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Home , Belt buckle, Gary Noffke

31.5_GEORGIA SHOWS CB 3.4 FIN 8/15/08 8:30 PM Page 38

Ashley Callahan GEORGIA’S RING SHOWS PRETTY COCKY STUFF , 1977

Richard Prillaman, 1977

Bruce Metcalf, 1978

Randy Long, 1978

RING SHO W SUITC ASES of leather , steel, duct ta pe, stickers, 45.72 x 63.5 x 22.86 centimeters e ach. Phi Beata Heata National Ring Collection. Artists’ photographs courtesy of Phi Beata Heata National Ring Collection. Photographs by Wes Airgood, except where noted. Courtesy of the Georgia Museum of Art. 31.5_GEORGIA RINGSHOWSCB3.4FIN8/15/088:30PMPage39 is w hw rvldteUie tts ncopne,by Greyhound bus unaccompanied, first two shows traveled theUnited States, andfancyrings. school rings wedding rings, elements looselythemedto match theshow’s three categories: sculptural of avariety pinewith shellacked slabsof presented desksetsof W for a ‘World ChampionRingMaker.’ ” arodeo andprofessional beltbuckle wrestling by Cotter as “a combination of conceived trophyfirst-prize awards thatwere plaque-mounted beltbuckles, Thesecond year created they four pine. Georgia stems attached to slices of halved ontheir metalchalices rings with of intheform third place winners, second and forthefirst, first year madethree they wall-mounted , The jurors The andNoffke collaborated onthetrophies. Robert Ebendorf. and were Merritt joinedin1978by and Bill Helwig andin1979by Barry Pujol andCotter asjurors served three forall National RingShows, Coulter, Georgia’ theUniversity of of property which becamethe themselves, of aswell asphotographs mail actualrings Noffke asked to artists fee, anentry theirwork with than submittingslidesof episode in history. craft American thatexciting thisremarkable collection remains asadocumentof years later, Thirty Heata1977 andestablishedthePhiBeata National RingCollection. three annual National RingShows in organized thefirstof Art) School of andMetalworkJewelry the Under hisdirection, content andtechnique. with thanjuststyle rather the show shouldbelimitedinorder to to rings deal encourage theartists took theleadanddecidedthat from 1967-1971), tenure there, Ebendorf’s Robert in1971(following Georgia arrived attheUniversity who of Noffke, couldas acollectionaddthatto sothattheartists theirrésumésaswell. italsowould beagoodideato thought They keep theobjects their résumés. exhibitions to This would involved allow theartists to addalonglistof exhibition andtraveljewelry itto across schools thecountry. andgalleries to organize agroup Mountainat Colorado College heldfrom 1975to 1985, asummermetalsmithingsymposium decidedover atSummervail, drinks Pujol, jewelers LaneCoulter with andElliott Cotter andNoffke, in themid-1970s, that Shelearned Noffke. andmetalwork Gary professor forjewelry emeritus Georgia andUniversity of New Paltz professor Jamie metal/jewelry Bennett, SUNY Jim owner Cotter, jeweler andgallery metalwork professor Rob Jackson, and jewelry Georgia University of colleagues involved their creation: with Her elicited colorful surprise talesfrom and herfriends and Nancy Worden. Barbara Walter, Jim Meyer, , Rod McCormick, Kingsley, S Ebendorf, Robert thelate Ken Cory, Harlan Butt, such asJamie Bennett, whomare now considered leadersinthefield, artists—many of names of titlesand listingquirky fadedtags with rings Inside were hundreds of by dust. largelyobscured andmetalwork studio, inthejewelry case alongabackwall Following their exhibition at the , the rings inthe therings Georgia, Following theirexhibition attheUniversity of h omtfrteNtoa igSoswsucnetoa,andrather fortheNationalThe format RingShows wasunconventional, tucked away shelves wooden onglass display inavintage rings shefoundanoddcollection of in2005, Georgia of Hallamhen jeweler Mary Pearse arrived attheUniversity area in the Department of Art (now Art theLamarDodd of in the Department area s student jewelry andmetalsorganization. s studentjewelry 1 For thethird show thejurors usan Phi Beata Heata National Ring Collection. Ring National Heata Beata Phi 1977. documented viaPolaroid photograph, ofsnow, Bremner, Steuart SNOW RINGSIZE9, National Ring Collection. Ring National .8x41 etmtr,1978. 6.98 x4.13centimeters, glassbeads, ofbrass, Ken Cory, INVISIBLE RING, etmtr,1979. centimeters, 17.78x11.430.635 peacock feathers, , of DiannaLeBeau, PRETTY COCKYSTUFF, Phi Beata Heata National Ring Collection. Ring National Heata Beata Phi htgahb o ackson. J Rob by Photograph Phi Beata Heata Beata Phi

39 ORNAMENT 31.5.2008 31.5_GEORGIA RINGSHOWSCB3.4FIN8/15/088:30PMPage40

40 ORNAMENT 31.5.2008 Phi Beata Heata National Ring Collection. Ring National Heata Beata Phi Beata Heata National Ring Collection. Ring National Heata Beata etmtr,1979. centimeters, 5.08x6.984.44 ofglass, Levin, Robert BUG RING, 1979. s, 6.98 x10.165.08centimeter ofplastic, Janice Kluge, HOLSTEINS INHEAVEN, etmtr,1977. centimeters, 3.175x2.222.54 photocollage, Linda Hesh, YOUTOO KIT, JEWELRY CAN MAKEBEAUTIFUL Ring Collection. Ring Photograph by Rob Jackson. Rob by Photograph Phi Beata Heata National Heata Beata Phi Phi hundred madebetween 1977and 1979. rings soteto a ig,terns nose r toe rings, , of assortment there were an many andtitles: incorporatedhumor intheirdesigns usedaliasesand theartists of Some were inwhich they ziploc bags packed. sometimesinthe many venues displayed therings, with thephotographs and player baseball Jim Palmer modelingJockey underwear), clipping of (Kento goofysnapshotsto submitted foundimagery amagazine Cory from portraits sentrange formal they Thephotographs before thedeadlines. many just maderings timepreparingtheirsubmissions, large amountsof expending andinstead of usedinexpensive theartists materials, supplies, hnmnn or anexperience.” a phenomenon, notonlyasadecorative butas object thering, approach to theideaof theproject promoted “a much more adventuresome submitted, the rings by keeping explained that, Georgia, professor inceramics attheUniversity of thenanassistant Andy Nasisse, andnon-precious materials. individuality thesetrends toward National RingShows theexpression heightened of forthe Theframework unconventional materials. concept andtheuseof exploring awaymoving andtechnique, emphasisonfunction from astrict Jewelers were andtheFunk andPunk movements. , includingPop art, influences beyond modernism, of upon avariety (byGeorgia Winnebago). so thethird show inMemphis opened andonlytraveled to theUniversity of suitcases satforgotten inabusstationKansas forseveral months— were rings stolen though—several andonce the encountered afewsetbacks, Theexhibition tours often hosted whosework by wasincluded. artists Theshows andwere were enthusiasm andcuriosity metwith University. andspacesdid nothave were notavailable agallery atKansas State selected by Pujol becauseManhattan Kansas, was thebusdepotinManhattan, venue Theleasttraditional fortheshow and Crafts Center inPittsburgh. andthe Arts Art), (now Arts Memphis College of Memphis Academy of Wisconsin, New theUniversity of York New (SUNY) Paltz, University of State Virginia Commonwealth University, Colorado, the University of Design, theRhodeIsland School of IllinoisUniversity, Southern University, Stops includedKansas State wentdecorations asthey from venue to venue. and tags stickers, oldsuitcases thataccumulated layers of in apairof olg eebiga niu ig apainted wood by construction collage resembling an antiquering, Linda Hesh’s photo snow andfire, of documentinghisrings photographs Bremner’s Steuart Polaroid creates shadow apermanent beneath thetack, Jamie Bennett’s andenamelTack andShadeRingin which theenamel make aworthy exhibit fortheSaturday Night Live TVseries.” theartists “would of andsuggested thatthephotographs piercing puns” Press-Scimitar forthe writing Audrey Strohl, silver andcurrency. M-Bezel-Ring of and andarhinestone, adime, brass, silver, Genuine Dime’un of brass, peacock feathersand of andfunny like rings Pretty Cocky Stuff this year; soIdecidedto betraditional stuff?andLastyearring Iwent conceptual, How amIsupposedto relate to this you know. titles such asI’m into fibers, cumbersomelylong with rings thosebody parts; interpretations of various The PhiBeataHeata National comprises RingCollection more thanfour By the time of the National Ring Shows, studio craftsmen were studiocraftsmen drawing theNational RingShows, By thetimeof in 1979, described the rings as “examples of dry wit and wit dry as therings described “examples of in 1979, 2 Rather than spending a lot of money on money alotof Rather thanspending ns andtee ings, 4 The collection includes thing rings incorporating thing rings 3 Memphis 31.5_GEORGIA RINGSHOWSCB3.4FIN8/15/088:30PMPage41 oclbaetetitehanvrayo theshows andthe to anniversary of celebrate thethirtieth decided Georgia, and Metalwork attheUniversity faculty of andmetalsmithing. jewelry disciplinesinadditionto of 1970s andcamefrom avariety inthelate professors andindependentartists were students, whosework isrepresented Theartists inthecollection the time. andconceptual aswell asthestylistic trends of cheekiness, andgeneral daring creativity, technical skills, their makers’ degrees, to varying reflect, Therings andaluminum foil. rice, hair, garbage, dried animalparts, film, gum, chewing resins, metals andgemstones butalsounexpected such materials as precious inthecollection includethetraditional in therings used Thematerials by bugring RobertLevin. and aglass Lynda Ross’s reconfigured school ring, high , Marjorie Schick, 1978 ayHla ereadRbJcsn thecurrent Jewelry HallamMary Pearse andRob Jackson, etmtr,1977. centimeters, 2.54x enamel, silver, ofsterling Jamie Bennett, TACKAND SHADE RING, fsle,eae,38 .7 .7 etmtr,2007. 3.81x3.175centimeters, enamel, of silver, Phi Beata Heata National Ring Collection. Ring National Heata Beata Phi 1978. 7.62x 5.08centimeters, ofpaintedwood, Schick, Marjorie THE FORERUNNER, etmtr,2007. centimeters, lami plastic oodwith ofpainted w Schick, Marjorie Collection of the artist. the of Collection Phi Beata Beata Phi TN,Jamie Bennett, STUNG, brightly colored, sculptural woodenbasedonpartial sculptural ring colored, brightly anotherlarge, Schick madeHayman Island Experience, Marjorie passes through astencil andprojects onto afinger. asit aring thatforms light a conceptual oneof ring—this Bremner Steuart againmade inthefirstshow. entry winning like his isenamelonsilver andsquare, Stung, new ring, Jamie Bennett’s humorous attitude. maintaining theiroriginal often technique ortitle, through format, their oldrings referenced theartists Many of for the3rd National RingShow. theopening thesite of Tennessee, Metal Museum inMemphis, waspresented rings attheNational Ornamental group of andtheresulting theirwork from with shown the1970s, involved exhibitions to create to intheoriginal be newrings invited they selected artists Then&Now, The RingShow: For thefirst, collection by organizingtwo newexhibitions. Heata National Ring Collection. Ring National Heata Photograph by Gary Pollmiller. Gary by Photograph HAYMAN ISLANDEXPERIENCE, ae 18.09x40.64 x 30.48 nate,

Collection of the artist. the of Collection ai ent,1977 Bennett, Jamie

41 ORNAMENT 31.5.2008 31.5_GEORGIA RING SHOWS CB 3.4 FIN 8/15/08 8:30 PM Page 42

circles, and renamed her early ring The Forerunner because it “was so prophetic of what was to happen in [her] work.”5 Pearse and Jackson also organized a new international juried ring exhibition, Putting the Band Back Together, displayed in Savannah during the thirty-seventh annual Society of North American Conference in March 2008. Following in the tradition of the National Ring Shows, for Putting the Band Back Together Pearse and Jackson invited artists to submit actual rings rather than images of their work for consideration. Jim Cotter, Jamie Bennett and I (Ashley Callahan) served as jurors. The rings in Putting the Band Back Together encompass FLOWER RING, Yael Krakowski, of silver, glass a great diversity of materials and techniques, and, as with the National beads, cotton thread, 5.08 x 8.25 x 8.25 Ring Shows, the participants include students, recent graduates, well- centimeters, 2006. Collection of the artist. established faculty, and independent artists. Sarah Jane Airgood captured the spirit of the show by transforming the mailing package itself into a ring, one of the largest in the exhibition; the smallest rings are by Sergey Jivetin who skillfully transformed jeweler’s saw blades into a pair of delicate, serrated wedding bands. Allyson Bone won first place with Pierced #2, an oxidized silver ring with intricate ornamental cutouts; Barbara Cohen, who has a background in sculptural textiles, won second place for her untitled ring of silver, , nylon mesh, and feathers; and Jamie Jo Fisher won third place with Cake Pillow Ring, an oxidized silver ring that features graduated stacked pillows of bright pink plastic from a rain poncho with green stitching, capitalizing on her interest in using repurposed materials and her experience as a cake decorator. Other artists include James Madison University associate professor Mark Rooker, who offered the sci-fi–influenced Entopus pseudoexorbitans debeeriae; Dutch conceptual jewelry designer Ted Noten, who contributed the plastic political Liberate a Pig Ring; Israeli-born Canadian artist Yael Krakowski, who presented her colorful beaded Flower Ring; Pennsylvania

1Z 3T1 1V3 03 9963 2024, Sarah Jane Airgood, State University assistant professor and Cranbrook Academy of Art of , cardboard, bubble wrap, graduate James Thurman, who submitted the subtle Tectonic Ring packing tape, canvas, 17.78 x 12.7 x 1.59 centimeters, 2008. Collection of the artist.

THE RING SHOWS: THEN & NOW AND PUTTING THE BAND BACK TOGETHER Georgia Museum of Art University of Georgia 90 Carlton Street, Athens, Georgia August 23 - November 2, 2008

Showing in the Martha and Eugene Odum Galler y of Decorative Arts, The Ring Shows have been curated by Ashley Callahan, curator of decorative arts for the Georgia Museum of Art; Rob Jackson, associate professor, Jewelry/Metals, Lamar Dodd School of Art, University of Geor gia; and Mar y Hallam P earse, associate professor, Jewelry/Metals, Lamar Dodd School of Art, University of Georgia. In association with the exhibition, a full-color 244-page catalog is av ailable thr ough the Geor gia Museum of Art. www.uga.edu/gamuseum. 42 ORNAMENT 31.5.2008 31.5_GEORGIA RINGSHOWSCB3.4FIN8/15/088:30PMPage43 field hasmatured years. over thepastthirty andtochanges appreciate andconsistencies how injewelrymaking the to observers allowing consider the interesting foilto theearlierrings, inPutting Therings theBandBackTogether provide an Georgia. of treasure atthattimeandagreat fortheUniversity jewelrymaking of Heata National asasnapshot RingCollection especiallyimportant makingthePhiBeata fewremain asintactcollections, the late 1970s, accessibility. greater level of inPuttingallows theartists theBandBackTogether to achieve amuch theinternet the work intheNational RingShows publiclyavailable, While Greyhound busesandcreative venues made Blue Aluminum. hisCylinder Ringonhisblog thecreation of explanation of illustrated Jon Ryan provides astep-by-step e-commerce websites such asEtsy. andseveral make theirwork available forsalethrough and jewelry, themeven discusstrends onwhich inmetals hostblogs they of Afew andmany maintainwebsites. theirpractice, of aspart technology inPutting theartists theBandBackTogether usedigital Many of to develop orexecute theirideas. andCADprograms, prototyping includingrapid technology, usedigital theartists A number of 3. 2. 2007. Unpublished Cotter, Jim from statement 1. NOTES as areturn to wearability. includeareturn to concept century early twenty-first andideasaswell trends inthe thatemerging 1960-2006, Jewelry, Contemporary of asArt, exhibition catalogOrnament the andauthorof Houston, Fine Arts, attheMuseumand design of entered who lavish Mystical theextraordinarily Flowering. Pino, laminated andsilver; paper 08-0120 of oko h aeso h s,2ndand3rd Annual RingShows.” the1st, themakers of work of processes andcontemporary date backto the materials, the ideas, but “Today’s He adds, work ismore refined, today. expressed injewelry andthathestillseesthesameconcepts concepts candefinejewelry” andhow materials shows werenotes thattheoriginal “about the idea of in Cotter Gallery Vail, J. runs who Jim Cotter, for Then&Now. selected forPutting theBandBackTogether created andthenewrings 5. not rings includestherejected thecollection thejurors, by selected therings In additionto 4. 6. .Cotter statement. 7. Audrey Strohl National RingCollection. PhiBeataHeata (1978), n.d. review, exhibition typed Andy Nasisse, Marjorie Schick Marjorie Cindi Strauss huhmn iia xiiin frenegade took place craft in manyThough similarexhibitions of thecomputer. isthatof inthenewrings Another influence evident Cindi Strauss, curator of modern and contemporary decorative andcontemporary modern arts curator of Cindi Strauss, suitcases, and related ephemera. andrelated suitcases, the forms, entry theartists, by submitted photographs theirmakers, requested backby Memphis Press-Scimitar, ainlOnmna ea uem 2007). National Metal Museum, Ornamental 1977-1979and2007, &Now, Then Show: r ulsesi soito ihteMsu fFn rs oso,20) 25. 2007), Houston, Arts, Fine of theMuseum inassociationwith Publishers Art Arts, Fine of TheMuseum Collection, , , “ART SCENE: Metal Artists’ Alloys Turn Alloys Show,”Ring in Annual Allies Metal Artists’ “ARTSCENE: , Ornament as Art:Avant-Garde Williams as Ornament theHelen Drutt from Jewelry artist’s statement, , ac 2 1979. March 22, 6 These trends are present inboththerings National Ornamental Metal Museum Presents The Ring Presents Museum Metal National Ornamental oso,ehbto aao Sutat Arnoldsche exhibition catalog(Stuttgart: Houston, DRMehbto aaou Mmhs TN: CD-ROM catalogue (Memphis, exhibition oe nhresyABifHistory notes inheressay A Brief and CanadianjewelerClaudio 7 etmtr,2006. centimeters, er, feathers, lingsilv nylon mesh, ofster pearl, Barbara Cohen, UNTITLED, of the artist. the of .5x31 .4cniee ,2008. s, 4.45 x3.182.54centimeter thread, polyfil, plastic from arain poncho, silver, ofsterling Jamie JoFisher, CAKE RING, PILLOW Private collection. Private 2008. 3.175 x2.380.95centimeters, silver, ofsterling AllysonBone, PIERCED #2, Collection of the artist. the of Collection 3.175 x12.7 Collection

43 ORNAMENT 31.5.2008