FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 17, 2005
2005 SNAG Conference, “Intersection,” Approaches
Excitement is building for the 2005 SNAG Conference, which will take
place on June 22-25, 2005 at the Crowne Plaza Cleveland City Centre
(hotel name recently changed from the Sheraton Cleveland City
Centre). Complete conference details and registration information
are still available online through SNAG’s website
(http://www.snagmetalsmith.org).
The conference is co-hosted by the Cleveland Institute of Art and
Kent State University. 3M, Inc., the official corporate sponsor of
the 2005 conference, supports this major event in the fields of
jewelry, design and metalsmithing. This conference was supported in
part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, and is
also funded by Rio Grande.
The theme of the 2005 conference, “Intersection,” will be addressed
by keynote speaker, Gijs Bakker. World-renowned Dutch jeweler,
designer, and teacher, Bakker will discuss the dynamic intersection
between Craft and Design in his presentation entitled, “Concept and
Beyond: Crossing Borders Between Design and Craft.” He will use
examples from his 40-year career to illustrate his opinions on the
theme.
Bakker is joined by David McFadden, addressing the “blur zone”
between art, craft and design; Kathy Buszkiewicz, discussing her
work and how it challenges the concept of value; Gretchen Goss,
continuing her examination of contemporary enamel work; and Gregory
Peckham, exploring the role of the artist in public art. Also
scheduled are Dr. Howard Risatti, discussing how design has
transformed the world and our understanding of it; Melvin Rose,
presenting an overview of the evolution of decorative metal work in
Cleveland’s residential and public architecture over the last 150
years; and Dr. Lyneise Williams, examining the ways in which hip-hop
jewelry has become a cultural phenomenon.
Two panels join the lineup for 2005. Theory and Practice: A Dialogue
Between Educators and Practitioners, featuring educators Myra
Mimlitsch Gray and Joe Wood, and studio jewelers Marcia Macdonald
and Jan Yager, moderated by Metalsmith editor Suzanne Ramljak. And
The Price of Gold, a group of environmental experts including Tom
Goldtooth from the Indigenous Environmental Network, Glenn Miller
from the University of Nevada, and Payal Sampat from Earthworks,
discussing their efforts to reform current gold mining practices,
moderated by metalsmiths Susan Kingsley and Christina Miller.
The Annual Juried Student Slide Show, “Learning Curves,” is
presented by Kim Tatalick of Savannah College of Art & Design, and
will showcases current student work.
As always, an impressive selection of juried and curated exhibitions
will run concurrently with the conference. Among the twelve shows
lined up for 2005 are “The Influence of Rock and Roll” (at the Rock
& Roll Hall of Fame and Museum), “Resources: Steel, Rubber, Coal and
Salt,” “Enamel: Beyond the Object,” “200 Rings,” “Virtual/Tangible,”
“Educators/Educated: Jewelry and Metals in Ohio,” “Embracing the
Sacred and the Secular: Reliquaries in Contemporary Metal,” and “On
the Verge - SNAG Student Exhibition.” A final night party at the
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will also include an Exhibition in Motion,
with artists strutting their own work down the runway.
For questions about the conference, contact Conference Director
Kristin Shiga, (503) 329-2352, @snagconference.
For conference registration and hotel reservations contact Complete
Conference Coordinators, (630) 637-8100, info@cccmeetings.com.
The SNAG conference, sponsored by the Society of North American
Goldsmiths and hosted each year in a different North American
location, provides an important forum for discussion and presentation
in all areas of jewelry and metalsmithing, and stimulates discourse
on a range of topics. SNAG is the association of jewelers, designers
and metalsmiths, providing many programs and services to its 3,600+
members including Metalsmith magazine and a 16-page newsletter, each
5 times a year. Members receive a $70 discount off the conference
registration fee. Visit http://www.snagmetalsmith.org, or contact the
SNAG/Metalsmith Business Office at (630) 778-METL [6385] for more