The theme for 2008 is The Platinum Wedding.

Entries to be submitted online as digital images and can be either of renderings or actual jewelry.
Deadline is April 18, 2008
For more details go to:
http://www.womensjewelry.org/awards/documents/DIVA08app.pdf

https://www.photoshop.com/express/landing.html

Best part is it’s free and online. This is a BETA version so they are still working on it and will tweak the program with input from users.  I have to say that this will be exactly what probably 95% of computer users will need to edit their photos. What took them so long?

Susan Sarantos
http://www.sarantos.com/
http://www.metalcyberspace.com/

For more information and to add your support please visit:

http://capwiz.com/artsusa/issues/bills/?bill=9680576

Thanks!
Susan Sarantos
http://www.sarantos.com/
http://www.metalcyberspace.com/

14 hours of individualized instruction and limited enrollment, so sign up soon! 
Materials Included: Tools are supplied.

Workshop Description: This workshop is a hands-on introduction to the ancient techniques of chasing & repousse’. Its focus is on understanding the plasticity of metal and how molding metal can further enhance your work. Technique, the process of making tools, and an Italian cultural/historical perspective is provided through demonstrations and discussion. Hands-on learning and practice is the focal point of this workshop.
Both beginners and experienced students are welcome.

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 a life long passion. In his early years, Davide apprenticed with master Italian goldsmith Bino Bini. 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.

Please let this be a sign to those hoarders to stop driving the price up!
Give us artists a break.

SES

Susan Sarantos
http://www.sarantos.com
http://www.metalcyberspace.com

Velvet da Vinci Gallery
through March 30, 2008

Velvet da Vinci Gallery in San Francisco presents “Enamel Experience - International Badges
Exhibition,” a show featuring 24 established artists from Germany, the United Kingdom and the
United States.  This exhibition is made up of contemporary badges inspired by the collection of
historic enamel badges at Hamburg’s Museum der Arbeit. 

“Enamel Experience - International Badges Exhibition” originated at the Museum der Arbeit in
Hamburg, Germany.  The museum is located in The Company Carl Wild Badge Factory, which was
in production from 1901 to 1989 and was forced to close due to cheaper competition overseas.
The historical badge collection includes badges made for the military, various societies,
commercial organizations and charities.  The contemporary artists have re-interpreted these
badges to create a series of new ones.
 
Badges have a rich history through their messages and techniques.  Elizabeth Turrell, the
organizer of the exhibition, says, “The making of badges, medals and regalia gives artists a
means of portable communication, including subversive messages, pleas for peace, and satirical
images. The badge can be produced as a one off, a limited-edition or commercially produced by
the hundreds or thousands.” 

Three prestigious international artists in the exhibition have taken very different approaches to
re-creating the badge.  Prominent British artist Wendy Ramshaw makes both public art and
jewelry.  Her work is found in museums and private collections throughout the world, such as the
Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C., the Cooper Hewitt Museum and the Art and Design
Museum in New York and the Victorian and Albert Museum in London.  Her badge was inspired
by the intrepid polar explorer Ann Daniels who told the BBC how she saw a “rainbow around the
sun”.  The image caught Wendy’s attention and she created this sight in the form of a badge.

Tamar de Vries Winter, originally from Israel, lives in the UK where she creates jewelry and
hollowware.  She is highly influenced by ancient cultures.  Her work can be found in many
prestigious collections such as the Jewish Museum in New York and the Victoria and Albert in
London. She wants to communicate the message of peace through her badge.  She says, “The
vision expressed by this badge follows that of the prophet Isaiah - ‘We shall transform their iron
crosses into olive branches’.  I wish to dedicate the badge to the memory of my grandfather Josef
Lachmann who for all his life as a father, physician, soldier and citizen fought for his ideals.” 
The photo on the badge is from a collection of photographs taken in Germany and Palestine in
the first part of the twentieth century that she inherited.  It is a reminder to her of the world they
have lost.

Mark Hartung is a U.S. artist.  He originally studied glass at Kent State in Ohio.  He has been
working in enamel since 1989 and is a recipient of many Ohio Art Council Grants.  Mark was
inspired by badges with numbers he found in the collection of the Museum der Arbeit.  He took
this element and used it as a decorative motif to create his striking images.

Velvet da Vinci is open Tuesday through Saturday from 12 pm - 6 pm, Sunday from 12 pm - 4 pm.  The Gallery is closed on Monday.

Courses are open to everyone on a first-come first served basis. Reservations for the 5 week program beginning on June 23rd will be accepted now.

New courses for 2008 include:
Decorative Techniques for Jewellers : Jinks McGrath
Exploring Concepts for Contemporary Earrings : Yvonne Kulagowski
Gemstone or Glass – What are you buying : Kate Hopley
Hand Engraving : Mark Phelps
How to Use Coloured Resins in your Jewellery : Clare John
Jewellery – Clasps, Catches and Clips : Richard Witek
Marketing & Promoting your Jewellery Business : Yvonne Kulagowski
Models from Milliput – An Alternative to Wax : Mark Brayley
Narrative Jewellery – An Introduction : Xavier Ines Monclús

JIIC will be holding open days 3:30-6pm on April 8 & 9, 2008

New Works: Jewellery by Alexandra Stülb & paintings by Andrea Gabbriellini

at ORFEO Galerie d’Art - Luxembourg
Exhibition runs until April 31, 2008

Åsa Lockner - Views of Order

at PLATINA, Odengatan 68, Stockholm
Exhibition runs until April 30, 2008

In 7 chapters Åsa Lockner depicts the concepts of order. The idea and inspiration for the exhibition comes partly from journeys in countries with limited freedom of speech and repression. Order is also Åsa Lockners own tool for balancing her everyday life.

The exhibition “Views of Order” at Gallery Platina in Stockholm is a research on different aspects of order political, social and cultural. But the artist and designer Åsa Lockner also relates to her private life: 
- When I face symptoms of stress my desire for order increases. I try to compenesate my loss of  control with actions as organizing work papers in files.

Recently Åsa Lockner visited Laos and White Russia, two countries where the inhabitants are under strong repression from the authoritiy. She reacted with surprise on the few visible signs from the governmental control in the streets: 
- The lack of individual expression and subcultures was the things that struck me hardest. Downtown Minsk was unnaturally tidy and clean, simply too clean. The whole society was cleansed from diverting expression.

“Views of Order” is organized in seven chapters of jewellery and sculptures in different environments, all describing the artist ideas. The first chapter, “Table Manners”, handles governmental repression towards dissidents. The third chapter is the sculpture, “Being Nice”, where a woman fights against visible and invisible chains.

Call for Entries:
Deadline to enter: June 30, 2008

Exhibition debuts online October 31, 2008 and runs one year until October 31, 2009
Jurors for the show are: Michael Monroe, Marilyn da Silva and Susie Ganch
Sponsored by the Society for Midwest Metalsmiths