Bohemia, before moving to Singapore where she lived for seven years.

On returning to New Zealand Mia studied jewellery design at Unitec, graduating in 2001 with an honors degree in three dimensional design majoring in jewellery.

After two years travelling and working as a jeweller in London, Mia spent five months in Zug, Switzerland making her own designs for exhibitions in the atelier of Swiss jeweller Brigitte Moser.

Since returning home to New Zealand in 2005 Mia continues to develop her work alongside part-time employment at Fingers Jewellery. In mid 2008 the jeweller joined Workhop6 collective studio in Kingsland.

EDUCATION

2011: 'Longings and Belongings with Manon Van Kouswijk' RMIT University, Melbourne.
2009: Stone setting workshop with Simon Misdale Workshop6, Auckland
2008: 'Volume' Craft/Object Symposium Hawke's Bay Museum and Art Gallery, Napier
2008: Stone setting workshop with Simon Misdale Workshop6, Auckland
2007: 'Permit' Jewellery Symposium MIT Auckland
2006: Helen Britton workshop MIT Auckland
Susan Cross workshop MIT Auckland
2005: Mentored by Brigitte Moser Zug Switzerland
2001: Bachelor of three dimensional design (hons), Jewellery major, Unitec, Auckland

EMPLOYMENT

2002: Present- Self-employed Jeweller
2008: Joined Workshop6 collective studio in Kingsland, Auckland
2007: Developed boutique collection presented at AirNZ Fashion Week
2006: Commissioned by Helen Cherry to provide limited edition jewellery collection for eponymous designer fashion label
2006: Jewellery workshop set up at Satellite Gallery, Auckland
2005-Present: Part-time work for Fingers Jewellery, Auckland
2005: Set up studio in shared space at Corban Art Estate, Auckland
2005: Part-time assistant jeweller to Jane Dodd, Workshop6 Kingsland, Auckland
2004-2005: Workbench in atelier of Brigitte Moser, Zug, Switzerland
2002-2004: Jeweller for Laura Lee Jewellery, London
2001-2002: Part-time assistant jeweller to Anna Wallis, Workshop6

AWARDS

2006: Merit award Manukau Vessel and Sculpture Exhibition, Manukau City Council

PUBLIC COMMISSIONS

2000: Silver and Gold leaf Pendant presented to Prime Minister Helen Clark by Unitec

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

2010: 'Superstructures' Mia Straka and Cheryl Sills, The National, Christchurch, Royal Jewellery Studio, Auckland
2009: Radiate, Fingers, Auckland
2009: Radiate, Inform, Christchurch
2007: 'Mind’s I' Window Installation Objectspace, Auckland
2006: 'Jewellery Box' feature artist Masterworks, Ponsonby
2005: Jewellery Installation UNIC Salon, Zurich, Switzerland.

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2010

Fingers Group Show, Auckland
Objective Award Exhibition, Mangere Arts Centre, Auckland
Regal Award Exhibition, National Jewellery Show, Sky City Convention Centre, Auckland

2009

5 Years, Inform, Christchurch
Regal award exhibition, National Jewellery Show, Sky City Convention Centre, Auckland
Cornucopia, Masterworks Gallery, Auckland
Aotearoa, Quoil, Wellington
Black and White, Quoil, Wellington

2008

Twelve days of Christmas, Royal, Auckland
Treasure Trove, Masterworks Gallery, Auckland
‘Shine’ jewellery performance event Paramount Theatre, Wellington

2007

‘White’ Pablo Fanque, Sydney
‘Permit’ Fingers Group Show, Auckland
‘Objective’, Nathan Homestead, Manukau
AirNZ Fashion Week Exhibition, Auckland
Midwinter Show, Studio 66, Gisborne
‘Brooches’, Inform, Christchurch
‘MossThreadStapleWood’, Inform, Christchurch

2006

Fingers Group Show, Auckland
Manukau Vessel and Sculpture Exhibition, Nathan Homestead, Manukau
Molly Morpeth-Canady 3D Exhibition, Whakatane Museum, Whakatane
‘20 Years of Unitec Jewellery Design-work by leading graduates’, Fingers. Auckland
‘Neckware VII’, Masterworks, Ponsonby

2005

Group Brooch exhibition, Masterworks, Ponsonby
Neckware VI, Masterworks, Ponsonby

2004

Eisblumen, J.F. Galerie, Zurich, Switzerland Link, SchmuKu-Ku, Zug, Switzerland.

2003

Neckware III, Masterworks, Ponsonby

2001

Elixir, Jewellery by recent Unitec graduates, The Odeon, Auckland

2000

Body as Site, Logan Campbell Centre, Auckland