6th Feb - 2nd May

The Leeds Guide
Wed19 Jan - Thu 3 Feb 2011
Where There's a Mill
Ali Schofield talks starting out, Salt's Mill and designing jewellery for jugglers with Kath Libbert

I am sitting intently, head down, going through the contents of a grey filing cabinet. While most would fail to have me so rapt, this one belongs to jewellery gallery owner Kath Libbert and hides hundreds of gems - in some cases, literally - by some of the most exciting names in contemporary jewellery design.

I finished my interview with Libbert at her gallery in Saltaire's Salt's Mill some 20 minutes ago, but the offer to gawp at incredible finger-knitted necklaces by Blanka Šperková, Heidi Butler's plexiglass carved bracelets professing 'love is enough' around the wearer's wrist and all manner of other refreshing manipulations of plastic, wire, precious metals and even glue, is irresistible. All the more since these are the bits not currently on show to the public, as the gallery's graduate showcase Cool Constructs continues till the end of the month, before making way for Libbert's Alternative Wedding Show in February.

"With unusual pieces I think you have to be able to predict when the right time to put that work in is. I don't know exactly how I do that, but that's what's made it successful; a combination really of keeping things fresh, exciting and engaging to the public and then how you choose, what you choose and when you choose it."

The success Libbert speaks of is the 15 years and counting her gallery has been based in Salt's Mill. It's not always been plain sailing. Working full time as a counselling psychologist in the NHS some 20 years ago, Libbert - newly single with weekends freed up and already a keen jewellery collector herself - took a Saturday stall at Leeds Corn Exchange.

"I just had a table top selling five northern designers, "Libbert says. "I spent £ 1,000 and that's all I've spent on the business effectively - £200 on each jeweller."

At that time, Salt's Mill was a huge gallery for a few David Hockney paintings, which the London-born psychologist and part-time jewellery seller was already fond of.

'There wasn’t really much here besides the downstairs and lilies, nothing for sale! None of the commercial side, there was no diner.

"There was this deserted mill and then you'd open a big door and there would be this wonderful opera music coming from behind, the scent of lilies, it was just very magical and it developed and developed and developed."

The lilies stayed; the heady fragrance envelops you as you enter the mill through the ground floor book shop, and the retail outlets opened.

Owner Jonathan Silver's brother Robin and wife Patricia opened The Home in 1994 on the second floor, alongside the diner. Libbert remembers meeting Robin Silver after countless letters suggesting she show some of her jewellers' designs in the shop.

"Robin met me in the diner and I had all this work - people even started coming round and looking at it - but he said 'no, we source our own stuff and I thought 'well ok, fair enough'. I went away feeling dejected."

She remained an avid Salt's Mill visitor and by 1996 Libbert was finally invited to pitch for a permanent shop which, happily for me and my magpie tendencies today, has gone from strength to strength with acclaim from national magazines, most recently The Times' Luxx magazine. Despite such success, she only gave up the psychology work some five 'exhausting' years after opening the Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery.

Since then she has taken on international artists and regularly travels to fairs across the world to find new talent for her Salt's Mill customers.Despite being approached by designers all the time at the gallery, she prefers to choose new artists based on a particular theme - floral jewellery, textile pieces and solely wooden works have been showcased in the past - which she comes up with a few months before inception to ensure the exhibition looks fresh and trend-influenced.

Next in the diary for Libbert though is her annual Alternative Wedding Show.

This year's theme is Rock Revival, employing a bespoke design service to work heirloom jewels into engagement and wedding bands.

It is a service which she believes holds some parallels with the counselling she gave. "I get quite emotional here because if they're designing a ring with us you see them for quite a long period... you have that intimate connection with people."

One example she cites is a couple who came to the gallery looking for wedding bands. "We like to know what these people do, what do they do with their hands. And this guy was a juggler and wanted to wear his ring all the time. So that immediately points us towards particular things and not towards others, it needs to be something quite robust," she explains. "He actually went for a ring that's really textured, hard-hammered, so that it fits with his lifestyle."

Despite her obvious creative flair and completing an evening class in jewellery-making as a student, Libbert assures me the pieces she came up with would not fit her criteria for the 'wearable art' she has become known for. In short, 'I'm no good at it'.

For now though, Libbert is happy to curate others' artworks for her customers. She'll even let you look in her filing cabinet if you ask nicely.

The Alternative Wedding Show runs till 3rd May with an opening event and chance to meet jewellery makers on 6th February at I - 4pm, Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery, Salts Mill, Saltaire, Bradford BDI3 3 LA, 01274599790, www.kathlibbertjewellery.co.uk

Yorkshire Post
Wednesday 2nd Feb 2011
Jewellery that pushes back the boundaries

LOVE is in the air, not to mention all the pomp and splendour of a Royal wedding.

For those who are planning on tying the knot in such an auspicious year and want a wedding with a difference, The Alternative Wedding Show is Yorkshire's largest and most distinctive annual selling exhibition of contemporary bridal jewellery and runs from February 6 to May 3 2011.

Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery has been based at Salts Mill (home to the world's largest collection of Hockney artworks) since 1996.

The gallery is renowned for showcasing the work of internationally celebrated jewellery designers alongside that of emerging talent, and also holds a strong reputation for its bespoke jewellery design service.

Quoted recently in The Times Luxx Magazine, Libbert says: "Our clients are interested in jewels that push the boundaries. We think of ourselves as an antidote to the high street."

Now celebrating its tenth year, The Alternative Wedding Show features jewellery by cutting-edge designers, including jeweller to the stars Malcolm Morris, who has made exquisite pieces for the Duchess of Gloucester, Joan Collins and Dawn French.

Morris also created the tiaras worn by Gwyneth Paltrow in Shakespeare in Love and by Amy Adams in The Wedding Date. In 2002, he was commissioned to create a contemporary tiara to commemorate Her Majesty the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

Also on display is work by David McCaul, definitely one to watch in the world of precious contemporary jewellery for his sensually curved bejewelled rings, and Natalie Jane Harris, whose personalised bespoke special occasion rings have become very collectable.

There is also jewellery by Josef Koppmann - sculptural pieces which regularly feature in the pages of Vogue, Harpers & Queen, Hello Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Elle and Grazia.

An exhibition of every kind of bridal jewellery. The Alternative Wedding Show transforms Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery into a treasure trove of engagement and wedding rings, tiaras and fascinators, earrings, bracelets and necklaces all in a mouthwatering array of precious and semi-precious gems with a range of prices to suit every pocket.

A personalised design service is a strong feature of this year's Alternative Wedding Show, and Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery is addressing the current trend for working heirloom jewels into contemporary designs by specially featuring jewellers who will work to commission and create bespoke pieces for the gallery's clients.

Says Kath Libbert: "We bring together the skills and design talent of a select group of very prestigious jewellers who are happy to breathe new life into pieces that have perhaps been languishing. We offer an opportunity to work with these designers to create beautiful, one off bespoke pieces of jewellery."

Picture Caption:
EYE-CATCHING: The 'Beaded Flower' tirara by Malcolm Morris.

The Jewellery Editor
Jan 30th 2011
Rock Revival: alternative engagement rings

The Alternative Wedding Show at Kath Libbert's Jewellery Galllery, Salts Mill, Saltaire, Yorkshire from the 6 Feb to the 2 May is the place to see rings with a different facet. Small makers and original designs make these very individual rings perfect for free-thinkers who are contemplating the down-on-one-knee moment.

Kath Libbert's Jewellery Gallery is going to be a-twinkling with engagement and wedding rings that will appeal those who prefer the meandering side lanes to the main stream of style. From David McCaul’s swooping and elegant rings to Josef Koppman’s chunky bold designs, there is plenty to chose for those who are looking for an alternative way to say ‘I love you.’ And while you are there, have a look at the vast collection of work by David Hockney – a complete day out.

http://www.thejewelleryeditor.com/2011/01/rock-revival-alternative-engagement-rings/

The Wedding Magazine
His&Hers
Spring & Summer 2011

With this Ring....

Jewellery curator Kath Libbert talks about making one of the most important decisions of your life...

"Choosing your wedding ring is about as much of a big decision as choosing your partner!" Says Kath Libbert, curator and director of Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery. "You're stuck with it for the rest of your life!"

When clients come to Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery, a mecca for contemporary jewellery located in the beautiful Victorian structure of Salts Mill in Saltaire, they are encouraged to try on as much of the stunning bespoke jewellery as they possibly can.

Says Kath Libbert, "It's important for me to work alongside a couple at this most significant time to help them find something they'll adore for the rest of their lives."

'It's really helpful to try lots of different styles and metals, to be exploratory, and playful. Rings look so different on the hand than in a show cabinet. I like people to be aware of all the different options so that they can make truly informed choices."

And there are certainly vast numbers of options within the collection of jewellery to be found at Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery. This leading jewellery gallery has specialised solely in contemporary jewellery, silver and metal smithing since 1996 and showcases diverse collections by over seventy renowned designers and emerging talents from Britain and abroad.

Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery is as well known internationally for its boundary-pushing art jewellery exhibitions, as it is for its popular Annual Alternative Wedding Show, now in its 10th year. Quoted recently in The Times Luxx Magazine, Libbert says "Our clients are interested in jewels that push the boundaries. We think of ourselves as the antidote to the high street."

This year's Alternative Wedding Show brings together work by cutting edge designers including jeweller to the stars Malcolm Morris, who has made exquisite pieces for the Duchess of Gloucester, Joan Collins and Dawn French. Morris also created the tiaras worn by Gwyneth Paltrow in Shakespeare in Love and by Amy Adams in The Wedding Date, In 2002 he was commissioned to create a contemporary tiara to commemorate Her Majesty the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

Also on display is a collection by David McCaul, definitely one to watch in the world of precious contemporary jewellery for his sensually curved bejewelled rings, and Natalie Jane Harris whose personalised bespoke special occasion rings have become very collectable. There is also jewellery by Josef Koppmann - sculptural pieces which regularly feature in the pages of Vogue, Harpers & Queen, Hello Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Elle and Grazia.

A personalised design service is a strong feature of this year's Alternative Wedding Show, and Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery is addressing the current trend for working heirloom jewels into contemporary designs by specially featuring jewellers who will work to commission and create bespoke pieces for the gallery's clients.

"There's really something wonderful about reworking a piece of jewellery that just isn't the style someone wants to wear - a kind of'Rock Revival". Says Kath Libbert, 'We bring together the skills and design talent of a select group of very prestigious jewellers who are happy to breathe new life into pieces that have perhaps been languishing, just waiting to be transformed into something fabulous. We offer an opportunity to work with these designers to create beautiful, one off bespoke pieces of jewellery.

Says Libbert, "there's also the added pleasure of knowing that you are wearing your grandmother's diamonds or your aunt's emeralds without compromising your own personal style!"

As well as its strong reputation for exhibiting cutting edge design over the years, Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery is also renowned for offering a uniquely personal service. "We give our customers all the time that they need to make their momentous decision, and because all the staff have jewellery training, they are well placed to answer any questions a customer might have."

"We really do take jewellery very seriously, but in an enjoyable way, and it is important to us to convey the pleasure and passion we feel about jewellery to our customers."

Retail Jeweller

The Alternative Wedding Show focuses on reworked heirlooms

8 March 2011 by Kate Donovan

The Alternative Wedding Show has a Rock Revival focus this year, addressing the trend for working heirlooms into contemporary designs.

Yorkshire’s annual selling exhibition of contemporary bridal jewellery is taking place from February 6 to May 3, 2011, at the Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery in Salts Mills, Bradford.

Now in its 10th year, The Alternative Wedding Show features jewellery by designers including Malcolm Morris, who has made pieces for the Duchess of Gloucester, Joan Collins and Dawn French, and work by designers David McCaul, Natalie Jane Harris and Josef Koppmann.

The show incorporates every kind of bridal jewellery and this year, a personalised design service will be a prevalent feature. The show is addressing the current trend for working heirloom jewels into contemporary designs by including jewellers who will work to commission and create bespoke pieces for the Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery’s clients.

Kath Libbert said: “We bring together the skills and design talent of a select group of very prestigious jewellers who are happy to breathe new life into pieces that have perhaps been languishing, just waiting to be transformed into something fabulous. We offer an opportunity to work with these designers to create beautiful, one off bespoke pieces of jewellery.”

Alternative Wedding Show 2011

Matters of Life & Death

Cool Construct