[Jewelry making - Article 00358] - Re: [Orchid] Article: Minimal Metalsmithing

[Ctedesigns]

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Good morning one and all,

    First, I am intrigued that so much attitude was read into Nanz's
    response. There are probably ten people on here who are so qualified
    to offer opinions (i.e., via experience, credentials or both) that I
    would literally pay them were I not able to get their thoughts for
    free thanks to this site. Nanz is one of them even though I am
    inclined to feel a little trepidation ("be careful what you ask for")
    when she responds to a question of mine because she can be brutally
    honest. 

    Now to the topic at hand: having no vested interest in PMC, I didn't
    find her rude or insulting. She voiced two very true facts: 1) PMC is
    not feasible for production work (logical); 2) it opened up a whole
    market to people who could not previously produce metal jewelry.

    (Yes, lack of skill would be a reason people are unable to produce
    metal jewelry.) What is interesting is how people took those two
    generic statements and suddenly made them personal. 

    In any venue, there is beauty and crap. Some PMC artists do amazing
    things and some don't. Nothing unique to PMC; just the way it is
    across the board in any medium. So, people need to stop assuming
    their own individual work is being attacked during the course of this
    conversation. If there is something wrong with a piece having a
    clay-like aspect in its design, then why are you using PMC? One can't
    have it both ways... either you are fine with your method or you
    aren't but bottom line: you are starting with a clay product.

    It is also safe to say that PMC's development is a direct result of
    a society driven by immediate gratification and low cost. 

    James Binnion, who by far is one of the most experienced metalsmiths
    on here in terms of metals' interaction, cohesiveness and all other
    facets, addressed the nature of PMC and where it falls short. Sorry
    to all the PMC artists, but your opinions just don't carry the same
    weight because you are simply touting the line given to you by the
    manufacturer. (Yes, Mr. Binnion is also one of my ten.) 

    The solution is simple: any item made from PMC should be labeled as
    such. Let the consumer decide if it matters. Let those who use the
    product as their means to be artists, continue to do so knowing that
    they now have to identify the means with which they are producing the
    end result and proactively address any repair questions if they
    arise... unless they feel that putting a PMC mark on their piece
    somehow undermines it... in which case, then perhaps we know why
    there is so much bluster going on. 

    As for myself, irrespective of how many people tell me that PMC is
    durable, I will continue to make my pieces the old-fashioned way
    because those methods are proven to last and I create pieces that are
    intended to be handed down through a family's generations. So, while
    PMC has its own niche, I am pleased that it does not impact my niche
    at all. 

Cameron
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