The earring show is an original event by the Craft Council of BC, an exhibition, a fundraiser, and a connector’s space. It highlights the dynamic relationship between craft and culture, and serves as a space for collectors, artists, and earring appreciators to connect. This post talk about what the Earring Show is, and takes a look at winners from 2022 – 2025.
The Earring Show: Culture + Craft
The Earring Show is in its 12th edition in this year! It’s been an honour and a privilege for the Craft Council of BC to organize and host this event for over a decade. We recognize the important role that craft artists play, from shaping culture, to preserving it – not just in Canada, but around the world.
Craft –> (influences) –> Culture
Culture –> (influences) –> Craft
Since time immemorial, craft and culture have existed in a dynamic relationship—each influencing and shaping the other. This relationship is carried forward by artists from every corner of the world. We recognize that the end result of an artistic endeavour, whether a pair of earrings or a ceramic vase, will always reflect parts of the artist. Life experiences, artistic mentors, places lived, education institutions attended and personal + geographic culture all impact us at both conscious and subconscious levels, which in turn influences both what and how we produce craft. On one hand, the Earring show lifts up the individuality of each artist – as it shines through the work. On the other hand, the Earring Show is a space that illuminates contemporary craftsmanship, generally, through the lens of earrings.
“illuminating contemporary craft through the lens of earrings“
a look back on previous winners: culture + craftsmanship
We have had the joy of seeing thousands of pairs of earrings come through our space over the past 12 years, each carrying a unique story. Every year, there is one winner per category (limited edition, one of a kind, emerging artist) – each assessed based on skill level, concept, and other factors. In each pair of earrings – we see a great skill in craftsmanship. As each pair is created by a person, who is inherently cultural, we also see culture in each design. This post reflects on the winners from the previous three years, looking at highlights within these themes: high level craftsmanship + culture. (We recognize that the two categories are inexorably linked; it is truly impossible to divorce the two from each other – both elements are seen in every listing below).
Viyan Petekkaya was the emerging artist winner in 2024 with her “Heavy Presence of Absence” earrings. Viyan, a Kurdish artist born in Turkey, and now based in Canada created these earrings, in part, to invite dialogue about the question of identity, connection the land (or lack thereof), cultural displacement, and the preservation of endangered languages. They were made with high level craftsmanship, but were are also used to spark conversations about an important subject. CCBC recognized the earrings as both jewellery but also being used as pushing the boundaries of culture.
In 2024, Bego Fuente from Spain was the winner of the limited-edition category. The collection was titled “Biophilia”, and sought to explore and highlight the relationship between people and nature. The intricate design represented tactile, realistic-looking coral and flowers made from silicone, pigments, cotton, sterling silver, and gold plated brass. Her intention with the pieces was to invite people to interact with the items, and then acknowledge the emotional impact that followed. Further, she wrote that she wanted to invite us to consider our bond with nature, so that we can nourish both our bodies and minds. CCBC saw the way the way these earrings invited important dialogue related to health, and our relationship with nature.
Kate Gardiner won the Emerging Artist category in 2023 with her ‘Rangeland’ earrings. These earrings were inspired by the macro and micro features seen in the landscape of western New South Wales, Australia. She weaved in the design themes from the bark of local trees, to the way the stars dot the vast, illuminated, night sky in that area. CCBC recognized Kate’s earrings as being used to reflect a love for a particular land, in a particular time – an timeless theme within craftsmanship.
notable craftsmanship
Fiona MacLean won the emerging artist category in 2022 with her Floral earrings. These earrings were intentionally made in a way to push the boundaries of jewellery, and sculpture. The pieces were designed to be worn, or displayed as sculptures (resting on metal bases). She challenged the idea that jewellery should be tucked away when not being worn, and designed her earrings to be equally appreciated when displayed as mini sculptures. CCBC recognized the truly innovate approach to design in her pieces.
In 2022, Ruth Hollywood’s limited edition ‘Loop’ Collection won that title. She skillfully combined 3D technology with traditional techniques such as lost wax casting. She used recycled silver, and mixed resin in for a bright pop of color. The shapes and structures were informed by color theory, and grid formations, as well as her personal influences of science, architecture, and modern art; all visibility manifested in the pieces. The CCBC noted the use of interesting materials, a sharp execution of vision and design.
In 2023, Burcu Büyükünal’s ‘Surface’ collection won the limited-edition award. The earrings were made using a Polylactic Acid (PLA) pen, which dispenses a thermoplastic material that comes from biodegradable sources such as sugarcane and cornstarch. The earrings were then mounted on silver backings. The artist is only able to check their work once the piece has been fully dried, making it a time sensitive and arduous process. The CCBC recognizes the boundary pushing skills need to accomplish the design.
strong combinations of both culture and craftsmanship
Sherri Pelican’s Latent series won the ‘one of a kind’ category in the 2023 earring show. The earrings were based on the concept of unperceived and overlooked spaces, and the objects they contain. She was particularly inspired by her daily walks, in observing the destruction and subsequent rebuilding of homes around her neighborhood (in Vancouver, B.C.). CCBC recognized the way culture was seen through her design, specifically design imitating her neighborhood (which would look different than Nairobi, Paris, or Dhaka). CCBC also noted her intricate and skilled metalsmithing work, using roller printing, stamping, carving, and stitching that brought the concepts to life.
In 2024, Ye – jee Lee was the winner of the ‘One of a Kind’ category. She used a press technique using collected metal dyes from different countries. Her intricate craftsmanship includes materials such as leather, metal mesh, thin plates and more. She has developed her personal practice of making her jewellery hollow and lightweight, yet retaining their depth in design. Each piece contains motifs, words, and themes – transforming the earrings into miniature wearable sculptures. CCBC recognizes the high-level craftsmanship involved in making the pieces, as well as the unique snapshot in time of culture that Lee presents through her work.
In 2022, Rho Tang won the One of Kind award, with her ‘Evolution of Being’ earrings, which were inspired by mitosis, a process of replicating new cells. The earrings were made from identical components, with flexible joints between individual parts providing many degrees of freedom for transformation, to express different modalities similar to the genetic variations found in the natural process of evolution. CCBC recognized the high level of both concept and design to create the kinetic earrings in a way that we both aesthetically interesting, as well as invoked conversations about our bodies.
For generations, artists have used craft to express identity, tell stories, challenge norms, and preserve tradition. The Earring Show highlights how earrings, as small-scale works of art, can powerfully reflect personal and cultural narratives — serving as wearable testaments to both heritage and contemporary creativity. We look forward to welcoming you at this year’s earring show!
