Initiatives in Arts and Culture New York Fashion Conference

This is short notice but if you’re in New York Friday and Saturday Initiatives in Arts and Culture is hosting its 17th annual New York Fashion Conference at CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Ave. (between 34th and 35th streets)

The event features two full days of seminars in a variety of fashion disciplines and topics, all under the banner of “Trailblazers.”  

IAC’s mission is to educate diverse audiences in the fine, decorative, and visual arts through conferences, publications, and exhibitions. 

Two seminars of note are:

* “Trailblazers in Platinum: Spanning the Decades, on Friday at 11 am; moderated by Teresa Frye, president and CEO of TechForm Advance Casting Technology, and founder of the Portland Symposium. Panelists are Susan Chandler, Jose Hess and Matt Isaacson; 

* “Trailblazers: Pearl Design, Sustainability and Availability “on Friday at 1:40 pm; Kathy Grenier is moderator and panelists are Chi Huynh, Hisano Shepherd and Jeremy Shepherd.

There will be a reception and viewing at Featherstone Fine Jewelry Atelier Friday at 6:30 pm.

For more information or to order tickets follow this link.

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes website

Conference to Examine Substance, Significance and Symbol of Gold

Mary Lee Hu, Choker, 1991, 18 Karat and 22 Karat Gold. Photo courtesy: Facèré Jewelry Art Gallery, Seattle.

An upcoming conference will take an all-embracing look at gold will be April 8 and 9 at the Graduate Center City University of New York. The conference, Gold Substance, Significance, and Symbol, will consider the precious metal it in all its physical manifestations—from mineral, to ingot, to coinage, to jewelry—and at all stages of its production and use.

The conference will explore contemporary approaches to mining, with close attention paid to sustainable and socially and environmentally conscious extraction and the related subjects of the increasing use of reclaimed metal and corporate social responsibility. It will look at gold throughout history, and collectors and collections of gold. In addition, it will extend beyond gold’s role as a repository of value, and consider its symbolism and how that has evolved over time. Finally, the event will examine contemporary work in gold, by large firms or individual artisans who continue to shape this intensely coveted metal into objects of beauty and utility.

The event will include an evening reception at Aaron Faber Gallery and a screening of the award-winning film, Red Gold complement formal sessions. Speakers will include: Juan Carlos Artigas, Investment Research Manager, World Gold Council; Marilyn F. Cooperman, jewelry designer; Bonnie Gestring, Northwest Circuit Director, EARTHWORKS; Mary Lee Hu, goldsmith and educator; and Géza von Habsburg, art historian, exhibition curator.

Registration is $350 and $150 for students. To register online, follow this link.