News

artZ Gallery, Amery, WI will feature the award winning jewelry of Stevens Point silversmith, Joan North during the month of July in a featured show entitled, “Metaphors in Metal: That’s Life!”

“Metaphors in Metal: That’s Life!” premiered in March 2016 at the local Q Gallery.

North says, “When making these jewelry pieces, I thought of human situations, such as leaving home for the first time or the comfort of being with someone else.” The show will present over twenty “metaphors in metal” that suggest various human emotions or interactions. Using silver and stones, her works include views of bullying, leaving home, and hiding feelings. How can a necklace make a viewer think of “Don’t shoot!” or “Feeling empty”? Visit the exhibit and find out for yourself. The public is invited to see the suggested emotions in the jewelry. Amery, WI, “the city of lakes,” is in Polk County northeast of Minneapolis. It was featured
in “The Best 100 Small Art Towns in America. Artists’ reception on July 8 from 5 to 8; invitation only.

Former Dean of the College of Professional Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, North is now a full time silversmith whose fine art jewelry is shown at galleries and exhibits across the country, most recently in California, Florida and Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. North has been operating Joan North Designs for 16 years in her Stevens Point
studio.

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Lancaster County Art Association, Strasburg, PA, and New Visions Gallery, Marshfield, WI announced recently that jewelry created by Joan North,   Stevens Point, has been selected for inclusion into their national juried exhibits. Lancaster will feature “Bubbly Personality” necklace, a joyous piece of ocean jasper (you can imagine the sea bubbles) surrounded by ascending form that seems to stretch from the sea to the sky. A faceted pink tourmaline tops the piece and rose quartz repeats the round bubble shapes. New Visions Gallery will show “Farmer’s Lament” necklace containing a rugged piece of limestone, like so many pesky rocks in farmers’ fields. This one suggests the farmer’s fence and a bright flower in the field. Also at New Visions is “Scarecrow” necklace suggesting the sun shining behind the scary creature and multiple “hands” to protect the garden from birds. The striated jasper body of the shirt looks worn and sun faded. Former Dean of the College of Professional Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, North is now a full time award-winning silversmith whose works are shown at galleries and exhibits across the country, most recently in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, California and Florida. North has been operating Joan North Designs for 16 years in her Stevens Point studio. Find her online at JoanNorth.com. Also at facebook.com/JoanNorthDesigns.

Sarah Mann is teaching a workshop 
Surface Treatment and Design: Adding Texture to Your Jewelry
at the renowned Peninsula School of Art
Door County, WI  June 27-29, 2016  

Add beauty and interest to the surfaces of your jewelry designs in this hands-on workshop. Utilizing various tools and techniques, you will explore incorporating texture, patina, and pattern as a design element and focal point of your finished pendant.

You will experiment with surface treatment using the rolling mill, files, stamping tools, mizzy wheels, sanding disks, and more. The workshop will be comprised of demonstrations, individualized feedback, and time to work independently. Those students with extra time and more advanced skills will have the opportunity to work on more elaborate pieces.

WDCC members Michael Thee and Mary Wohlgemuth are teaching a full week of jewelry-making workshops and classes at Milwaukee's Bead&Button Show, coming June 3–13 to the Wisconsin Center. This big yearly event draws attendees from all over the world for education, shopping, and networking. 

Most of Michael and Mary's classes promise an attractive jewelry project (a sterling silver pendant or a ring, for example) as the result of the students'  hard work. As they complete the projects, students learn a variety of fundamental metalworking skills and techniques such as soldering, bezeling, and using a rolling mill. At this year's show, Michael and Mary will be demonstrating and selling a new tool set they created with students in mind: an economical set of punches designed specifically for tube-setting faceted gemstones.

Michael and Mary are partners in Michael Thee Studio, based in Milwaukee. Along with teaching, they sell their work in regional shows and online.        Visit MichaelTheeStudio.com

Charles Kraus, WDCC member and Morning Glory Fine Craft Fair exhibitor, has a 50 year retrospective at Concordia University. Click on the image at the left for more information from the University's website.

Kalmbach Publishing has recently posted two positions that may be of interest to WDCC member jewelers. The positions, with links to the relevant posting are:          

                                                  Digital Editor - Jewelry  

                                                  Content Editor - jewelry

Wisconsin Designer Crafts Council is sad to relay some news about one of our treasured board members and fellow artists.  Jeweler, Polly Daeger succumbed to a recurrent bout of cancer on November 17.  While some of us knew that she had beat cancer in the past, most of us didn’t know that it had returned recently and within weeks, took her life.  A heavy heart for the tremendous loss of an amazing woman that led a rich life full of extensive travel adventures, wide circle of friends and a talent of transforming virtually any material into the height of fashion in her enviable studio.  Her generosity, dedication to the arts and most of all her deep and loving friendship will be missed by all.

Steven Skinner, winner of the WDCC Fine Craftsmanship award at the Milwaukee Fine Furnishings Show, has added the Best in Show - Fine Art/Craft Body of Work at the Rhode Island Fine Furnishings Show. Great work does get recognized! Congratulations to Steven and Louise.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED … AND APPRECIATED!
So many people give their time and talent to make our Winter Glory show happen. Would you like to join the action at our new venue, the Polish Center in Franklin?

Show setup starts Friday, Nov. 20, and any amount of time you can give during the weekend will be greatly appreciated. Adults and responsible older children are welcome.

Registration for the workshop is closed, as we have reached our full capacity. If you would like to be notified should their be a cancellation, please send a request to news@wdcc.org.

Also, for attendees, the complete tools and supply list, along with location and parking information is available HERE.