The Symposium for the Advancement of Jewelry Manufacturing Technology seeks to continue the learning and sharing environment originally created by Santa Fe Symposium, the "premier educational forum for jewelry manufacturing technology worldwide." But this is not intended to be a simple continuation of SFS, it will be a different event, using different resources and venues!
Meet the Board!
Stewart Grice:
Tell us about how you came to the jewelry industry.
My original career choice as a teenager was to join the Royal Air Force, but back in the late 70’s there was no such thing as corrective vision, and if your eyesight wasn’t up to scratch then you were out of luck. I ended up doing research into industrial ceramics for Morgan Crucible and while there applied for a Lab Tech job at Johnson Matthey in Birmingham, UK. Needless to say, I got the job and the rest is history. I had no big plans to be a part of the jewelry industry, I just went to work for Johnson Matthey because they were a great company to work for and offered many opportunities in different materials fields. I ended up from the start concentrating on precious metals and found I was good at it.
What’s your favorite aspect of your work in the jewelry industry?
For me I think it’s the same with any job in any industry – doing the best that you can, and for me there’s no better feeling than solving a problem or seeing a project succeed. For the jewelry industry in general, the best part has to be “art meets science!” Any material has to be fit for purpose and designed to work within a given process – you always need good engineering/materials science/metallurgy. With the jewelry industry, these materials are not only fit for purpose, they’re made into things of beauty by some very, very talented people -it’s not just about function, it’s the aesthetic part that makes it special.
What role does education play in your work?
Huge! Every day is a learning day, whether it’s from formal education, other people’s knowledge, or just new experiences and learning how to solve new problems. That’s why TJS being a success is so important - to continue the transfer of knowledge. Education is one of the most important aspects of any job.
What attracted you to the JS project?
I’d been attending the Santa Fe Symposium every year since 1997, so that’s 25 symposia. The opportunity to help craft a new forum to disseminate knowledge in a similar way to this was too good to pass up. I’m friends with all the other board members, we all get on well, so it was natural to accept a role when nominated. As a collective we can’t lose this type of forum and we all need to make it happen, from board members to sponsors to attendees, we all have a part to play.
Tell us about how you came to the jewelry industry.
My original career choice as a teenager was to join the Royal Air Force, but back in the late 70’s there was no such thing as corrective vision, and if your eyesight wasn’t up to scratch then you were out of luck. I ended up doing research into industrial ceramics for Morgan Crucible and while there applied for a Lab Tech job at Johnson Matthey in Birmingham, UK. Needless to say, I got the job and the rest is history. I had no big plans to be a part of the jewelry industry, I just went to work for Johnson Matthey because they were a great company to work for and offered many opportunities in different materials fields. I ended up from the start concentrating on precious metals and found I was good at it.
What’s your favorite aspect of your work in the jewelry industry?
For me I think it’s the same with any job in any industry – doing the best that you can, and for me there’s no better feeling than solving a problem or seeing a project succeed. For the jewelry industry in general, the best part has to be “art meets science!” Any material has to be fit for purpose and designed to work within a given process – you always need good engineering/materials science/metallurgy. With the jewelry industry, these materials are not only fit for purpose, they’re made into things of beauty by some very, very talented people -it’s not just about function, it’s the aesthetic part that makes it special.
What role does education play in your work?
Huge! Every day is a learning day, whether it’s from formal education, other people’s knowledge, or just new experiences and learning how to solve new problems. That’s why TJS being a success is so important - to continue the transfer of knowledge. Education is one of the most important aspects of any job.
What attracted you to the JS project?
I’d been attending the Santa Fe Symposium every year since 1997, so that’s 25 symposia. The opportunity to help craft a new forum to disseminate knowledge in a similar way to this was too good to pass up. I’m friends with all the other board members, we all get on well, so it was natural to accept a role when nominated. As a collective we can’t lose this type of forum and we all need to make it happen, from board members to sponsors to attendees, we all have a part to play.
Ann Cahoon:
Tell us about how you came to the jewelry industry.
My first exposure to making jewelry was at a class at a community art center in rural New Hampshire as a young teen. I was fascinated by jewelry as a product, and thought making it could be fun. Spoiler alert: it was. Pursuing it as a career, however, was not even remotely an option. I was a “smart” kind who was headed for college, and a career in a creative field or (perish the thought) the trades was not a path that was open to me. Fast forward to my college years, which were successful, but not rewarding, and the decision to switch gears and head to a BFA program to study metalsmithing and jewelry. The journey started there, but was really cemented with my decision to go to the North Bennet Street School in Boston where I trained as a technical bench jeweler. I’ve been hands on in various roles ever since.
What’s your favorite aspect of your work in the jewelry industry?
The problem solving. From the technical to the practical, I love figuring out how to fix things, and how to troubleshoot a process or piece. That the process results in beautiful, often deeply meaningful work is a pretty great bonus.
What role does education play in your work?
These days, it is my work. As the Jewelry Making and Repair Department Head at the North Bennet Street School, my primary responsibility is training bench jewelers over the course of a two year, hands on program. A solid foundation, in addition to ongoing training and learning is absolutely essential to teach effectively. If you don’t know both the how and the why of a process, you just can’t teach it in a complete and meaningful way. I am immersed in the full circle of education as both student and teacher- it really just depends on the moment!
What attracted you to the JTS project?
Furthering collective technical knowledge in the jewelry industry is something that I feel very, very strongly about; it has the power to change businesses and careers in truly significant, positive ways. The mission of JTS aligns perfectly with my belief in the importance of access to skills and knowledge.
What can we expect from JTS in its inaugural year?
Education and community!
Tell us about how you came to the jewelry industry.
My first exposure to making jewelry was at a class at a community art center in rural New Hampshire as a young teen. I was fascinated by jewelry as a product, and thought making it could be fun. Spoiler alert: it was. Pursuing it as a career, however, was not even remotely an option. I was a “smart” kind who was headed for college, and a career in a creative field or (perish the thought) the trades was not a path that was open to me. Fast forward to my college years, which were successful, but not rewarding, and the decision to switch gears and head to a BFA program to study metalsmithing and jewelry. The journey started there, but was really cemented with my decision to go to the North Bennet Street School in Boston where I trained as a technical bench jeweler. I’ve been hands on in various roles ever since.
What’s your favorite aspect of your work in the jewelry industry?
The problem solving. From the technical to the practical, I love figuring out how to fix things, and how to troubleshoot a process or piece. That the process results in beautiful, often deeply meaningful work is a pretty great bonus.
What role does education play in your work?
These days, it is my work. As the Jewelry Making and Repair Department Head at the North Bennet Street School, my primary responsibility is training bench jewelers over the course of a two year, hands on program. A solid foundation, in addition to ongoing training and learning is absolutely essential to teach effectively. If you don’t know both the how and the why of a process, you just can’t teach it in a complete and meaningful way. I am immersed in the full circle of education as both student and teacher- it really just depends on the moment!
What attracted you to the JTS project?
Furthering collective technical knowledge in the jewelry industry is something that I feel very, very strongly about; it has the power to change businesses and careers in truly significant, positive ways. The mission of JTS aligns perfectly with my belief in the importance of access to skills and knowledge.
What can we expect from JTS in its inaugural year?
Education and community!
|
Jim Binnion
|
|
Elizabeth Watts
|
|
Linus Drogs
|