[Jewelry making - Article 00131] - Re: [Orchid] Self taught Vs Formal training

[jyv]

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    When I began my interest in the world of gems I was at a loss for a
    teacher. I recall Dr. Dake, 'The Minerologist Maginine' publishing
    articles on how to build your own equipment. There was little
    available at the time. Dr Dake was source for me in the fifties. Gem
    cutting was just coming out of it's secret shrouds, as were
    goldsmithing and silversmithing drawing away from the traditional
    and guarded 'apprentice' approach. 

    My silvesmith teacher was taught, as an apprentice, by a German
    precious metals smith--a "Guild" member, no less, who had immigrated
    from Germany after WWII. 

    Brave soul she, she had searched him out and asked to be taught. I
    recall her saying she spent many hours hammering before she was
    allow to move on to the next step in fabrication. Fortunatly she
    didn't have us do that! (we were just a handful of students in her
    basement.) When one of us reached a place where we deviated from the
    more rigid formality of her training---we were no longer her student.
    She was always there, however, with suggestions that could aid us in
    launching into more exploration on our own. She shared her 'shop'
    equipment and showed us how to build or make some of the tools
    needed. None of us had much money in those days. 

    There weren't really any academic insitutions offering jewelry making
    as a college course at the time that I know of.(But I don't know
    everything!) The day of the Rock Hound dawned and many Rock Hound
    Clubs finally got to gether and began to have classes. I recall
    having a class from Glenn Frost in San Diego, at at the club there.
    This was years later--I wanted to cast in gold and he was a willing
    teacher volunteering there. 

    I see it as unfortunate that the many years of working experience of
    many of us older cutters and smiths is not honored or made use of by
    the educational system. I note that one is considered more qualified
    if they have that piece of paper. I have a couple of GIA certs, but
    that didn't make me a gem Cutter or a precious metals smith--that is
    another story. 

    I remember John Sinkansis, in San Diego--I wonder if his books would
    be refused by our current educational administrators?k He did
    magnificant work in his devotion to field of gems. What about the
    other founding 'fathers and mother's in our profession? Seems a
    shame, doesn't it? There are many among us who have shared their
    knowledge and experience through the years. I am no longer am able
    to do that--but I respect and honor those whose years of work in this
    field could be a wellspring of learning and creativity for the ones
    out there who have a desire to join us in this magic world of gems
    and jewelry. 

jyv

 
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