[Jewelry making - Article 01136] - Re: [Orchid] Non-jeweler designers at shows

[Wendy Newman]

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    I havn't posted for awhile, but as a goldsmith/ designer and
    festival artist for many, many years, I thought I'd jump in on this
    one. I do mainly fabricated pieces. The castings I use (which I carve
    or fabricate and sub-contract out) are embelleshed to be
    one-of-a-kind pieces when I am finished.  Each piece I sell comes
    with a certificate with a picture of the piece, stone and metal
    descriptions, and process (fabricated or cast/ fabricated) 

    Do cast pieces or mass production pieces at shows bother me?  As a
    rule, no.  I strive to do the best shows where knowlegeable people
    are doing the jurying, and you get a great array of different kinds
    of wonderful art-jewelry. My customers are usually collectors who
    know the difference between what they are buying at the fine craft
    shows, and what they find in department stores or on TV shopping
    networks. My last show, the Sun Valley festival of the Arts, was a
    perfect example of this. I saw perfect examples of high end jewelry
    artists who have a wonderful, but small, cast production line. That
    line blends in beautifully with thier overall style. 

    Occasionaly I willl do a show that I know is not juried to the
    standards of most of my shows, and they will let in jewelry that
    "runs the gamut of quality". I know there is a large segment of the
    jewelry buying public that doesn't care, whose primary concern is
    price. I take a gamble that the educated buyers find thier way to my
    booth. 

    Finally, I believe it is part of our job to educate the buyers.  I
    feel it is important at a show to take the time to explain how your
    work is made and how it is different from other jewelry.  For
    example, I do a lot of highly detailed piercing.  Many customers ask
    if it was done by a laser.  I have to tell them that I had to drill a
    hole for every line, thread the sawblade through it.....etc...  Also,
    if you are at a show which has awards, I feel it is perfectly fine to
    educate the JUDGES.  Some of them are gallery owners, or are in an
    art area in which they have little exposure to fine art jewelry.  The
    information you give them will help them to make more informed
    decisions next time they are called to a jury panel. 

Wendy Newman
Moab, UT
www.goldgraphix.com
wendy AT goldgraphix.com

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