On Thursday evening, October 24th, jewelry artists, art lovers and jewelry enthusiasts turned out to celebrate the opening of, “Variations on a Theme: 25 Years of Design from the AJDC” at the prestigious Forbes Galleries.The bejeweled exhibition will dazzle museum visitors with one-of-a-kind works from over 40 American Jewelry Design Council artists through February 22nd, 2014.
Fourteen of the forty-one participating jewelry artists attended the opening, pictured below. Top Row: Michael Bondanza, Paul Robilotti, Michael Good Middle: George Sawyer, Diana Vincent, Whitney Boin, Jane Bohan, Mark Schneider, Jose Hess Bottom: Barbara Heinrich (AJDC President), Linda MacNeil, William Schraft, Anthony Lent, Sandy Baker The annual AJDC themed design projects on display include Mona Lisa (1995), Cube (1996), Wheel (1997), Key (1998), Puzzle (1999), Water(2000), Flight (2001), Peekaboo (2002), Fold (2003), Sphere (2004), Pyramid (2005), Secret Treasure (2006), Spiral (2007), Tension (2008),Explosion (2009), Tear (2010), Black & White (2011), Ice (2012), and Wave (2013) Pictured above, selections from design themes “Water” (left) and “Black & White” (right) Guests were in awe of the beauty of the exhibition and the talent of the exhibiting artists. Below, Marylouise Sirignano Lugosch (left), Executive Director of the AJDC admires exhibiting artist Sandy Baker’s necklace. “It was a magical night celebrating all of the hard work and innovation of the forty-one participating designers”, Linda MacNeil, exhibition chair, said of the opening night. She continues, “The creative energy in the room was electric, and it is a true privilege to work with such inspired and accomplished artists.” Linda MacNeil (left) and Barbara Heinrich, AJDC President (right) AJDC jewelry artists Michael Good, Sandy Baker, and Whitney Boin Whitney Boin. (Left to right)
About the AJDC : Formed in 1988 by a group of American designers, The American Jewelry Design Council is a non-profit educational corporation, which recognizes and promotes the appreciation of original jewelry design as art. Up until this time, much of the industry still felt that only European designers knew how to design original jewelry. Although American designers had not followed the same schooling and classic apprenticeship as the European tradition demanded, many were self-taught creating brilliant, original designs that went unrecognized. Founding members include: Whitney Boin, Michael Bondanza, Henry Dunay, Michael Good, Ron Hartgrove, Jose Hess, Cornelis Hollander, and Pascal Lacroix.
Artists exhibiting in “Variations on a Theme: 25 Years of Design from the AJDC” include: Sandy BakerJane BohanWhitney BoinMichael BondanzaPetra ClassJaclyn DavidsonFalcher FusagerGeoffrey GilesCornelia GoldsmithMichael GoodSarah GrahamAlishan HalebianRon HartgroveBarbara HeinrichSusan HelmichJose HessCornelis HollanderJohn IversenScott KeatingChristo KifferPaul Klecka Steven KretchmerPascal LacroixAnthony LentLinda MacNeilGregore’ MorinJennifer Rabe MorinAdam NeeleyMark PattersonKent RaibleTodd ReedAlan ReverePaul RobilottiSusan SadlerGeorge SawyerMark SchneiderWilliam SchraftTina SegalDiana VincentTakashi WadaBarbara Westwood
