I am so excited! After what seems like forever the book I authored "Masters: Gold," published by Lark Books is finally ready for pre-orders on Amazon. “Masters: Gold”
I was approached to write the biographies for this book project in the fall of 2007 by Marthe LeVan. She asked me to submit a list of individual jewelry artisans whom I considered to be at the top of the art/metals field working in gold. We had several enjoyable conversations regarding the choices of goldsmiths for the book. In the end I was delighted and inspired by the illustrious line up of internationally renown artisans.
The “Masters: Gold” book is in the “Masters” series from Lark and follows on the heals of Alan Revere’s Masters: Gemstones. The jewelry and artisans featured in “Masters: Gold” differs from the previous book in that all the work show is made by the artisans themselves. The jewelry showcased in “Masters: Gold” comes directly from the hands of each artist/goldsmith. I am so blessed to have been chosen to research and write the biographies for 40 of the top jewelry artists alive today.
Artist such as Namu Cho, Harold O’Connor, Barbara Heinrich, Michael Becker, Gerd Rothman, Claude Chavent, Michael Good, and my personal heros of Philip Sajet and Wendy Ramshaw. The Italian artists are strongly represented by Stefano Marchetti, Bruno Martinazzi, Giovanni Corvaja and many more from the Padua School. Japanese, British, German, and French jewelry artisans are represented along with their American colleagues. To my delight there are also the beloved friends and mentors like Mary Lee Hu and Abrasha. Many other wonderful art/jewelers are also featured and I do not want to slight them by not mentioning them, it is just all the artisans are incredibly talented.
The “Masters: Gold” book is important from an Art Historical aspect since no current works by these masters are being included in traditional Art History texts. I am so proud that with this book, I can fulfill a promise I made to Mary Lee Hu during my masters degree program. That promise was to use my degree to promote and advance the study and documentation of the Studio Jewelry/Art Jewelry movement.
The experience of working with Marthe and Lark Books editor Ray Hemachandra has been wonderful. It was fun to talk with Ray as he is a former Bellingham, Washington resident, having started his career as an editor for the local newspaper here. We were able to speak with understanding of the wild beauty of cross-country skiing along the Nooksack river and the friendly disposition of Bellingham’s residents. The professional and respectful exchanges I experienced with all the members of the Lark Books staff made the hard work related to the “Masters: Gold” book project an overall positive involvement.
I want to thank Marthe and Ray for the opportunity and support in creating such a beautiful and unexpected completion of my promise.