Northwest Jewelry & Metals Symposium
Speaker History

• Andy CoopermanSeattle metalsmith; jewelry and hollowware
• Jeannine Falinocurator and writer, American craft
• Mary Lee Huwoven and twined gold and silver jewelry
• Keith Lewisfigurative narrative jewelry
• Micki LippeSeattle jeweler; SMG founder
• Karen LoreneSeattle jeweler and gallerist (Facèré); narrative jewelry
• Joyce Scottbeadwork and sculpture; social commentary

The inaugural Symposium paired local talent with nationally known figures, including makers and non-makers alike.

• Philip Baldwinpattern-welded steel and mokume
• Harriete Estel Bermanrecycled-tin and found-material jewelry and objects
• Kevin Glenn Cranepattern-welded steel and mokume
• Charon Kranseninternational art-jewelry dealer and educator
• Micki Lippe
• Ramona Solbergfound-object jewelry; Northwest mentor
• Kate Wagle

• Ken Coryenamel and Pacific Northwest "funk" jewelry
• Mary Douglas
• Cheryl Leo-Gwinn
• Deborah Loziertorch-fired enamel on formed copper
• Eleanor Motyfabricated brooches with mineral specimens
• Kiff Slemmonsjewelry from found and unconventional materials
• Nancy Wordennarrative statement necklaces; social commentary

The early years had no set number of speakers; over time the program settled on roughly five slots.

• Russell Colon
• Stair Dikerman
• Dr. Peter Fankboner
• David and Nathalie Gackenbach
• Michael Greenwood
• Lynn Henry
• David Horste
• Greg Iverson
• Rodney Kessler
• Gina PankowskiSeattle metalsmith; intricate openwork
• Julie Rauschenberger
• Don Rotherham
• Cynthia Schlemlein
• Cynthia Toopspolymer-clay mosaic and beadwork
• Carmen Valdes
• Florence Baker Wood
• Norm Young

Held just south of Seattle at Highline Community College, whose program focused on the world of the trade jeweler.

• Tami Dean
• Charles Lewton-Brainmetalsmithing techniques (fold-forming); author
• Marcia MacDonald
• James Minson
• Bruce Peppichcurator, Racine Art Museum
• Judy Souraklicurator, Henry Art Gallery

Symposium speakers have long included gallerists, historians, writers, and curators alongside makers.

• Robert DavidsonHaida artist; carver, printmaker, jeweler
• Bettina DittlmannGerman art jeweler; iron and enamel
• Helen Drutt Englishcraft gallerist and scholar
• Mary Lee Huwoven and twined gold and silver jewelry
• George McLean
• Gail Simpson

• Sharon Churchart jewelry; adornment and mortality
• Nancy Megan Corwinchasing and repoussé; author and educator
• Jack da Silvametalsmith and sculptor
• Marilyn da Silvasculptural metalwork with gesso and colored pencil

• Abrashaminimalist, precision goldsmithing
• Diane Falkenhagennarrative jewelry with imagery
• Catherine Grisez
• Jim Malenda
• Walla Walla Foundryart bronze foundry

The early Symposiums were multi-day events that included exhibitions and workshops presented by speakers.

• Christine Clark
• Keith Lewisfigurative narrative jewelry
• Karen LoreneSeattle jeweler and gallerist; narrative jewelry
• Tom Muirhollowware and jewelry; educator
• Maria Phillipsmixed-media jewelry and objects; Seattle educator

• Norman Cherryjewelry; bio-inspired electroforming
• Robert Ebendorffound-object art jewelry
• Sheila Klein Mettle
• June Schwarczelectroplated and enameled vessels
• Frank R. Wilson, M.D.neurologist; author of The Hand

The Symposium often invites speakers from outside art, craft, and design — here, a neurologist on how the hand shapes the brain, language, and human culture.

• Dee Fontans
• Lee Rumsey Haga
• Ela Lamblinkinetic sound sculpture (Lelavision)
• Richard Mawdsleyintricately fabricated metalwork
• Michael Monroecurator (Renwick Gallery; Bellevue Arts Museum)

A single Symposium was held at SAM before the search for a new venue continued.

• Harold BalazsNorthwest sculptor and enamelist; public art
• Lois Sherr Dubinauthor and historian of beads and adornment
• Rock Hushkacurator, Tacoma Art Museum
• Helen Shirkmetalsmith; patinated vessels and plant forms
• Anika Smulovitzmetalsmith and educator

• Harlan Buttenamelist; vessels with nature imagery
• David Fredaenameling; cloisonné nature studies
• Suzanne Pugh
• Heidi Schweglersculpture and objects; decay and cast forms
• Denise & Samuel Wallacefabricated jewelry with Alaska Native influence

• Harriete Estel Bermanrecycled-tin and found-material work
• Fred Fensterpewter and silver hollowware; educator
• Susie Ganchart jewelry and sculpture; sustainability
• Gary Griffinmetalwork and forged iron; educator
• Kristin Mitsu Shigametalsmith and educator

Speakers may invite someone to introduce their talk; here Susie Ganch introduced her former professor, Fred Fenster.

• Nancy Megan Corwinchasing and repoussé; author and educator
• John Gradelarge-scale sculpture and installation
• Lisa Gralnickconceptual metalsmith (The Gold Standard)
• Felieke van der Leestcrocheted animal figures with metal
• Jim Wallaceblacksmith; longtime director, Metal Museum

While the Symposium centers on metal, it often invites artists working in other media and craft-adjacent fields.

• Klaus Burgelart jeweler
• Kim Cridlersteel-wire vessel and sculpture forms
• Arthur Hashexperimental jewelry; digital fabrication
• Marvin Jensenmetalsmith; hollowware and mokume
• Elizabeth Shyperttgallerist, Velvet da Vinci (San Francisco)

• Kristin Beeler
• Julie Blyfieldoxidized and enameled botanical forms
• Helen Carnacenamel and drawing; mark-making
• Sergey Jivetinmicro-scale precision jewelry
• Charon Kranseninternational art-jewelry dealer and educator

Seattle again welcomed SNAG that year, but the Guild decided to move ahead with its own Symposium.

• Phillip Baldwinpresenting on Bernard Hosey
• Kevin Glenn Cranepattern-welded steel and mokume
• Julia HarrisonSeattle jeweler and enamelist
• Merrily TompkinsNorthwest funk and narrative jewelry

• Elizabeth Brimforged iron with feminine forms
• Danielle Mavealjewelry; online craft education
• Ursula Ilse Neumancurator of art jewelry (presented by Micki Lippe)
• Kiff Slemmonsjewelry from found and unconventional materials
• Gregg Wilbur

When a last-minute cancellation arose, planning-committee member Micki Lippe stepped in to present Ursula Neuman's talk in her absence.

• Vivian Beersculptural steel furniture
• Stephen Fliegelcurator and medievalist (Cleveland Museum of Art)
• Myra Mimlitsch-Grayhollowware that subverts domestic objects; educator
• Todd Pownelljewelry with raw and rose-cut diamonds
• Suzanne Ramljakwriter, editor, and curator (Metalsmith)
• Lori Talcottjewelry; Nordic and ritual themes

• Christine Clark
• Jillian Morre
• Nervous Systemgenerative design studio; algorithmic, 3D-printed work
• John Raisblacksmith; sculptural ironwork
• Jennifer Traskjewelry and sculpture from bone, antler, and found materials

• Karin Jonesinterdisciplinary artist with a jewelry background; identity and social history
• Matt Lambertnonbinary multidisciplinary artist; adornment, body, and queer theory
• Junko Moriforged steel and silver organic sculptural forms
• Ira Shermanmechanical and kinetic jewelry and interactive sculpture
• Cindi Strausscurator, decorative arts and craft (MFA Houston)

• Brittany Nicole Coxantiquarian horologist; automata and mechanical objects
• Jim Dailing
• Catherine Grisez
• Amie McNeelsculpture and metalwork; educator
• Cynthia Toopspolymer-clay mosaic and beadwork

• Dana Cassara
• Beatriz Cortezsculpture; welded steel, memory and migration
• Ben Dory
• Aaron Macsainarrative goldwork and mokume
• Michael Nashef

• Alex Boydjeweler and goldsmith; fabrication in silver and high-karat gold
• Pat Flynnjewelry; iron and gold
• Erica Moodyfunctional metal utensils and objects
• Pat Pruittstainless steel and industrial jewelry (Laguna Pueblo)
• Rick Smith
• Renée Zettle-Sterlingconceptual metalsmithing; educator

• Vicki Ambery-SmithBritish jeweler and silversmith; architectural jewelry in miniature
• Curtis Arimametalsmith, jeweler, and educator (CCA); materials and sustainable practice
• Leah Aripotchmetal sculptor; forged and welded steel creatures
• Jeff De BoerCalgary sculptor; armor for cats and mice, public sculpture, jewelry
• Alan Reveremaster goldsmith and educator; founder of the Revere Academy

• Maria CristalliWashington blacksmith; forged iron and sculpture
• Ana María JiménezColombian jeweler, artist, and architect; ancestral techniques and stone tools
• Jaydan Mooremetalsmith and printmaker; sculpture from found silver-plated tableware
• Demitra Thomloudisstudio jeweler and educator; jewelry, the body, and place
• Jennifer YoungerTlingit metal-carving artist; Northwest Coast formline jewelry