![]() MEDIA RELEASE Media and Communications Tel. +61 3 9925 5047 Fax +61 3 9663 2891 Visit RMIT University’s online magazine, Openline, at www.rmit.edu.au/news. For a listing of RMIT University experts, go to www.whatson.rmit.edu.au/experts. MELBOURNE BRUNSWICK BUNDOORA FISHERMAN’S BEND POINT COOK HAMILTON HO CHI MINH CITY HANOI Memories and homeland inspire award-winning jewellery Brunswick resident and final-year Master of Fine Art student Nicole Polentas has been recognised with a major prize, RMIT University’s $2,500 Gold and Silversmithing Postgraduate and Alumni Award. Ms Polentas’ award-winning work is inspired by scripts and ideas from her original homeland – the town of Chania on the Greek island of Crete. “I am fascinated by the history and heritage of my homeland and how people’s memories of history are not necessarily how things happened, or how they have been written down,” she said. “Words are always layered with meaning and that is why I used manipulated script in my pieces to reflect this aspect of memory.” Ms Polentas also uses features traditionally associated with Greece in her work, such as the colours blue and white and the third eye symbol. “I use the third eye in my work as so many stories from Greece and my family are about watching people and protecting people, and Greece is very much associated with this symbol and the protection of the evil eye,” she said. Ms Polentas plans to use her prize money to travel and hopes her experiences overseas will inspire her future work. “I want to visit my homeland, Chania and Crete, and see how being there affects my work and how I feel about my heritage,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting to win this award, so I was shocked and overwhelmed when I did – but it was a good feeling! “The support I’ve had from staff and other students while studying gold and silversmithing at RMIT has been amazing and it really gives you the confidence to take your work to the next level.” Ms Polentas studied a Bachelor of Fine Art at RMIT, specialising in Gold and Silversmithing, before embarking on her Masters. Four of Ms Polentas’ award-winning pieces were recently on display at “it’s got legs”, the RMIT School of Art Gold and Silversmithing Postgraduate and Alumni Award Exhibition. For interviews: Nicole Polentas, 0429 300 322. For general media enquiries, RMIT University Media and Communications, Deborah Sippitts, (03) 9925 5047 or 0400 844 075. 19 August, 2008 |