$\"Spectra$ MJSA recently announced the 2013 winners of its Vision Awards competition, which annually recognizes creativity and technical excellence in jewelry making and design. Adam Neeley<\/strong> of Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry in Laguna Beach, California, took first place in the Professional Excellence category for his hand-fabricated Spectra earrings (right, top), which transition seamlessly through seven gold colors (from rich yellow to white) and feature the adularescence of rainbow moonstones. The earrings also took top honors in the competition\u2019s Gold Distinction category.<\/span><\/div>\n
Mark Schneider<\/strong> of Mark Schneider Design in Long Beach, California, took second place in Professional Excellence for an 18k white gold pendant with a marquise-shaped, bubble-cut white quartz (right, bottom). The piece is accented with white diamonds as well as three cabochon moonstones.<\/span><\/div>\n
$\"Mark$ Besides Professional Excellence and Gold Distinction, the competition included four additional Distinction categories\u2014Palladium, Platinum, Laser, and Custom Design\u2014as well as a “Future of the Industry” award, which recognizes students enrolled in jewelry making and design programs.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u201cThis year\u2019s MJSA Vision Awards illustrate an impressive commitment to jewelry making and design in the 21st century,\u201d said MJSA President & CEO David W. Cochran. \u201cThe winners\u2019 authoritative command of metals, gems, and contemporary materials is matched by the imagination they demonstrated in creating their pieces.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n
The other winning entries include:<\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 Gold Distinction, Second Place: Ezra Satok-Wolman <\/strong>of Atelier Hg & Co. Inc. in Ontario, Canada, for an 18k white gold torus brooch created through anticlastic raising.<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Platinum Distincton,
First Place: <\/span>Mark Schneider<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\u2022 Platinum Distincton, First Place: Mark Schneider<\/strong> for earrings featuring two pear-shaped tanzanites, accented with tsavorite garnets, yellow diamonds, and white diamonds.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 Platinum Distinction, Second Place: Susan Drake<\/strong> of Spectrum Art & Jewelry in Wilmington, North Carolina, for a ring inspired by the vivid hues and dramatic ruffled wings of the large and colorful tropical sea mollusk called \u201cSpanish Dancer.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 Palladium Distinction, First Place (tie): Susan Drake<\/strong> for her \u201cGlacial\u201d ring, which features a 15.91 carat trillion-cut aquamarine and a flowing \u201cglacial melt stream\u201d of natural colored sapphires, white diamonds, and green tsavorite garnets; and Ezra Satok-Wolman<\/strong> for his \u201cMandarin\u201d ring, forged in 950 palladium and 18k green gold and featuring a 3.16 carat fancy-cut mandarin garnet and a pistachio-colored Tahitian pearl.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/span>Nghi Nguyen <\/strong>of NGHI Design in Brooklyn,
New York, for his \u201cHephaestus\u201d ring. <\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\u2022 Laser Distinction, First Place: Nghi Nguyen <\/strong>of NGHI Design in Brooklyn, New York, for his \u201cHephaestus\u201d ring. Created to honor the Greek god of manufacturing and metalsmithing, it features a bezel-set, 150-carat rock crystal (representing an anvil) hovering above a bed of reverse-set diamonds that radiate out on an arc (to represent tongs).<\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 Laser Distinction, Second Place: David Alvarado <\/strong>of Irthly Jewelled Adornments <\/strong>in Los Angeles, for his \u201cCycles\u201d pendant, in which rose gold and diamonds are inlaid in vegetable ivory and hung on a 16-inch rose gold chain.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 Custom Design Distinction, First Place (tie): Andrea Carnahan-Koenig<\/strong> of Annie K Jewelry in Louisville, Kentucky, for the \u201cNavaho Bug Collection\u201d necklace, which features a customer\u2019s collection of 21 varied antique sterling Navaho Indian bugs; and Patricia Daunis-Dunning<\/strong> of Daunis Fine Jewelry in Portland, Maine, for a \u201cGold Egg\u201d presented as a retirement gift to a CEO.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 Custom Design Distinction, Second Place: Patricia Daunis-Dunning<\/strong> for an anniversary neckpiece crafted from the shards old 33 1\/3 vinyl LPs\u2014 a gift for his wife on their 33 1\/3 anniversary.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Jiarui Lu, <\/strong>Savannah College of Art and Design, <\/span><\/div>\n
Savannah, Georgia – <\/span>“Auspicious Cloud” Brooch<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\u2022 Future of the Industry, First Place winner: Jiarui Lu <\/strong>of the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia, for the \u201cAuspicious Cloud\u201d brooch, which honors the traditional ivory carving and kingfisher feather inlay that were popular in China\u2019s Ming and Qing dynasties.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 Future of the Industry, Second Place: Jinbee Park<\/strong> of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, for \u201cPersistence of Unity\u201d\u2014a three-pendant set marrying fine and sterling silver, shibuichi, copper, garnet, citrine, and diamonds<\/span><\/div>\n
The judges of this year\u2019s Vision Awards competition were Chris Ploof, Chris Ploof Designs; Michael Coan, Fashion Institute of Technology; Cindy Edelstein, Jeweler\u2019s Resource Bureau; Sarah Graham, Sarah Graham Metalsmithing; Marlene Richey, consultant; and Tina Snyder, MJSA Journal<\/em> editor in chief.<\/span><\/div>\n
The sponsors of the awards were: general sponsor, Rio Grande; Gold Distinction sponsor, Hoover & Strong; Platinum Distinction sponsor, Platinum Guild International; Palladium Distinction sponsor, Palladium Alliance International; Laser Distinction sponsor, LaserStar Technologies; Custom Design Distinction sponsor, TechForm Advanced Casting Technology; and media sponsors, Instore<\/em> and Metalsmith<\/em> magazines. The MJSA Education Foundation sponsored the Future of the Industry awards.<\/span><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n
MJSA Announces 2013 Vision Award Winners<\/span><\/h1>\n
$\"Spectra$ MJSA recently announced the 2013 winners of its Vision Awards competition, which annually recognizes creativity and technical excellence in jewelry making and design. Adam Neeley<\/strong> of Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry in Laguna Beach, California, took first place in the Professional Excellence category for his hand-fabricated Spectra earrings (right, top), which transition seamlessly through seven gold colors (from rich yellow to white) and feature the adularescence of rainbow moonstones. The earrings also took top honors in the competition’s Gold Distinction category.<\/span><\/div>\n
Mark Schneider<\/strong> of Mark Schneider Design in Long Beach, California, took second place in Professional Excellence for an 18k white gold pendant with a marquise-shaped, bubble-cut white quartz (right, bottom). The piece is accented with white diamonds as well as three cabochon moonstones.<\/span><\/div>\n
$\"Mark$ Besides Professional Excellence and Gold Distinction, the competition included four additional Distinction categories—Palladium, Platinum, Laser, and Custom Design—as well as a “Future of the Industry” award, which recognizes students enrolled in jewelry making and design programs.<\/span><\/div>\n
“This year’s MJSA Vision Awards illustrate an impressive commitment to jewelry making and design in the 21st century,” said MJSA President & CEO David W. Cochran. “The winners’ authoritative command of metals, gems, and contemporary materials is matched by the imagination they demonstrated in creating their pieces.”<\/span><\/div>\n
The other winning entries include:<\/span><\/div>\n
• Gold Distinction, Second Place: Ezra Satok-Wolman <\/strong>of Atelier Hg & Co. Inc. in Ontario, Canada, for an 18k white gold torus brooch created through anticlastic raising.<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Platinum Distincton,
First Place: <\/span>Mark Schneider<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
• Platinum Distincton, First Place: Mark Schneider<\/strong> for earrings featuring two pear-shaped tanzanites, accented with tsavorite garnets, yellow diamonds, and white diamonds.<\/span><\/div>\n
• Platinum Distinction, Second Place: Susan Drake<\/strong> of Spectrum Art & Jewelry in Wilmington, North Carolina, for a ring inspired by the vivid hues and dramatic ruffled wings of the large and colorful tropical sea mollusk called “Spanish Dancer.”<\/span><\/div>\n
• Palladium Distinction, First Place (tie): Susan Drake<\/strong> for her “Glacial” ring, which features a 15.91 carat trillion-cut aquamarine and a flowing “glacial melt stream” of natural colored sapphires, white diamonds, and green tsavorite garnets; and Ezra Satok-Wolman<\/strong> for his “Mandarin” ring, forged in 950 palladium and 18k green gold and featuring a 3.16 carat fancy-cut mandarin garnet and a pistachio-colored Tahitian pearl.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/span>Nghi Nguyen <\/strong>of NGHI Design in Brooklyn,
New York, for his “Hephaestus” ring. <\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
• Laser Distinction, First Place: Nghi Nguyen <\/strong>of NGHI Design in Brooklyn, New York, for his “Hephaestus” ring. Created to honor the Greek god of manufacturing and metalsmithing, it features a bezel-set, 150-carat rock crystal (representing an anvil) hovering above a bed of reverse-set diamonds that radiate out on an arc (to represent tongs).<\/span><\/div>\n
• Laser Distinction, Second Place: David Alvarado <\/strong>of Irthly Jewelled Adornments <\/strong>in Los Angeles, for his “Cycles” pendant, in which rose gold and diamonds are inlaid in vegetable ivory and hung on a 16-inch rose gold chain.<\/span><\/div>\n
• Custom Design Distinction, First Place (tie): Andrea Carnahan-Koenig<\/strong> of Annie K Jewelry in Louisville, Kentucky, for the “Navaho Bug Collection” necklace, which features a customer’s collection of 21 varied antique sterling Navaho Indian bugs; and Patricia Daunis-Dunning<\/strong> of Daunis Fine Jewelry in Portland, Maine, for a “Gold Egg” presented as a retirement gift to a CEO.<\/span><\/div>\n
• Custom Design Distinction, Second Place: Patricia Daunis-Dunning<\/strong> for an anniversary neckpiece crafted from the shards old 33 1\/3 vinyl LPs— a gift for his wife on their 33 1\/3 anniversary.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Jiarui Lu, <\/strong>Savannah College of Art and Design, <\/span><\/div>\n
Savannah, Georgia – <\/span>“Auspicious Cloud” Brooch<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
• Future of the Industry, First Place winner: Jiarui Lu <\/strong>of the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia, for the “Auspicious Cloud” brooch, which honors the traditional ivory carving and kingfisher feather inlay that were popular in China’s Ming and Qing dynasties.<\/span><\/div>\n
• Future of the Industry, Second Place: Jinbee Park<\/strong> of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, for “Persistence of Unity”—a three-pendant set marrying fine and sterling silver, shibuichi, copper, garnet, citrine, and diamonds<\/span><\/div>\n
The judges of this year’s Vision Awards competition were Chris Ploof, Chris Ploof Designs; Michael Coan, Fashion Institute of Technology; Cindy Edelstein, Jeweler’s Resource Bureau; Sarah Graham, Sarah Graham Metalsmithing; Marlene Richey, consultant; and Tina Snyder, MJSA Journal<\/em> editor in chief.<\/span><\/div>\n
The sponsors of the awards were: general sponsor, Rio Grande; Gold Distinction sponsor, Hoover & Strong; Platinum Distinction sponsor, Platinum Guild International; Palladium Distinction sponsor, Palladium Alliance International; Laser Distinction sponsor, LaserStar Technologies; Custom Design Distinction sponsor, TechForm Advanced Casting Technology; and media sponsors, Instore<\/em> and Metalsmith<\/em> magazines. The MJSA Education Foundation sponsored the Future of the Industry awards.<\/span><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":102,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1587,61,54,734,1586],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/dailyjewel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1345"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/dailyjewel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/dailyjewel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/dailyjewel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/102"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/dailyjewel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1345"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/dailyjewel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1345\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/dailyjewel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1345"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/dailyjewel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1345"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/dailyjewel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1345"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}