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ABOUT JIM BINNION

by James Binnion

Jim’s love of craft started in his grandmother’s home.  His grandmother was a weaver and furniture maker who inspired Jim to use his creative talents. Jim has been making jewelry for over 30 years. Though he learned jewelry basics in high school he has continued to make jewelry and expand his knowledge all of his adult life.
Jim has always been drawn to the beauty and workmanship of Japanese craft. Once he saw mokume in the early 1980s he knew he would make mokume.   He pioneered a technique for making electric kiln-fired mokume gane.  In 1991 he established James Binnion Metal Arts (JBMA), working exclusively in mokume.  He has consulted with other mokume artists and metallurgists to develop his theoretical and practical knowledge of metallurgy.  He continues to refine his lamination process and designs.  Jim has been on the web since 1996.

His designs are a perfect blend of his personality.   The rigorous requirements to successfully laminate mokume gane reflect the engineer side of his brain while the carved patterns and designs reflect his artistic side.

A recognized master of mokume gane, Jim has taught numerous mokume classes as well as classes in metalsmith and goldsmith techniques.   He freely shares his expertise on the Ganoksin Orchid jewelry forum and has been interviewed for numerous articles on mokume, metals and jewelry.  His chapter for Steve Midgett’s book, “Mokume Gane A Comprehensive Study” describes the use of the electric kiln in making mokume.  He has written and presented a number of papers on mokume at The Santa Fe Symposium on Jewelry Manufacturing Technology. In May 2003, he was awarded the Industry Leader Award by The Santa Fe Symposium for his significant contribution in sharing quality technical information.

His background includes 9 years as an electronics technician in the US Navy Submarine Service and 13 years as an electronics engineer with SRI International designing and constructing scientific research instrumentation.

Jim and Terry married in 1998 and moved from the San Francisco Bay Area to Bellingham WA in November 2001. Besides working in his studio Jim enjoys reading (technical and science fiction), cooking (especially spicy foods) and taking walks with his wife and dogs.

 

Organizations:
Member of ABANA: Artists Blacksmiths Association of North America
Member of American Crafts Council (ACC)
Member of ASM International: the materials information society
Member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Member of Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America, Inc. (MJSA)
Member of the Seattle Metals Guild
Member of Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG)
Member of MJSA/AJM Innovation Council

Past Member and Past President (1990) of San Francisco Metal Arts Guild (MAG)

Professional and Juried Craft Shows
American Craft Council: Baltimore, Columbus and West Springfield
Buyers Market of American Craft: Boston, Philadelphia and San Francisco
Contemporary Crafts Market: San Francisco and Santa Monica

 

Awards:

May 2011: Collaborative Research Award presented by The Santa Fe Symposium on Jewelry Manufacturing Technology, “In recognition of published research-done in collaboration between a manufacturing jeweler and a supplier-that uses good scientific principles to result in useful information that can be applied for the greater good of the industry.”

May 2006: Collaborative Research Award presented by The Santa Fe Symposium on Jewelry Manufacturing Technology, “In recognition of published research-done in collaboration between a manufacturing jeweler and a supplier-that uses good scientific principles to result in useful information that can be applied for the greater good of the industry.”

May 2003: Industry Leader Award presented by The Santa Fe Symposium on Jewelry Manufacturing Technology for significant contribution by a manufacturer in sharing quality technical information

Publications:
“Designing, Building and Testing a Thermal Expansion Mismatch Torque Plate (TEMTP) System for Diffusion Bonding Mokume Gane Billets: “The Poor Man’s Hot Press” By James Binnion, James Binnion Metal Arts, Andrew Nyce, Andrew Nyce Designs and Stewart Grice, Hoover & Strong Inc.; published in Proceedings of the Nineteenth Santa Fe Symposium; edited by Eddie Bell; 2005.

“Non-Traditional Mokume Gane Materials: Diffusion Bonding of Iron to Precious Metals” by James Binnion published in Proceedings of the Eighteenth Santa Fe Symposium; edited by Eddie Bell; 2004

“Creative Bonding of Platinum with Other Metals” by James Binnion; published in
Platinum Manufacturing Process Volume XI; Platinum Guild International USA; 2003.

“Pattern Recognition” by James Binnion; published in April 2003 issue of AJM magazine.

Mokume Gane: An Ancient Technique Brought into the New Millennium” by James Binnion; published in Proceedings of the Sixteenth Santa Fe Symposium; edited by Eddie Bell; 2002.

“Electric Kiln Fired Mokume Gane” by James Binnion in Mokume Gane: A Comprehensive Study by Steve Midgett; 2000; published by Earthshine Press.

Professional Presentations:

2010:  The Santa Fe Symposium on Jewelry Manufacturing Technology in New Mexico
2007:   CLASP presenter and panel member
2006:   CLASP panel member
2005:   Kraft Master at Kraftwerks in Ontario, CA
2005:  The Santa Fe Symposium on Jewelry Manufacturing Technology in New Mexico
2004:  The Santa Fe Symposium on Jewelry Manufacturing Technology in New Mexico
2003:  Kraft Master at Kraftwerks in Ontario, CA
2003   Platinum Days at the MJSA Conference
2002:  The Santa Fe Symposium on Jewelry Manufacturing Technology in New Mexico
2002:  MJSA Conference in NYC

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