Echoes & Fragments…and volunteering

17th - 28th June 2026 | South Fremantle, Western Australia
EarlyWork Gallery

This weekend sees the close of Echoes & Fragments - the latest biennial members’ exhibition from the Jewellers & Metalsmiths Group of Australia, WA (JMGA WA). Held at EarlyWork Gallery on a very lively corner in South Fremantle.

For the first time since I joined the JMGA, I have not had a piece of my own included in the exhibition - for various reasons, mainly poor time management and construction challenges, but ultimately ending in a rage-quit. It’s a shame I couldn’t exhibit, but I’m content with the decision to not force a piece through that I wasn’t completely happy with.

Saying that, I have still been heavily involved with the exhibition committee, working behind the scenes to pull this event together alongside Robin Wells, our Secretary and volunteer superstar. It’s quite a beast to put on an exhibition, and it’s great to be able to work with others who are so proactive and committed, who get stuck in and just get things done! The staff at EarlyWork Gallery have also been amazing, so hands-on and accommodating, making our jobs so much easier.

The brunt of my contribution has been with logo design and artwork for posters, invitations, artist statements, awards, and social media posts. I also dusted off the lightbox to do some supplemental product photography, as well as on-site photography of the installed exhibition. Come Sunday afternoon, I’ll be back in the gallery helping to pack down the show and place the works back into the safety of their boxes ready to hand back to their makers (or their new owners!).

I often get people telling me I’m doing too much and are quite surprised I’m volunteering all this time for a show I’m not even in. And I definitely have those moments too. But the JMGA (like so many other arts groups) is completely volunteer run, and if we don’t do the work, nothing will get done. It’s important to look outside ourselves and see that volunteering to install an exhibition like this (even if I’m not exhibiting in it) is ultimately a benefit to everyone, including me, and our jewellery community in general. All the little things we do add value, increase exposure, build an audience, and educate others about this creative life we’ve chosen. The next time I am in a JMGA event, then all the work I’ve put in now will pay off then.

I’ve been very lucky with this exhibition to be working with other great volunteers, and it’s wonderful to see some of our newest members putting up their hand to help out. Despite the work load it’s been a positive experience and a successful show.

We’re already planning the next one, so I better get working on my piece now so I don’t miss out again!

If you want to read more about the Echoes & Fragments exhibition - and not just my thoughts on volunteering - head to the JMGA WA website and Instagram.

Photos by Susannah Kings-Lynne (I’m never in the photos because I’m always taking them!)