Rio Grande Announces Winners of the 13th Annual Saul Bell Design Award
Rio Grande announced the winners of the 13th annual Saul Bell Design
Award competition at a celebration dinner held on June 1 during JCK
Las Vegas. After several months of judging, hundreds of entries were
narrowed to one grand prize winner and eleven category winners. More
than $30,000 in prizes and awards was presented at the gala dinner.
Finalists and winning pieces may be viewed online at
Many past Saul Bell Design Award winners credit the positive
exposure with helping energize their careers.
“It’s a career-altering event,” says Robin Waynee, the grand prize
winner of the 2012 award. “The value of winning can’t be overstated.
If a group of your peers validates what you’ve sunk your heart and
soul into, it feels pretty good!”
The competition challenges jewelry designers to push the boundaries
of their imaginations as they create original and innovative pieces
in any of six categories:
Hollowware/Art Objects: Includes vessels and non-wearable objects
made of precious metal using one or a combination of craft
techniques to include spinning, drawing, forging, raising, repousse,
and forming or otherwise constructed primarily from milled stock.
Decorative cast components can also be incorporated.
Gold/Platinum: The predominant metal is gold or platinum group
metals including palladium or a combination. May be cast,
fabricated, forged, assembled or created with any combination of
techniques. Must be entrant’s original design.
Silver/Argentium(R) Silver: The predominant metal is silver or
Argentium(R) Silver or a combination of both. May be cast,
fabricated, forged, assembled or created with any combination of
techniques. Must be the designer’s original design.
Metal Clay: The predominant material is either silver, gold, bronze
or copper metal clay. Must be the designer’s original design.
Beads: The predominant elements are beads, pearls or other strung
ornaments. Beads may be of any material. Must be the designer’s
original design and assembly.
Enamel: The predominant surface material must be enamel. Use
glass-based enamels and fire on any type of metal. Must be the
designer’s original design and construction.
2013 Gold/Platinum Category Winners:
Grand Prize - $10,000 Rio Grande Gift Certificate
Ryan Roberts, Ryan Roberts, Ltd.
Chimayo, New Mexico, USA
Second Place - $1,000 Rio Grande Gift Certificate
Michael Boyd, Michael Boyd Studio
Pueblo, Colorado, USA
2013 Silver/Argentium(R) Category Winners:
First Place - $2,500 Rio Grande Gift Certificate
Megan Clark, Megan Clark Jewelry, Inc.
Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Second Place - $1,000 Rio Grande Gift Certificate
Jinbee Park
New York, New York, USA
2013 Hollowware Category Winners:
First Place - $2,500 Rio Grande Gift Certificate
John Lunn, John Lunn Flutes
Newport, New Hampshire, USA
Second Place - $1,000 Rio Grande Gift Certificate
Michael Boyd, Michael Boyd Studio
Pueblo, Colorado, USA
2013 Metal Clay Category Winners:
First Place - $2,500 Rio Grande Gift Certificate
Wanaree Tanner, Jade Orchid
Quincy, Illinois, USA
Second Place - $1,000 Rio Grande Gift Certificate
Christi Anderson, Elemental Adornments
Marana, Arizona, USA
2013 Beads Category Winners:
First Place - $2,500 Rio Grande Gift Certificate
Guzialia Reed
Japan
Second Place - $1,000 Rio Grande Gift Certificate
Laura McCabe, Just Let Me Bead
Stonington, Connecticut, USA
2013 Enamel Category Winners:
First Place - $2,500 Rio Grande Gift Certificate
Inja Kim
Seoul, South Korea
Second Place - $1,000 Rio Grande Gift Certificate
Nena Potts, Nena Jewelry Designs
Rogersville, Missouri, USA
The 2013 panel of judges included Jennifer Heebner, Hannah Connorton,
Marlene Richey, Ron Beauchamp, Phaedra Barrack, G.L. Miller, Gregg
Burgard, Paula Brenton, Bill Pollack and Bernie Butterfield.
The finalists of the 2013 Saul Bell Design Award are:
Gold/Platinum
Elizabeth Gualtieri, Zaffiro, Portland, Oregon, USA
Michael Lane, Michael Lane Designs, Collie, Western Australia
Greg Neeley, Greg Neeley Design, Cortez, Colorado, USA
Silver/Argentium(R)
Yuka Okane Inoue, Lake Forest, Illinois, USA
Aaron Bass, Aaron Bass Joaillerie FINE Jewellery, Levis, Quebec,
Canada Mylissa Corlew, Flux Silver, Queensbury, New York, USA
Hollowware/Art Objects
Noel Yovovich, Eve J. Alfille Gallery & Studio, Evanston, IL, USA
Christi Anderson, Elemental Adornments, Marana, Arizona, USA
Evan Chambers, Pasadena, California, USA
Metal Clay
Anna Mazon, Cracow, Poland
Liz Hall, Lizards Jewelry, Lovettsville, Virginia, USA
Cindy Silas, Cindy Silas Design, Dale City, Virginia, USA
Beads
Gloria Danvers, Gloria Danvers Designs, Saint Augustine, Florida, USA
So Young Park, So Young Park Studio, Vestal, New York, USA
Holly Goeckler, San Antonio, Texas, USA
Enamel
Kristin Holeman, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Lessley Burke, Guilded Lynx Studio, Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA
Amy Roper Lyons, Amy Roper Lyons, Summit, New Jersey, USA
For about the 2014 Saul Bell Design Award competition,
designers are invited to call 800.952.6222 or email marketing [at]
riogrande.com. Initial concepts for entries to the 2014 competition
are due by September 20, 2013. Visit
SAUL BELL DESIGN AWARD for general about
the Saul Bell Design Award competition.