My work has been greatly influenced by my love of nature and the wonders it has to offer us. I have tried to incorporate my fondness for flowers and gardens with glass to create an impressionistic vision of the landscape. For me, the flowers are small worlds filled with colors and shapes that produce incredible beauty. The glass murrinis in my work represent the flower. These flowers together become a field of color floating between grasses and stones. This is much like a millefiore, a million flowers. My intention is to evoke a feeling of serenity and solitude, an homage to nature.

www.shawnmessenger.com

After completing his studies in art and design at the “Ecole des Beaux Arts de Paris”, Patrick Meyer made his debut in 1985 as a jewelry designer. Immersing himself in the world of Parisian high fashion, Patrick was recognized at this time both as an independent artist selling his work to galleries, boutiques, and stores and as a designer working in collaboration with well known French fashion houses such as Guy Laroche, Charles Jordan, Hanae Mori and Paco Rabanne. During his time with these leaders of contemporary fashion, he created functional accessories for these house labels and one-of-a-kind sculptural jewelry for the runway.

In 1990, after much work and experience within the fashion business, Patrick, still living in Paris, expanded his work with a new line of decorative and functional objects. His modern and pure designs were handmade in silver, brass, and nickel. In the late 90’s, Patrick was at a turning point in

his career and life and decided to relocate to San Francisco, California. It was here that he successfully established himself as a metal sculptor and designer specializing in functional and decorative cast pewter accessories and objects for the home, office, kitchen and bath.

Patrick draws his inspiration from modern and primitive art. His aesthetic places an emphasis on pure futuristic and organic lines which incorporate industrial and ethnic styles resulting in a symbolic and original design. He likes to work with high grade lead-free pewter, a soft metal that’s easily forged, folded, and cast.

Patrick Meyer Studio offers an entire range of objects: flatware, serving pieces, vases, candle holders, bowls and dishes made in the U.S.A. His work can be found in galleries, stores and museum shops throughout the country.

The Michigan Silversmiths Guild was founded in 1948. Guild members include craftpersons proficient in the fields of metalsmithing and jewelry, and serves to broaden the knowledge of its members’ craft and to facilitate communication with other metalsmiths.
The Guild sponsors lectures and workshops by artists and teachers established in their fields. These activities have included lectures and workshops covering box construction, iron working, shell construction, plastics, repousse, titanium, stone setting, casting, etc. The Guild also sponsors juried exhibitions of work produced by members. Workshops are usually held on Saturdays at the Center for Creative Studies, Detroit; Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills; Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti; Wayne State University, Detroit, or the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Lectures and/or slide presentations are held at any one of the above locations.

http://misilversmith.org

For over thirty years, Marvin (Murf) Murphy has used his keen sense of color,
design and form, to create dynamic images which evoke inspiration and appeal
to the senses. Murf’s multi-dimensional, mixed media pieces have gained him
recognition and popularity on an international level.

In 1990, Murf copyrighted and published his first lithographs. This Art Deco
Jazz Series was first introduced at the 1991 New York Art Expo. Since that
time, Murf has published many more popular designs. Many of these images
are well known through the use of art festival posters as well as album
and magazine covers. Many of Murf’s designs have been added to the
collections of famous jazz musicians and other public figures, which include
Dave Sanborn, Richard Elliot, Kenny Rankin, Dave Koz and President Clinton.

In 2006, Murf was invited to the most prestigious diplomatic event of the
year, the United Nations Ambassadors’ Ball. This event was a special farewell
celebration in honor of U. N. Secretary-General and Nobel Peace Prize winner
Kofi Annan, held at Cipriani in New York City. Murf’s original painting
“In a Perfect World” was the feature piece for this event.

Murf claims many of the inspirations of his art can be attributed to his
love of nature, music and science. Over the years, Murf has been deeply
involved in many environmental projects. His designs have raised substantial
amounts of money for environmental, educational and social causes. Murf
has shared the limelight with many celebrities including Ivana Trump and
Bob Barker, at many of these fundraising events. Vice President and Nobel
Peace Prize winner Al Gore has expressed his appreciation to Murf’s
commitment for the preservation and protection of our environment.

Today, Murf’s work is being recognized by collectors all over the world. His
new age style and distinctive art form has led to his great success. Murf’s
work can now be seen in prominent galleries and exhibitions across the country.

http://www.artofmurf.com

We hand cut gemstones setting them into 18K gold using lost wax for each design. Multiple finishes and setting styles are used in combination to create depth and texture.

For more than fifteen years we have made leather bags and exhibited our work at fine art and craft shows throughout the country. This personal contact with our customers, combined with a complete knowledge of design and production, has given us a unique insight into the important elements of superior bag design.

http://www.rocheleather.com

Jewelry designer Erica Zap has been surrounded by art and craft all her life. Her parents owned an international handcraft shop that sold crafts and art collected from their extensive travels around the world. Erica’s early exposure to exotic art and culture has greatly influenced her designs.After graduating from S.U.N.Y. New Paltz with a BFA in gold and silversmithing, Erica began designing her own line of jewelry which is produced in Newport, Rhode Island and sold nationally under the name Erica Zap Designs. Her company store in Newport, The Erica Zap Collection, features her jewelry as well as other unique handcrafted items.

“My goal is to design a contemporary look which exposes beauty through the simplicity of form. My jewelry reflects the integration of past and present cultures. I use metals, stones, textures, shapes and color to create precious pieces that are as individual as the women who wear them.”

http://www.ericazap.com

My work creates the feeling of ancient yet contemporary studio art works.
Ancient armors, weathered metals and natural organic forms inspire the work.
By combining organic and geometrical shapes, new and old silversmith techniques, ancient and modern styles are blended.
I use sterling silver, 14, 22 and 24 karat gold.
Reticulation, oxidation, hand hammering and high polishing, allow me to create various surface treatments and colors.

http://www.nuritandmickarts.com