I have ran into an (Artist) repeatedly at shows lately that has an entire booth of buy/sell. I can understand that in pictures it may be hard to determine if somethings are artisan made. Is it possible to alert the promoters to the of these without seeming like a whiney baby?
Thanks
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So where does bead weaving fit in this whole description?
Bead weaving is more complex than stringing. I can string but I have very little talent at bead weaving and I have tried!!
Bead weaving usually involves taking pre-made beads and creating something that does not look like a singular strand of beads. I would consider this hand made.
Am I close?
I know it's complicated and time consuming and takes talent.Sandy did some gorgeous weaving... I hope they think it's more than stringing, because I know it has to be with all the work I saw Sandy put into it...
I hope a show promoter/organizer answers also.
I wonder too since my friend Sandy did bead weaving for purses and made hand made frames in silver set with gemstones but I don't think she submitted them for jury but did show them at the shows...
That's a good question.... I hope a show organizer or promoter will answer that.
For jewelry, there is a difference between buy/sell and assembled jewelry using component parts. I am a metal smith but I don't make my own chain or clasps and in some cases use premade bezel cups. I don't cut my own stones. I don't consider myself buy/sell because I use some commercially made findings or lapidary artists cabochons. There are also people who buy all their component parts and create their pieces by putting these elements into original and interesting compositions. Some shows do not allow stringers or assemblage jewelers, others do. In my mind, buy/sell is where one has purchased the piece already made -having had no hand in the design or creation of the piece - and then resells it. Even production artists are really not buy/sell ( the artist designs the piece but has it manufactured in their own plant or in someone else's) although most shows do not allow them. I think we must be careful with our terms and looking at contracts to see what is allowed or not allowed in a particular show.
I think if you buy the head, the chain the clasp and set a stone in it and you don't make at least some of it yourself,it's no different than stinging. You buy all the components and assemble them,it's an assemblage, not artist made..
The shows usually state that commercially produced components mass produced or molded from mass produced parts or from other sources are not considered original and can only be a small % of the piece.
If you created the original then made a mold, that's allowed.
I copied these from other shows requirements..
"ALL jewelry, whether produced from metal, glass, clay, fiber, paper, plastic or other materials. No commercial casts, molds or production studio work is allowed."
"We do not accept any commercially produced work. Works made from commercially produced patterns, castings, items made from kits, embellished items or mass-produced items, regardless of enhancements will not be permitted."
"Jewelry: all jewelry whether the work is produced from metal, glass, clay, fiber, paper, plastic or other materials must be entered in this category. Work must be designed, created and executed by the artist. All work displayed must be similar in style, quality and method to the work presented in the artistʼs images. No more than 15% of a piece may consist of commercial findings, and no commercial casts, molds or production studio work is allowed. Commercially purchased components (beads, glass, gem, pearls, metal, other not made by the artist) that are strung or assembled and/or twisted on wire are prohibited."
If you make most of the piece and buy a chain, that's a little different, the chain is just a "vehicle" if you will, for a pendant you made yourself. Or if you make the bracelet yourself and buy a clasp, that's a tiny % of the total piece. Sometimes for consistancy and ease of repair for the purchaser, a commercial clasp or chain is a good solution in case of breakage,any jeweller should be able to fix it.
Buying a stone or cast glass is usually a small % of the piece, as long as you are creating through casting of your own carved wax or fabricated mounting...
If you buy all commercial findings, heads and so on, and assemble it into a "creative" arrangement.... that's assemblage. same as stringing...
If you have a factory produce your designs,it's not made by you either...
I know a few "artists" who only design on paper,their work is produced by CAD-CAM, sent out for casting, castings come back and are farmed out for setting and finishing... Only thing they do is design and sell it at shows...
Michelle,
I was speaking in general. Each show has its own requirements so it is best not to generalize. My point was that calling someone out for buy/sell if they are a production house is not correct. Both may not be allowed in the show but I think if we want promoters to do something, we need to be precise. Most of shows that I participate in have no actual ban on strung or assembled jewelry and I do see it in their shows. I do have one friend (not a jeweler) who has her artwork on magnets, ornaments, cups, coasters, etc. none of which she makes. The artwork is hers, but she is allowed into some shows but not others.
I just identified 21 different shows and their jewellery guidelines... not just one unidentified show...
Not all shows have it, true. I didn't call a production house or studio ..Buy/Sell, that's a bit different...though I have seen Buy/Sell at shows.
Some allow assemblage and stringing, that's fine,but too many pass off assemblage , stringing and studio production or design and produced by others as "created by the applying artists hand", when it isn't made at all by their hand that's what I'm getting at...
Some shows have a category for assemblage or found objects, I have no issue with that either.It should have it's own category.
Sadly most judges haven't a clue.
"...Only thing they do is design and sell it at shows..."
Like Louis Comfort Tiffany did? Or Gustav Stickley?
There are plenty of major shows out there where exhibiting studios hire artists as apprentices to make the work according to the owner's instructions. The owner of the studio just signs it. BMAC anyone?
Not true of the artist I know that exhibit at BMAC including myself. I'm not saying some may not hire assistants but most I know do all the work themselves.
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