Metalcyberspace blog - Contemporary Jewelry Design

New West Coast Design: Jewelry + Metalwork

Velvet da Vinci Gallery
2015 Polk Street @ Broadway
San Francisco, CA 94109

Jan. 18 to Feb. 17, 2008
Artist Reception, Friday, Jan. 18, 6-8 pm.

Velvet da Vinci Gallery in San Francisco presents New West Coast Design: Jewelry + Metalwork, an exhibition showcasing 60 West Coast established and rising metal artists and jewelers creating exceptional new work.

New West Coast Design is a group of exhibitions to be held in different venues throughout the San Francisco Bay Area focusing on specific developments in the craft and design fields.  New West Coast Design exhibitions have a rich history which started with a desire to exhibit furniture and objects by California artists.  The California Design exhibitions began at the Pasadena Museum of Art in the 1950s and continued through the 1970s. Designer Craftsmen of the West, curated by Elizabeth Moses in 1957 and held at the de Young Museum, and the thirteen California Design events sponsored by the Baulines Craft Guild in San Francisco from 1988 to 2004 were also premier showcases for regional design.  West Coast designers and artists continue to create unique work exhibited in Museums and private collections. 

The exhibition at Velvet da Vinci, New West Coast Design: Jewelry + Metalwork highlights a collection of the most exciting new designs in jewelry and metalwork currently being made on the West Coast.

Helen Shirk is one of the New West Coast Design: Jewelry + Metalwork artists.  Ms. Shirk is a world-renowned, Southern California metalsmith who creates large organic (plant like) vessels out of copper.  The piece in the exhibition is textured and painted with colored pencil to evoke the color palette of Western Australia.  The work is deeply rooted in her time spent there.  She says, “I try to create the feeling of sensuousness, strangeness, and vitality that I find in the natural world.”

Jeweler Maria Phillips, (Seattle) conjures up the female body through her choice of materials.  Her series of brooches made from gut, gold, silver and thread look almost like quick, precise sketches. 

Cynthia Toops, (Seattle) an established polymer-clay jeweler, has created a new series of work out of felt.  Her Twig bracelet is hand felted into an organic oval with three-dimensional texture emulating small protruding branches. 

James Yont, one of the younger artists in the exhibition, has created a modern style brooch.  Made from red, white and orange plastic and a variety of industrial metals the appearance is that of a space ship with its modern sleek angles.

Mike Holmes and Elizabeth Shypertt co-curated New West Coast Design: Jewelry + Metalwork. 
Velvet da Vinci is one part of a Bay Area-wide exhibition of the New West Coast Design Exhibition. 
In total there are five other museums and galleries:

San Francisco Museum of Craft + Design
New West Coast Design - Contemporary Objects
Jan. 18 through April 27, 2008

San Francisco Center for the Book
New West Coast Design - Books
Jan. 25- April 25, 2008, reception Jan 25, 6-8pm

Bucheon Gallery
New West Coast Design - Fiber
Jan. 4 - Feb. 9, 2008, reception Jan. 4, 2008 6pm - 8pm

Museum of Craft and Folk Art
“C” Change: Craft in Our Future
Recent Graduates from the California College of the Arts 
Nov. 1, 2007 - Jan. 27, 2008

Artworks Gallery
New West Coast Design - The State of the Art Quilt
Jan. 10 - Feb. 28, 2008, reception Jan. 24

Since 1991, Velvet da Vinci Gallery has been a leader in showcasing new developments in contemporary art jewelry and craft-based sculpture and regularly organizes exhibitions of contemporary craft.  The Gallery represents more than 75 renowned artists from across the globe and regularly holds lectures by both local and visiting artists that are free to the public.
Velvet da Vinci is open Tuesday through Sat. from 12 pm - 6 pm, Sunday 12 pm - 4 pm. 
The Gallery is closed on Monday.

TEXTURES OF TOSCANA 2008
A Renaissance Style Workshop of Chasing & Repousse’
June 9 – 15, 2008

Come “apprentice” in the art of ancient metalworking techniques with  master Italian metalsmith Davide Bigazzi in his native Tuscany. Learn chasing, repousse’, and tool-making in an intimate and inspirational setting in Pian Di Sco, a small village in the Chianti hills just south of Florence. The workshop, held in his Tuscan studio, will offer students the chance to study one-on-one with Davide and learn about the land that inspires his designs. Students will stay in a rustic Italian farmhouse and feast together daily. The course also includes a day trip to Florence to see works by Benvenuto Cellini and other Italian master metalsmiths and
sculptors.

The workshop includes:
-35 hours of individualized instruction :: previous experience helpful but not required

-Limited Enrollment:: 5 students
-6 nights in a rustic country farmhouse, double or single occupancy
-Breakfast, lunch, & dinner included – Homemade Tuscan cuisine!!
-Land transfers including pick-up from Florence train station to Pian Di Sco’ and return
-Transportation to Florence to visit Il Bargello museum and Museo degli Argenti
-Use of tools and studio space

About Davide:
Davide Bigazzi is a metalsmith and designer from Florence, Italy currently living and working in the U.S. He has worked as an instructor, designer, model maker, and production supervisor for prestigious fine silver companies in Italy. His work is featured in galleries worldwide. Capturing the intrinsic beauty and sculptural qualities of metal has been his life-long passion.
During his early teens, Davide apprenticed with Bino Bini, the renowned Florentine metalsmith and sculptor, aiding in commissions for the Vatican, national banks, churchs, etc.. Bino, one of the most notable Italian metal artists of our day, left a legacy of the Italian chasing and repousse’ tradition, which Davide is committed to preserving via the hands-on workshops he teaches throughout the U.S. and in Italy.

*The maximum class capacity of Textures of Toscana is 5.
Early registration is highly recommended!!
The registration deadline is April 10, 2008.
For info contact Elisa at 650-323-1923

SNAG 2008 Conference
Crosscurrents: Diverse Solutions in a Global Environment
March 5-8, 2008 in historic and vibrant Savannah, GA
hosted by the Savannah College of Art & Design

The 2008 conference features presenters such as: internationally acclaimed fiber artist and keynote speaker Sheila Hicks, studio jeweler Bruce Metcalf and editor Andrew Wagner, German artist Iris Eichenberg, Australian artist Carlier Makigawa, British jeweler Norman Cherry, artist Deb Todd Wheeler and designer Richard Nelipovich.

The 37th annual SNAG conference is open for registration.

Register by January 30, 2008 to take advantage of the lowest rates available

Appalachian Center for Craft
1560 Craft Center Drive
Smithville, TN 37166
615-597-6801

March 15-16, 2008
Earrings
Sarah McClary

April 12-13, 2008
The Art of Granulation
Douglas Harling

June 2-6, 2008
Angle-Raised Vessels
David Huang

June 9-13, 2008
Inlay
Dennis Lee Gomez

June 16-20, 2008
Fabricating Jewelry Forms from the Forest
Jen Townsend

June 23-27, 2008
Pewter: The Other White Meat
Thomas Madden

July 7-11, 2008
Introduction to Jewelry & Metal Arts
Yoko Noguchi

July 14-18, 2008
Surface Texture & Metal Embellishment
Juan Carlos Cabellero-Perez

July 21-25, 2008
Hinged Boxes with Locking Closures
John Cogswell

July 28-August 1, 2008
Cuffs & Collars
Betty Helen Longhi

The Works Gallery
JEWELRY :: Flirting with Seduction

Carmen Valdes
Lonna Keller
Kathleen Lamberti
 
The Works Gallery is proud to present Flirting with Seduction, an exhibit
featuring the work of prominent jewelry artists Carmen Valdes, Lonna Keller
and Kathleen Lamberti.
 
Valdes received her BA from Yale University and her Masters in Architecture
from Harvard Graduate School of Design.  Her work is influenced by her years
of design work in the architectural field and by the juxtaposition created
by the materials she uses; rubber and silver.  Valdes creates work that is
simultaneously bold and elegant, hard and soft, precious and industrial.
 
Keller is a unique jeweler who creates pieces that reference the sensuality
that exudes from the female form.  She uses everyday found objects such as
swivel hooks; garbage bags, zip ties and rubber chords to create pieces that
are designed to enhance the female body almost like a second skin.  In 1999
her work was selected to be part of the Renwick Collection in Washington DC.
 
Lamberti uses metal and fiber to create pieces that are very structural, but
also soft and contain vibrant colors.  To combine these opposing materials,
Lamberti uses stitching that is functional, but also decorative.  Using
objects found in nature as inspiration for her forms, she creates works that
are more body dressing than jewelry.
 
Flirting with Seduction : Carmen Valdes : Lonna Keller : Kathleen Lamberti
exhibition runs from Nov 2-30th, 2007. 

The Works Gallery is located at 303 Cherry Street in Old City, Philadelphia, PA. 
The public is welcome, admission is free.
Gallery hours are Tues- Sat. 10-6pm.

PARALLAX - Massart Metals Symposium Event

PARALLAX: the apparent displacement or the difference in apparent direction of an object as seen from two different points…

Saturday October 27th 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Pozen Center, North Hall
621 Huntington Ave. Boston, MA 02115

This event is free and open to the public. Parking is available in the MassArt parking lot
R.S.V.P. required

Speakers include: Iris Eichenberg, Lauren Fensterstock, Katja Prins, Andrea Wagner, Deb Todd Wheeler and Joe Wood.

This one-day conference event takes advantage of an opportunity to compare two separate bodies of work. At Massachusetts College of Art and Design, there will be two separate exhibitions installed in the Bakalar Gallery; Golden Clogs, Dutch Mountains and IN SITU.

Both of these exhibitions stem from investigations in jewelry and personal object making. Since jewelry and objects for personal use have an essential built-in context, the divergent approaches the artists take in these two very different exhibitions is intriguing. It sheds light on the differences in the approach to context in personal adornment and object making as art. As explorations and investigations that use jewelry and personal objects as a point of departure, there is always an implied function or context. How these two groups employ context illustrates a fundamental difference in cultured perspective.

The exhibition Golden Clogs, Dutch Mountains, organized by Andrea Wagner, features the work of relatively young artists working in the Netherlands. With a recognized legacy of bold defiance to convention, Dutch works often pose questions for the viewer and wearer to reconcile historic references with new materials and associations.

The artists in the exhibition IN SITU organized by Joe Wood are a group of young artists working primarily in the US. These artists work from a similar point of departure. They too employ elements from conventional approaches to jewelry and personal object making but that is where the two groups diverge. Where one group (Dutch) embraces the open, enigmatic and fragmentary the other creates a full-blown narrative fiction around the objects. For the Americans, the object remains central to the experience but only as it becomes wrapped in a specific personal projection of the artist’s intent. Interaction, experience and documentation become intregal to the work.

In both cases, context of the object is a focus. With the respective differences of vantage that these two groups of artists have we may see this essential element in more depth and clarity.

Attended the MJSA Trade Show for Jewelry Making in Providence, RI on Oct. 11,2007.

Volunteered to help SNAG with their booth (deja vu for me) and handed out free copies of Metalsmith to attendees and vendors.  They only had the recent Exhibition in Print issue available so I had to explain that it was the special issue. I wish I had a copy of the regular version of the magazine to show people too.

It was not very busy that day which made me sad because I could see such a huge potential for this show. Most of the people that were there had also attended the previous day so I was left with more than a few magazines  & brochures which I happily handed off to Metalwerx and other school people at the end of the day. I’m sure they will find good homes with their students.
It was nice catching up with people and meeting new ones. Ended the day having a nice dinner with Reactive Metals Studio. Thanks Bill!

I was thinking of ways to increase attendance. Here are my thoughts:

1. Plan the show to coincide with other events. Coordinate exhibitions with the local galleries and museums featuring JEWELRY. The Providence Jewelry Museum and the RISD Museum come to mind. Set up a gallery night with the trolley.

2. Network with schools. RISD is practically across the street from the conference center. It would be the perfect place to hold a symposium about contemporary jewelry. Panel discussions and workshops that could possibly be funded by grants from RISCA or the NEA. Sponsor international artists to participate.

3. Include a weekend for the show instead of having it only during the week while most people are at work or school. Weds/Thursday was tough for many people.

4. Work with the Chamber of Commerce in Providence and RIEDC. Emphasize the convenience of trains to reach the city. Possible special Waterfire event?

5. Display the MJSA Vision Award pieces at the show. (I didn’t see them if they were.)

I’m sure I have more ideas floating around but those are enough to start.
It’s time for me to get back to my bench and start working now that I have new gemstones and inspirations.

S.E. Sarantos

Just returned from a fantastic 2 day conference in New York City planned by Adornment’s Elyse Karlin (A Place in Time: Jewelry within the Context of the Decorative Arts). If you can make it to any of these in the future it is well worth the effort. Luckily, I am close enough to be able to take the train to NY. Subscribe to Adornment either way!

The first night had dinner with the conference host & most of the speakers and the second night with long time friends Ornament Magazine’s Robert K. Liu & Carolyn Benesh and jewelry artist Jan Yager.  

Jeannine Falino did double duty filling in for one speaker who could not make it as well as her own scheduled talk about the work of Daniel Brush. Seeing close details of his work blown up on a huge slide screen was amazing.

Elyse gave a great talk about Medusa who I have always had a fondness for. Must be the hair thing. I have to dig up and scan an old Halloween image of me dressed up as her to send along.

Ruthie Katzenstein spoke about her great-grandfather Meyer D. Rothschild (fine jeweler, gemologist/author, attorney, entrepreneur, fisherman, humanitarian). Remember his name. You will be hearing more about this fascinating man. I would love to see a book written about him after listening to her stories and looking at the all the photos.

See you there next year!

inside out: JMGA 2008 Conference:
13th Biennial Conference of the Jewellers and Metalsmiths Group of Australia, Adelaide

Jan. 25-27, 2008

inside out explores jewellery and object making inside the Australia, Asia and Pacific regions and outside the conventions of mainstream practice.

The conference will bring together practitioners, educators, collectors, critics and cultural theorists for three days of discussion, debate, interaction and the exchange of ideas.

aura
Oct. 19-21, 2007
Burton Agnes Hall East Yorkshire UK
Four Yorkshire Jewellers at Burton Agnes
A selling exhibition in the company of the artists
With international guest jewellers chosen by Giò Carbone, Director of Le Arti Orafe, Florence and Lucca, Italy
 Jacqueline Stieger 
 Pamela Dickinson 
 Jacqueline Warrington  
 Emma Sedman  
 Yuki Kamiya  
 Silvia Nesti 
 Cucù Ruiz   
 Sakiko Kawaguchi 
 Shinobu Nozue  
 Pauline Held  
 Arata Fuchi  
 Kiyoko Hosoda