AJF Accepting Applications for 2009 Award to Emerging Jewelry Artists

Photo: Masumi Kataoka Winner of Eighth AJF Emerging Artist Award

ART JEWELRY FORUM

NEWS RELEASE

Mill Valley, CA, February 5, 2009—The Art Jewelry Form (AJF) is accepting applications for its 2009 Emerging Artist Award. The amount of this year’s award is $5,000. This is the 9th year that AJF has awarded a contemporary jewelry artist a cash award.

The purpose of the award is to acknowledge promise, innovation, and individuality in the work of an emerging jewelry artist and to help to advance the artist’s career. The competition is open to makers of wearable art jewelry who: have completed their academic/professional training, have been out of school for one year or more, and have not had a solo artist exhibition in a commercial gallery or museum. Submitted work must have been unsupervised if from an academic setting.

Jurors for the 2009 competition are: Ursula Neuman, jewelry curator at the Museum of Arts and Design, New York; Gail Hufjay, long-standing member of AJF and a collector of contemporary jewelry; and Masumi Kataoka, jewelry artist and recipient of the AJF’s 2008 Award.

Deadline for submission is June 14, 2009. More information about the award may be found on the AJF website. Applications may be submitted at http://www.callforentry.org/.

The Art Jewelry Forum, founded in 1997, is a non-profit organization with the mission to advocate the field of contemporary art jewelry by promoting education, appreciation, and support for contemporary art jewelry. The award was established in 1999 and its first recipient, Yeon-Mi Keong, received the award at the 2000 Conference of the Society of North American Goldsmiths.

The winner of this year’s competition and $5,000 cash award will be announced at SOFA Chicago (International Exposition of Sculpture Objects and Functional Art), November 6-8, where the artist’s work will be exhibited at one of the AJF member galleries. The artist’s work will also be featured in the AJF ad for the SOFA catalogs, in Chicago and New York.

Photo: Jurors Name Andrea Janosik 2007 AJF Emerging Artist

Award Season - Emerging Artist Award

http://saulbellaward.com/

Now in its ninth year, the Saul Bell Design Award continues to recognize artists whose work challenges traditional perceptions of jewelry design. Named for the founder of Rio Grande, the competition celebrates Saul's spirit and legacy by inviting jewelry artists and students to enter their most inspired creations. The industry abounds with stories of the opportunities and support Saul provided to young jewelers working to develop their skills. His quiet patience endeared him to all. And his good humor always brought a smile. It is our hope that Saul's influence continues to inspire and enlighten jewelers everywhere.

Emerging Artist Award

2009 SBDA Emerging Artist Competition - Rio Grande is proud to announce the second year of the Saul Bell Design Award Emerging Artist competition. Celebrating the fresh ideas, creative spark and unbridled energy of youth, this competition is open to designers 18 years of age and younger. There are no limitations on medium, as long as the finished piece is wearable jewelry. Finalists and winning designers are celebrated at an invitation-only gala at JCK Las Vegas, 2009. We encourage young designers to enter their most inspired work.

Participants

We invite students 18 years of age and younger to take part in the second annual Saul Bell Design Award Emerging Artist competition. Employees of Rio Grande or of any affiliate or participating company (and their immediate family members) may not participate.

Judging Criteria

Pieces are judged on the following criteria:

• The innovation and uniqueness of the design.

• The successful incorporation of media into the design.

• The quality of workmanship (for final judging).

How to Enter

You may submit as many entries as you wish. Supply one rendering or photograph (at least 4" x 6"), mounted on a white matte board (must be 8½" x 11"); no slides, please. Please keep a copy of your rendering or photograph; submissions will not be returned. Do not send finished pieces unless asked to do so by Rio Grande. Submissions which do not meet entry criteria may be disqualified. Send each rendering or photograph with a copy of the entry form (one per entry) and a $25 entry fee (per entry) to:

Rio Grande

7500 Bluewater Road NW

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87121-1962

Attention: Emerging Artists

Finalists

Finalists will be notified and asked to produce their designs for judging. Finished pieces must be received by January 30, 2009.

Winners

Winners will be notified by phone and/or mail and announced formally to the public during JCK Las Vegas, 2009.

For more information, call 505.839.3265 or 800.396.9896 ext. #13265, or email marketing@riogrande.com.

The Reward

In addition to a financial reward and industry-wide recognition, the first place winner receives a limited-edition sculpture by New Mexico glass artist John Healey created especially for the Emerging Artist category.

Financial rewards include:

First Place $500 Rio Grande Gift Certificate

Second Place $250 Rio Grande Gift Certificate

Third Place $100 Rio Grande Gift Certificate

All finalists receive a certificate recognizing their achievement.