RAPAPORT... The promise of a secret treasure is the inspiration behind the American Jewelry Design Council’s (AJDC) 12th Annual Design Project. Each year the members of this exclusive group of designers create a piece for the project based solely on artistic merit without commercial intent. A new theme is chosen for each year’s project as a starting point for the designers, who either interpret the design literally or in a very abstract way. Working with this year’s Secret Treasures theme, designers incorporated hidden or unexpected elements in each piece. The collection will be on display at the JCK Show in Las Vegas and at the JA Summer Show in New York. Jewelry aficionados can look forward to a book showcasing the council’s various design projects in 2008, when Lark Books publishes a tome on these innovative pieces.
The lights will be shining brightly on seven up-and-coming “Rising Stars” in the JCK Las Vegas Show Design Center, located on the second floor of the Sands Expo Center. This year’s Rising Stars designers are Beth McElhiney, inspired by Celtic and Edwardian traditions; BlumLux, a new men’s collection; Chintemani, highlighting the designer’s view of art from Istanbul; Naphom & Co., offering a world culture perspective on jewelry that blends ancient and contemporary themes; Sharon Loeff Designs, featuring a patent-pending convertible jewelry mounting; Timothy Meier Design, dedicated to a handcrafted line of men’s jewelry and Tracy Matthews Designs Inc., taking an experimental approach to combining color and metal.
Argentinean designer Ezekiel Safdie has been making jewelry since he was 12 years old. Currently residing in Beverly Hills, California, the multiple-award-winning designer has created a collection of palladium and diamonds targeted to a young audience. His futuristic chic designs include fashion and contemporary bridal.
San Francisco, California–based Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts, a professional jewelry school offering certificates and diplomas, has awarded its first New Student Scholarship. Debbie Fehrenbach was awarded the scholarship based on images of work that she created and her answers to the following two questions: Why was she qualified to win and why did she want to attend the academy? Fehrenbach, who is a grandmother and burgeoning jewelry designer from Michigan, was selected from more than 150 entries. She will be flown to San Francisco for her choice of the academy’s 100 three-day classes.
Mikimoto Beverly Hills joined in the Oscar festivities with in-store displays themed on the five films nominated for Best Art Direction at the 2007 Academy Awards. The one-of-a-kind displays were created by art director Joe Celli, who incorporated pearls into each vignette.
Article from the Rapaport Magazine - May 2007. To subscribe click here.