Snag Conference Overview
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SNAG CONFERENCE OVERVIEW Society of North American Goldsmiths 42nd Annual Conference Toronto, Canada Wednesday, May 15 through Saturday, May 18, 2013 Fairmont Royal York Hotel In partnership with WHAT PEOPLE SAID IN 2012 “Great event. I had a ball and have always loved my contact with the SNAG world. My experience was of one of the best organized events ever.” —GARTH CLARK “The conference was wonderful! I feel like a much stronger, and “I took away knowledge from the lectures, viewed amazing jewellery better informed, member of the art community now that I have gone and networked with people that I would otherwise not be able to and absorbed so much information. I’m already planning ahead for speak with. Additionally, I made great friends from other schools next year in Toronto! Gotta get that passport.” that I know I will keep in touch with for the rest of my career in the —ANONYMOUS SURVEY RESPONSE jewellery field.” —ANDREA “ANDI” HARRIMAN, STUDENT, “This was a really great experience for me as a younger artist. There SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN are so many people that just want you to succeed in this field. The conference was great, and I absorbed everything like a sponge! “This year’s conference was fantastic. I don’t know if I put myself Can’t wait for Toronto!! ” out there more, or if information was more easily accessible, —ANONYMOUS SURVEY RESPONSE however I gained a lot of knowledge not only on schools, programs, etc. but on artists, forums, outlets, outsourcing, networking, etc. “Attending the SNAG 2012 conference was a life changing opportunity this year then ever before. I met and spoke with some amazing up- for me. Getting to meet personal heroes, listen to artists talk about and-coming artists; became better acquainted with some bigger the skills and techniques they have developed over the years, and names who I’d spoken with in the past, and had remembered me; network with other students really opened my eyes as to how big and got to know some great new friends. I wish this year’s and diverse our field really is. The most amazing experience I had conference could have lasted a few more days. Thank you for a at the conference was getting to see so much fresh, new work on fantastic opportunity!!!” display. I have never seen so much work from our field in one place! —MEREDITH S. TIBJASH I cannot wait to apply all that I have learned at this conference to my studio practice.” “As an artist and educator, I felt there was something for everyone —EMILE MULCAHEY, STUDENT, —from the student, to emerging artist, to professional. I was VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY impressed by the caliber of the young artists featured in the “Spotlight On” sessions—and took copious notes in nearly every “During the SNAG conference I went to as many speakers as I could. session I intended, with thoughts of my students back home.” I really enjoyed the spotlight ons. I also participated in the trunk – ANONYMOUS SURVEY RESPONSE sale. I got to see first hand how other artists viewed my work. I am very excited to be part of the metalsmithing world. I plan to attend “Thank you so much. I had the most amazing time. I’m inspired, next year’s SNAG conference in Toronto.” energized and rejuvenated for my school’s programs as well as my —BETH ZARDEN-BENSON, STUDENT, artwork. There was the best energy in the air and I met so many UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN WHITEWATER incredible people.” —ANONYMOUS SURVEY RESPONSE “This has simply been the best SNAG Conference yet. I thought last year in Seattle was superb, but this one allowed me a much-needed “This was the best conference I’ve been to and I am extremely recharge and reconnection to the community. Thank you.” pleased with the quality of the programming and exhibitions.” – ANONYMOUS SURVEY RESPONSE —ANONYMOUS SURVEY RESPONSE “This was my second year attending the SNAG conference, and like “I had a great time! I enjoyed many of the lectures, got to spend time last year I found it to be fun, educational and most importantly with dear friends, met lots of new, interesting people, and enjoyed inspirational. This year was especially important for me to attend, all the exhibitions greatly.” —ANONYMOUS SURVEY RESPONSE as I was in both the SNAG Annual Juried Student Exhibition and the SNAG Presentation of Student Work. I felt honored and privileged “I felt that the exposure of young, up-and-coming artists mixed with to be accepted and to see my work in person in both of the shows.” the established artists in the lectures was such a strong balance —ALEX ANDERSON, STUDENT, and reflection of our field.” HUMBOLDT STATE UNIVERSITY —ANONYMOUS SURVEY RESPONSE 2 GEORGE BROWN COLLEGE & HARBOURFRONT CENTRE INVITE YOU TO SNAG’S 42ND ANNUAL CONFERENCE WELcome, BienVenU, BooZHoo! It is with pleasure and pride that we invite you to Toronto for Meta-Mosaic, the 2013 SNAG conference. Toronto is one of the safest, cleanest and friendliest cities in the world; and with a population exceeding 6 million, it is the largest in the country. With half the city’s inhabitants born outside Canada, Toronto is a place where one’s differences are celebrated and embraced. The city is home to nearly all the world’s ethnic groups, over 100 spoken languages, and an array of distinct neighbourhoods, cultures, communities (and restaurants!). This diversity forms our foundation and is precisely what inspired the Meta-Mosaic theme. Our programming identifies and represents four distinct sectors within our field: Creative & Skilled, Promotion & Sales, Resources & Services, Education & Community. Our speakers also represent the diversity of makers in the SNAG membership: goldsmiths, studio jewellers, fashion designers, metalsmiths, and sculptors. We trust this mosaic will provide provocative presentations, prompt lively conversations, heighten curiosity, and infuse our field with fresh inspiration through an appreciation of our shared knowledge and histories. In celebration of the SNAG conference coming to Toronto, we are inaugurating a month-long festival of jewellery and metalsmithing to promote contemporary work to the public. Toronto International Jewellery Festival (TIJF) exhibitions and events are being held in over 25 venues including most major museums and craft & design galleries throughout the city in May. We encourage you to arrive early or stay on a few days to take advantage of all that TIJF has to offer. SNAG could not have chosen a finer hotel venue to host the conference. Steeped in tradition and full of character, the historic Fairmont Royal York is one of Canada’s grand old hotels built in the majestic Château Style. During the conference you’ll experience a fine piece of Canadiana and a unique part of our country’s history. While it is true we live in a northern nation, it’s not always snowy and cold up here. When you arrive for the conference we will have said au revoir to our typical frosty winter and you will be greeted by a warm and sunny Southern Ontario spring. On behalf of your co-hosts, George Brown College and Harbourfront Centre, the Meta-Mosaic steering committee, and all our hard working volunteers, we look forward to seeing you in May! Thank you, Merci, Miigwech PAUL MCCLURE and MELanie Egan 2013 SNAG Conference Co-Chairs 3 PROGRAM SPEAKERS ModeRN and ContempoRARY JeweLLERY at THE MontReaL MUseUM OF Fine ART The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts’ jewellery collection consists primarily of works produced since the mid-20th century. It reflects the works of creators who have gone beyond the clichés of tradition to reveal new forms of artistic expression. The lecture focuses on the significance of this collection within the museum’s encyclopaedic mandate in terms of DIANE CHARBONNEAU collecting, research and exhibition. Curator of Contemporary Decorative Arts, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts Montreal, QC, Canada MAKE LiKE THE MasteRS Make like Cartier, design like Tiffany, twist like Yurman, and get a rare look into the genius of unknown Michelangelos that made jewellery—a tour never given in their workshops, how they had to get up from the jeweller’s bench and be inventive to grow. We will travel together, walk their walk, and talk their talk. Exhibits of molds, dies, patterns, gadgets and tricks of the trade will be presented. PETER DICRISTOFARO Jeweller/Designer/Adviser/Lecturer Providence, RI, USA CHARLes Lewton-BRain Master goldsmith Charles Lewton-Brain has made a lasting mark on fine crafts both in and outside the studio. Interviewed by Alan C. Elder, learn about Lewton-Brain’s career in this unique format. His jewellery is distinctive in that it shows the natural outcomes of tensions that occur when metals are pushed to their limit, and it has been exhibited across Canada and abroad. He has taught at the Alberta College of Art and Design since 1986, has written extensively on goldsmithing techniques, safety and CHARLES LEWTON-BRAIN studio photography, created his own publishing company, and cofounded INTERVIEWED BY ALAN C. ELDER Lewton-Brain: Master Goldsmith/Writer/ Ganoksin.com, which has become the world’s largest free online resource Publisher/Educator, Calgary, AB, Canada for jewellers. He invented a technique called “foldforming”, which uses simple hand tools to rapidly shape sheet metal. Elder: Curator, Canadian Crafts and Design, Canadian Museum of Civilization, Gatineau, QC, Canada icons OF identitY Jewellery plays a pivotal role in the expression of the culture of a society. The traditional cultures in many regions of the world have not remained static, but have changed over time in response to their environment. The 5000 items that form the collection of the World Jewellery Museum bear the indelible marks of metamorphosis and adaptation in traditional cultures.