Jessica Kidd has been teaching silversmithing at the Glenwood Springs Center for the Arts for four years, and practicing her art for seven. She took her first silversmithing class at the Center for the Arts and fell in love with the creation of wearable art. Largely self-educated, she has refined her skills by taking many workshops with master craftsmen, including legendary locals Jerry Scavezze and Harold O’Connor. Facilitating her students’ ability to turn their newfound skills into a profitable venture is her primary focus.
A gem of a personality, this teacher definitely shines as a craftsperson and artist. She has been our full time Silversmithing instructor for four years and we love watching her students turn out contemporary, original pieces... even after their first semester. Her sense of humor is a wonderful asset as she teaches people to hammer, cut, melt, polish, and twist silver into amazing creations. This instructor doesn’t "Kidd" around when it comes to serious jewelry design. She has a whimsical side to her designs, as she pleats silver, winds it into graceful curves and coils. Her designs are stunning
Linda Medina has spent the last 21 years working as a bench jeweler, goldsmith and stone setter for some of the finest jewelry stores and designers along the front range. During that time she has had exposure to everything from repairs to high end manufacture.
Linda encourages students to bring pieces they would like to incorporate set stones into and invites them to bring their stone setting questions as she is excited to share her knowledge and tricks of the trade with students.
Over the last 35 years I have worked in all facets of
jewelry fabrication, including; casting, construction, forging, stone
setting, repousse, reticulation and raising. The last 20 years I have been using a technique called
"Anticlastic Raising". I have studied with both Heikki Seppä and Michael Good. It is a technique used to deform sheets of 14
Karat or 18 Karat gold by compressing the center and stretching the
edges of the piece. This work is all done with polished hammers of
varying shapes and sizes. To this finished form we then sprinkle on
Diamonds, Rubies, Sapphires, Fancy Sapphires, and other gem stones.
Each piece is individually made.
Anticlastic raising is very sculptural and 3-dimensional in nature.
A lot of jewelry looks good from the front, but from the side or
back is really not very interesting. The pieces I make are meant
to be viewed from all directions as they do not have an obvious front
or back.
Rhonda Denny is a Senior Instructor for PMC.
"Currently there are over 200 Senior Instructors within North America. These Instructors have successfully completed both the Level One and Senior Level Certification. They have the ability to teach Introductory Classes, Level One Certifications, Senior Level Certifications, and advanced specialty classes. Being a Senior Instructor in Art Clay World, USA is an accomplishment; it reflects expertise, knowledge and skill in the use of Art Clay Silver."
Resume for David Huang
Born 10-5-71 in Grand Rapids, MI
Currently lives in Sand Lake, MI
Education
1991-2001 BFA degree, magna cum laude, metalsmithing emphasis, from Grand Valley State University
1998 summer program at Ox-Bow sponsored by The School of the Art Institute of Chicago
1989-1991 began BFA program at The Savannah College of Art and Design
Gallery Representation
Creative Metalsmiths, Chapel Hill, NC
Crowe Jeweller – New Preston, CT
del Mano Gallery – Los Angeles, CA
HYART Gallery – Madison, WI
LaFontsee Galleries/Underground Studio – Grand Rapids, MI
Synchronicity Gallery – Glen Arbor, MI
Vale Craft Gallery – Chicago, IL
2007 Work in the permanent collection of the Muskegon Museum of Art
2006 work in the Kamm teapot collection
2001 work in the collection of Grand Valley State University – Allendale, MI
2000 planters for a new facility – Herman Miller – Holland, MI
2000 sculpture replica – Advance Packaging Corporation – Grand Rapids, MI
1999 restoration of work by Joseph Kinnabrew for Grand Valley State University – Allendale, MI
1995 fountain ornamentation (done in collaboration with Elona VanGent) for Grand Valley State University – Allendale, MI
1994 restoration of “Six Lines” by George Rickey in the collection of Grand Valley State University – Allendale, MI
1989-present numerous private commissions, and collections
