{{Short description|New Zealand jeweller (born 1978)}} {{Infobox artist | name = Octavia Cook | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Octavia Cook | birth_date = 1978 | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | known_for = Jewellery | training = Bachelor of Design (Jewellery), Unitec Auckland | movement = | notable_works = | patrons = | awards = | elected = | website = }} '''Octavia Cook''' (born 1978) is a New Zealand jeweller.<ref name= 'Wickham'>{{cite book|last1=Wickham|first1=Leanne|title=Dynasty: Works by Octavia Cook|date=2012|publisher=The Dowse Art Museum|location=Lower Hutt, New Zealand|isbn=978-0-9876685-0-9}}</ref>
==Education== Cook graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Design in jewellery from Unitec Auckland where among other tutors she studied with Pauline Bern.<ref name= 'Wickham'/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Tyler|first1=Linda|title=From small beginnings come beautiful things|url=http://www.artnews.co.nz/summer-2014-feature/|website=Arts news|accessdate=6 December 2014|date=Summer 2014}}</ref>
==Work== Cook's work examines the concept of identity and the inherent values attributed to jewellery.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wattie|first1=Rachel|title=The art of jewellery|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/culture/visual-arts/7432291/The-art-of-jewellery|accessdate=4 December 2014|agency=The Dominion Post|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=2012}}</ref><ref name='Miles'>{{cite web|last1=Miles|first1=Anna|title=Octavia Cook|url=http://www.realartroadshow.co.nz/essays/Cook%20Octavia.pdf|website=The Real Art Road Show|accessdate=4 December 2014}}</ref> She says 'My work references familiar historical jewellery motifs, like the bow, skull, and cameo silhouette, which balance the personal nature of my subject matter'.<ref name='Were'>{{cite journal|last1=Were|first1=Virginia|title=Leaving the lagoon|journal=Art News New Zealand|date=Autumn 2007|pages=86–90}}</ref>{{Rp|88}}
In 2002 Cook began working with the cameo form for which she has become known.<ref name='Were'/>{{Rp|88}}<ref>{{cite web|last1=Groufsky|first1=Jane|title="Wunderpus O Sea", Octavia Cook|url=http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/collections-research/collections/topics/wunderpus-o-sea-octavia-cook|website=www.aucklandmuseum.com|accessdate=31 July 2017}}</ref> She has several series of rings, brooches, earrings and necklaces that play with the ideas of cameos, mourning jewellery, and identity.<ref name='Miles'/> For example, her 'Loved and Lost' brooches from 2006 take the form of updated mourning jewellery, but bear the faces of Cook family pet that have died, and have individual titles such as ''Lucky Cook', 1982-1991'' and ''Sooty Cook, 1986-1987''.<ref name='Were'/>{{Rp|88}} Another work, ''OC v QEII'' (2006) is a reversible red and white brooch hung from a large bow, with Cook's and Queen Elizabeth II's profiles on either side.<ref name='Miles'/> Also unconventional is the increased size of the brooches, and the use of brightly coloured acrylic.<ref name='Were'/>{{Rp|89}}
In 2002 Cook also 'launched' her imaginary company Cook & Co, under which she produced her work for several years.<ref name='Miles'/> Cook & Co draws a fictional link between Cook and Captain James Cook, and important figure in New Zealand history, and also plays on the name of famous jewellery brand Tiffany & Co.<ref name='Were'/>{{Rp|88–89}} She produces themed branding and packaging that riffs on the branding and marketing strategies of international jewellery companies.<ref name='Were'/>{{Rp|89}} Art critic Virginia Were writes 'Cook's autobiographical references and her lighthearted take on the weighty history of jewellery give her work a contemporary edge that propels it way beyond the confines of craft and art'.<ref name='Were'/>{{Rp|89}}
Cook has exhibited both nationally and internationally.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Walsh|first1=Frances|title=Eye-Catch: Jewellery and Photography|date=2011|publisher=Objectspace|location=Auckland|isbn=978-0-9876502-5-2|url=http://www.objectspace.org.nz/Downloads/Assets/2165/EYECATCH+ONLINE+Cat+ISBN.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Blair|first1=Anna|title=Germany embracing NZ artists|url=http://www.mch.govt.nz/news-events/news/germany-embracing-nz-artists|website=Ministry of Culture and Heritage|accessdate=4 December 2014}}</ref> Her solo exhibition ''Dynasty: Works by Octavia Cook'' was held at The Dowse Art Museum in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dynasty: Works by Octavia Cook|url=http://dowse.org.nz/exhibitions/detail/dynasty-works-by-octavia-cook|website=The Dowse Art Museum|accessdate=6 January 2015}}</ref> In 2023, Objectspace held the exhibition ''Cook & Company'' which featured new work by Cook alongside older pieces borrowed from private lenders and public institutions.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Groufsky |first1=Jane |title=Cook & Company |url=https://www.objectspace.org.nz/journal/essay-cook-company/|access-date=1 June 2023}}</ref>
==Collections== Cook's work is held in numerous collections such as the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Govett-Brewster Art Gallery and The Dowse Art Museum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/Object/1069120|title=The Cook & Co Dynasty|website=Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa|accessdate=4 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://dowse.org.nz/exhibitions/detail/dynasty-works-by-octavia-cook|title=Dynasty: Works by Octavia Cook|website=The Dowse Art Museum|accessdate=4 December 2014}}</ref> Cook is a Special Advisor for the Objectspace Charitable Trust.<ref>{{cite web|title=Object Space, About us|url=http://www.objectspace.org.nz/About-Us/|website=Objectspace|accessdate=9 December 2014|archive-date=14 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214111008/http://www.objectspace.org.nz/About-Us/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cook, Octavia}} Category:1978 births Category:New Zealand jewellers Category:Living people Category:Artisans from Auckland Category:Unitec Institute of Technology alumni Category:New Zealand women jewellers Category:21st-century New Zealand women artists