Hosted by broadcaster Wallace Chapman, the format is simple – a guest is invited to choose an object playlist – selecting six objects that are important to them. The interview will plot a course around the conversation their selection catalyses.

Our fifth event of the series welcomes national jewellery icon, Alan Preston, to the stage.

Alan Preston is a key figure in contemporary New Zealand jewellery. Alongside an extensive exhibition history and being central to the development of what is now referred to as the ‘Bone, Stone, Shell’ era, Preston was the founder of Fingers, Aotearoa’s longest running contemporary jewellery gallery which has remained at the heart of innovation in New Zealand jewellery for over 40 years.

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Alan Preston began jewellery making through classes at the Camden Institute in London in 1973. In 1974 he spent time as a guest artist at New Zealand’s first major craft co-op, the Brown’s Mill Market, in Auckland. That same year he went on to open Fingers gallery, alongside jewellers Ruth Baird, Roy Mason, Margaret Phillips and Michael Ayling.

Preston has exhibited widely nationally and internationally; including a solo exhibition of his work at the Dowse Art Museum in 2007, and inclusion in the touring group exhibition ‘Wunderrūma: New Zealand jewellery’, 2014. His work is held in many national public collections.

Preston was Adjunct Professor, Jewellery Design at Unitec from 2002-2013 and New Zealand selector, Schmuckszene, Munich from 1990 to 2010.

Wallace Chapman is a broadcaster and host of top rating show The Panel on RNZ National. For five years prior to that he was host of Sunday Morning with Wallace Chapman, and hosted the ‘pub politics’ TV show Backbenches for 10 years until 2018. Chapman has a personal interest in the arts…specifically New Zealand artists, both emerging and established.