AN international artist and one time goldsmith's apprentice really does make individual pieces of jewellery - reflecting the personality and interests of customers.

Tokyo-born Yuka Oyama gave a demonstration of her skills, called Schmuck Quickies, in Teesside last night.

James Beighton, curator for craft at the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (Mima) said: "Yuka's work tries to recapture the direct contact and personal interaction that once existed between the dressmaker and the wearer.

"She makes fashion-inspired jewellery pieces that grow out of the personalities and interests of the wearer.

"Schmuck Quickies is a performance in which the audience becomes participants as Yuka creates spontaneous pieces of jewellery for each of them at no cost to the participants and in a matter of minutes."

Yuka is an artist in residence with Mima, in partnership with Arts Week for Everyone, the Middlesbrough Town Centre Company and Psyche fashion retailers.

Published: 26/10/2004