Sam Farmer

"Over the past year and a half dealing with the limitations, uncertainty, frustration and occasional feeling of depression brought on by aspects of the global pandemic, I often looked to the natural world to remind me of the many positive facets of happiness to be found in observing various life forms doing what they are genetically programmed to do in their awesome ways. My brooch was inspired by the gifts of visual and olfactory beauty from one of my favourite and long-lived cactuses. Its nocturnal, moonlight-triggering floral bouquets, though brief, never fails to lift my mood and give hope that all will eventually go well as the correct course of science slowly prevails and our lives return to normal."

Sam Farmer is an active international contemporary goldsmith and educator with a studio practice based near Fremantle, WA. Prior to that, he was the jewellery lecturer-coordinator of Curtin University/ Kalgoorlie College in the WA Goldfields, arriving in 1992 from the University of Kansas School of Art and Design (Jewellery and Metalsmithing Dept). He is currently the senior jewellery lecturer in the North Metropolitan TAFE Art and Design program, Perth, WA.

Pandemic Moonflowers, 2021
Sterling silver, 18ct yellow gold, South Sea pearls, onyx
$5,580

Image top: Sam Farmer, Pandemic Moonflowers, 2021 Photo: Yasmin Eghtesadi