[Jewelry making - Article 00557] - Re: [Orchid] BFA/MFA Vs technical training

[Wayne Emery]

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    I'll risk being attacked by adding some thoughts, if I may, from the
    perspective of the employer. 

    A couple of decades of retail store ownership is guiding my thinking
    here, but that does not make my conclusions any more valid than the
    conclusions of others, assuming they are speaking from experience
    rather than from fantasy or wishful thinking. 

    I'll keep it simple by saying that I would vastly prefer a skilled
    craftsperson with a good design "sense" to many (not all) of the
    MFA's I've met. 

    Good design, in jewelry, does not mean just something that is
    aesthetically pleasing. What you find pleasing, I might not, or all
    jewelry would look the same. Rather, good design includes the idea
    that the piece must be conveniently wearable, although PERHAPS the
    piece designed for occasional wear might not exhibit the same
    ruggedness as a piece intended as an engagement/wedding ring. 

    And it is precisely this "wearability" that is so often lacking in
    the portfolios of the MFA's that I have seen. In fact, if you visit
    the web sites of the foremost schools offering MFA's with an
    emphasis in metalwork, you will be treated to wonderful examples of
    creative pieces bordering on the abstract that are, for all
    practical purposes, useless. And the "skills" developed there are
    mostly not useful to me as a store owner. 

    A store owner needs someone at the bench who is good at their CRAFT.
    This person fills a specific NEED, and it is a little different from
    the need for a "designer". I was forunate to have a very gifted wax
    carver and goldsmith work with me for years. He's occasionally here
    on the list (Hi, Charles!) and he and I would often remark that good
    custom jewelry business can be run with probably less than a dozen
    strong basic designs (and their variations). Beyond that number,
    there few pieces that have: 

    1. Broad appeal (turn!) 
    2. Wearability 
    3. Durability 
    4. Profitability 

    If the piece doesn't have all those, I'm headed for broke. 

    We also were constantly reminded of the preponderance of customers
    who found their way to our "one-of-a-kind, designed for you" type
    operation, who wound up choosing, after much deliberation,
    sketching, CAD work, etc., a design that was not much different than
    many other pieces made before....by ourselves or others. Considering
    relatively conservative tastes held by many of our customers, and
    the first three items listed above, how could it be otherwise? It's
    just business, in the end, and the business rules are primary. They
    take preference over the desire or need to create something
    "different". If that sounds eerily similar to the discussions of
    "artist vs business success", there's a reason. 

    To address the question posed by Mr. Hart (investment in education
    vs return in terms of pay in the marketplace), it's pretty clear. 

    Ideas are cheap, skills are rare, invest in the rarity. I think it's
    also harder to accomplish, and will take longer than the time needed
    to get that MFA. 

    Not wishing to slight those who have invested in the MFA, I would
    say that if you are pondering the path, think long and hard about
    your GOALS. I can assure you there is more demand for the skilled
    craftsperson willing to work for someone else. Health care is
    expensive, think about it. 

    NOW...if I had a kid wondering which to pursue, I would recommend
    he/she become a plumber or a tile setter...the pay is MUCH better
    and the skill set not so demanding. 

Wayne
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