Read more on Harriete’s post about “Exhibition in Print”

Entries are due by Feb. 5, 2010
Prizes will be awarded.

DEADLINE: Entries must be postmarked by APRIL 30, 2009

ELIGIBILITY:

* Applicant must be a full-time, matriculated student in metalsmithing program
* Must be a member of MAG or sign up for a student membership ($20)
* Can reside anywhere in the United States

For more information and submission form:
http://www.metalartsguildsf.org/events/grant.htm

The Metal Arts Guild of The Bay Area, a non-profit organization, focuses on promoting the recognition of metalwork as an art form and offering Bay Area jewelers and metal artists a network of information, education and support.

Alexander Calder: The Paris Years, 1926-1933
at the Whitney Museum – New York, NY USA – Oct.16, 2008-Feb.15, 2009
then travels to:
the Centre Pompidou – Paris France – March 18-July 20, 2009

This exhibition looks at Calder’s formative years (1926-1933) when he arrived at his revolutionary notion of “drawing in space”.

“Calder’s Circus” will be presented in a new installation.

Wire sculptures will include all four extant Josephine Bakers together for the first time, mechanized moving abstractions, some never-before-exhibited animals from Calder’s bestiary and his first ceiling-suspended mobile.

His first Paris sketchbook will be on view along with previously unexhibited drawings.

Rare films include:
Sculptor Discards Clay, of 1928
Le Grand Cirque Calder 1927 (1955) by Jean Painlevé
Montparnasse–Where the Muses Hold Sway 1929 – Calder is seen as a member of the artists’ community of Montparnasse creating a wire portrait of Kiki de Montparnasse.

Calder and his works portrayed in photographs by Brassaï, Kertész, Thérèse Bonney, Agnès Varda, and Marc Vaux.
A catalog of the show is available.

Exhibition of Silver Jewelry Designed by Legendary Modernist Jeweler Art Smith

This exhibit will honor the gift of twenty pieces of silver and gold jewelry created by the Brooklyn-born modernist jeweler Arthur Smith (1917–1982), primarily from Charles Russell, Smith’s companion and heir.

The presentation of Art Smith jewelry will be enhanced by archival material from the artist’s estate, including his working tools, the original shop sign designed by Smith, period photographs of models wearing his jewelry, preparatory sketches, and account books. Presented along with Smith’s work are twenty-three pieces of modernist jewelry from the permanent collection by such artists as Elsa Freund, William Spratling, Frank Rebajes, Eva Eisler, Ed Weiner, Claire Falkenstein, Jung-Hoo Kim, and others. Inspired by surrealism, biomorphicism, and primitivism, Art Smith’s jewelry is dynamic in its size and form. Although sometimes massive in scale, his jewelry remains lightweight and wearable due to his awareness of the female form. The jewelry dates from the late 1940s to the 1970s and includes his most famous pieces, such as a "Patina" necklace inspired by the mobiles of Alexander Calder; a "Lava" bracelet, or cuff, that extends over the entire lower arm in undulating and overlapping forms; and a massive ring with three semiprecious stones that stretches over three fingers.

Trained at Cooper Union, Art Smith, an African American, opened his first shop on Cornelia Street in Greenwich Village in 1946. He later moved the business to 140 West Fourth Street, where it remained throughout his career. Not only one of the leading modernist jewelers of the mid-twentieth century, Smith was also an active supporter of black and gay civil rights, an avid jazz enthusiast, and a supporter of early black modern dance groups.

This exhibition is organized by Barry Harwood, Curator of Decorative Arts, Brooklyn Museum. The exhibition is supported by the Harold S. Keller Fund with additional support from the Donald and Mary Oenslager Fund.

Meet the artist & booksigning Oct. 2, 2008 at 2:30 space is limited.

Masters Workshop March 27-29, 2009

Phillip Fike

born July 17, 1927 – died Dec. 8, 1997

Wow ! Has it really been ten years since my good friend Phillip Fike left this planet? I feel his presence around me all the time and it makes me think he’s still here.

We met at my first SNAG conference in the 80’s. I remember being in a dark bar surrounded by a sea of people and being told these amazing stories of past escapades. I wish I had taped them because I can no longer remember the exact details but I will always remember them with a smile.

For those too young to have met him, Phillip was a founding member of SNAG and the person who came up with the acronym SNAG (the Society of North American Goldsmiths).

He would make fabulous fibulae which is an ancient form of a brooch. The types that the Romans and Greeks would use to fasten their garments. He was an expert with Niello. He was a professor at Wayne State University in Michigan from 1953-1997.

When I told him that I was running for the SNAG Board, he grabbed my hand strongly, would not let go, then thanked me and told me that I understood and represented the spirit of the original Society of North American Goldsmiths. Michael Good told me the same at Tavern on the Green in NY at WJA. I was honored that they felt that way about me. I won the election and served on it from 1994-1998.

It saddens me to know that a new generation of metalsmiths will never have the chance to experience firsthand the great man Phillip Fike.

I do have a page in progress.  I need to add a few photos and more information. Just have not been able to scan them yet. If people have info and stories I would love to hear from them.

Susan Sarantos

Any and all used pencils, including broken, chewed, stubby, or erasers worn to a nub. Harriete needs over 30,000 pencils to assemble a new sculpture about education and test taking.

Clean out your junk drawer of leftover pencils

Rub out memories of erasers too small for mistakes in life

Protest the tyranny of standardized tests

Ask local schools, students or teachers to help. Share or send this email to anyone and everyone else who might like to participate and contribute pencils.

Send pencils to artist:

Harriete Estel Berman
657 42nd Avenue
San Mateo, CA 94403-5059

If you include your name, address and email, she’ll send you a card of the finished piece.

If you would like to write a comment about your experience with standardized tests, send a statement with your pencil contribution.

SMALL PRINT:

The testing industry is calculated to be a $400 million to $700 million industry.

In 2001, the New York Times reported that the U.S. Department of Education set aside $400 million to help states develop and administer the tests that the No Child Left Behind Act mandated for children in grades 3 through 8. Among the likely benefactors of the extra funds were the four companies that dominate the testing market .

Do you know that Educational Testing Service (ETS), best known for its administration of the SAT college-entrance exam, won a three-year, $50 million contract in October 2001 to develop and score California’s high-school exit exam?