SNAG Happened

As many of you know, I was a co-chair (along with Tedd and Becky McDonah) for this years Society of North American Goldsmiths conference in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona.  Our theme for the conference was "The Heat Is On", and in my opinion, the conference was definitely HOT!!!  In every good sense of the word!  Our presenter lineup was amazing, and they all did a fantastic job!  Thanks so much to each of them for their sizzling talks!  For more info click here.

Garth Clark
Megan Auman

Kim Cridler

Steve Midgett

Kevin O'Dwyer

Bettina Speckner

Spotlight On Artists:

Allyson Bone

Caitie Sellers

Andrew Hayes

Loring Taoka

Amy Tavern

Panelists: 

Michael Sturtz, The Crucible, Oakland, CA
Jay Whaley, Whaley Studios, San Diego, CA
Johanna Ingram, Harold Studio, Phoenix, AZ

Also, we had a great exhibition lineup that I think really blew people away.  There was some great metalwork to be seen in Phoenix this year (and many of the shows are still up so be sure to check them out!!!)  More info here. 

“Hot Under the Collar:  A Survey of Contemporary Necklaces”
May 25-May 27, 2012
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts,* SCPA Atrium
7380 E 2nd St, Scottsdale, AZ

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“Humor in Metal”
May 25-May 27, 2012
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts,* SCPA Atrium
7380 E 2nd St, Scottsdale, AZ

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“Heat Exchange: A Cross-Continental Survey of Enamel”
Shemer Art Center & Museum
5005 East Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ
Heat Exchange Blog

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“Cu / 29: Contemporary Work in Copper”
April 6-August 12, 2012
Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum, Main Gallery

 Mesa Arts Center, 1 East Main Street, Mesa, AZ

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“Crucible: 10 Years of Metals at Mesa Arts Center” – Exhibition of Work by Mesa Arts Center Metals and Jewelry Instructors, Artist-In-Residence, Past and Present Workshop Artists and Visiting Artists
April 20-August 12, 2012
Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum, South Gallery
Mesa Arts Center, 1 East Main Street, Mesa, AZ

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“Offerings–Gifts for the Muse: Work by Jan Arthur Harrell”
April 6-August 12, 2012
Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum, Project Room
Mesa Arts Center, 1 East Main Street, Mesa, AZ

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“eleMEnTAL: Becky Chader McDonah – Tedd R McDonah – Lynette Andreasen”
May 25-August 12, 2012
Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum, North Gallery
Mesa Arts Center, 1 East Main Street, Mesa, AZ

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“Presidential: The Art of Leadership”
May 18-August 12, 2012
Mesa Arts Center, 1 East Main Street, Mesa, AZ

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“SNAG Showcase: 2012 Conference Presenters”
May 25-August 12, 2012
Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum, Main Gallery
Mesa Arts Center, 1 East Main Street, Mesa, AZ

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“All That Glitters: American Indian Gold Jewelry”
December 10, 2011-August 5, 2012
Heard Museum North
32633 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ  85262

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“Exhibition in Motion”
May 24, 2012, 7-9pm
The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa 

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SNAG’s Annual Juried Student Exhibition: “Fusion”
May 23-May 26, 2012
The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa (Trailblazer’s Ballroom)

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“Metals & More:  A Juried Exhibition of ADC and Arizona SNAG Metalsmiths”
February 24-September 30, 2012
Phoenix Airport Museum, Phoenix Sky Harbor (Terminal 3, level 2, in three built-in display cases)

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“ASUMetals Alumni Exhibition” and ”Current Metals Graduate Students Exhibition”
May 4 (opening reception)–May 27, 2012
Night Gallery, 2000 E. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe Marketplace, Tempe, AZ

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Beverly Penn/Kim Cridler
May 3-June 30, 2012
Special SNAG opening: Friday, May 25, 7-9pm
Lisa Sette Gallery, 4142 North Marshall Way, Scottsdale, AZ

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There is so much more I should say about the conference this year, but I don't know where to start so I will just say this:  It was wonderful, I am thankful for the opportunity I had to help plan it, I'm thankful to all who helped make it successful, and I will see you all in Toronto next year!

Megan's Visit

Megan Auman came as a Visiting Artist to ASU a couple weeks ago. We had a great time and I learned SO MUCH! She did a professional development workshop with us and presented topics including: her journey from one of a kind to microproduction, goal setting, branding, creating a packet, marketing and promotion, web tools, pricing, selling, wholesale vs retail, shows, protecting your work, etc. It was so informative! She gave us a ton of resources and lots of advice that I am sure I will be using for years to come.

Thanks so much Megan!

Hopefully she had fun while she was here too...we did take a little time to play on the lazer engraver and burn some pattern onto a couple of her cozy cuffs. She also brought me my very own cozy/cuff which I LOVE!

You can get your own cozy/cuff from her etsy shop. Also, see her blog to read more about her trip to AZ.

Thanks Megan, I am still hearing from lots of people how great your workshop was!

Visiting Artist: Megan Auman

Ever since I applied to grad school at Towson University and had a chance to speak with Megan Auman, I thought it would be really cool to have the chance to learn from her. This year at ASU, I decided to try and bring her in as a visiting artist and as luck would have it the stars alligned and she is able to come! I'm really excited about this event and the opportunity to learn from her! Megan will be doing a sort of professional development workshop with the students here and we are super excited about what she will be sharing with us. I am sure I will have an update for you after the event!

"ASU Metals is pleased to announce Megan Auman as a visiting artist. Megan will be giving a public lecture

on Thursday, April 30th, at 7pm in the art building, room 246.

All are welcome to attend.

There will also be a

professional development workshop emphasizing on marketing and smart business skills for the working artist,

on Friday May 1st from 10-3. Location Stauffer Building, room A237.

This event is free and open to the public."

2008 top 10 most Influential Artists To Me

Well, I had planned to do this post on New Years, but that didn't happen. Instead of reflecting back on what I did in 2008, I'd like to reflect back on the 10 artists that most influenced me this year. There are many people who have influenced me, and I am greatful to them all. In this post I am only recognizing ten of them, but I hope to do posts on artists I admire more often this year. I have looked to these artists again and again, all for different reasons. They are a great source of inspiration for me and I am very greatful to them. I hope you enjoy and more fully research them yourselves. They are not in any particular order.

Kristin Beeler - I got to hear her speak at the Yuma Art Symposium and have loved her ever since. Peter Callesen- A wonderful papercut artist. I can look at his work for hours, over and over and over again and never get tired of it.

Melanie Bilenker- Makes the most beautiful drawings of everyday moments with human hair into jewelry.

Jessica Calderwood- Jessica was a graduate student when I was an undergrad. I have looked up to her for a long time. Her work just keeps getting more and more beautiful.

Becky McDonah- My professor at ASU who is a wealth of knowledge, a constant support, and a great inspiration to me.

Lauren Fensterstock- I love her use of materials. Because of her, I consider everything.

Phillip Toledano- An amazing photographer. This image is from a project he did about his relationship with his father. Everytime I go through these photos I cry. They are so beautifully honest.

Megan Auman- A very intelligent educator and metalsmith who I really look up to. I love reading her blog because she is so down to earth and real. I have really learned a lot from her.

April Wood- Just really beautiful work and images.

Miel Margarita Paredes - I am floored by this womans talent with the material. Her work is amazing. I hope to be able to see it in person someday.

If you take the time to look through these artists websites, you won't be disappointed.

Megan Auman

So, I've been drooling over Megan Auman's jewelry for over a year now. I "met" Megan last year when I applied for graduate school at Towson University where she teaches. We spoke a couple of times on the phone when she interviewed me. I wasn't familiar with her work before I applied, I was more familiar with the work of Jan Baum who is the department head there. I looked Megan up on the internet and found that I loved her work. I was really impressed by her drive as an artist, and I also felt like I could relate to her more easily because she was a young female metalsmith doing exactly what I want to do in the field. Megan was part of what inspired me to get on Etsy and start a Blog and has been a big influence on me. She is someone that I look up to in the field and has been very helpful to me even though I did not end up at Towson.

The point of all this is that I really admire Megan as an artist and have wanted to own some of her jewelry for a long time now. My birthday is next week and I decided to get these earrings above for myself. I love them and have been wearing them everyday!

You can check out Megan's shop here. Her work is really gorgeous!