In a softly lit banquet hall with large chandeliers overhead, sat several impressive and oversized jewelry display cases filled with the 15th Annual Saul Bell Design Award competition first and second place winners. Inside the cases were diamond studded earrings; luxurious gold and platinum necklaces; vibrant enamels layered into pendants; and seductively beautiful silver pieces. The magnitude of the event was evident by armed guards in sight and crowds of jewelry professionals trying to squeeze through the masses for a peek at the gems behind the flocked velvet cases.
Holly Gage of Bowmansville, PA was one of the winners of the Internationally Acclaimed Saul Bell Design Award in jewelry for “Je’taime, – Dual Flame.” The Fine Silver necklace tells the story of blossoming love as two dancers gracefully emerge from a flower blossom in the final pose of their dance. The poised movements of the dancers in motion tell a beautiful and poetic story of love’s vulnerability, passion and intensity, elements Holly wished to capture in her jewelry.
Her necklace was hand formed using a cutting edge moldable metal called, Silver Precious Metal Clay. The piece is a great example of the sculptural quality, detail, and capabilities of not only the artist’s material, but the ability of the artist. After the moldable metal is manipulated, carved, and shaped, it is put in a kiln for several hours at temperatures reaching 1650˚F transforming it magically, or so it seems, into a solid metal similar to it’s sheet metal counterpart except for it’s molecular structure.
The Saul Bell Design Award presentation was held at the Santa Fe Symposium® in Albuquerque, NM. Rio Grande, sponsors of the award, states “The competition challenges jewelry designers to reach for that moment in all great design when a brilliant idea meets a keen set of skills — the moment when exceptional design happens.” The competition recognizes the power of design to elevate common elements to a higher purpose and encourages designers to release that power in any of the seven categories: Gold/Platinum, Silver, Metal Clay, Enamel, Holloware/Art Objects, Alternative Material, and Emerging Jewelry Artist. From hundreds of designs, two rounds of judging, and from over 20 countries around the world, the 2015 The Saul Bell Design Award winners are selected.
With the backdrop of such notable words, there is a new understanding for the artists who win, and there may be new opportunities that come with the award. Holly hopes to publish a book entitled, “The Journey of Self Discovery through Metal Clay,” which has been in the making for the last 5 years. Holly says, “If this isn’t my sign to complete the book, then I don’t know what is.” Although Holly has been an international instructor, mentor, author, and speaker, for the last 13 years, she says it’s time to step up her efforts in introducing and advocating for this new art medium to be in the hands of more creative people. “It has so much potential and value in terms of self expression, not to mention the ability to cross over into other art mediums beyond jewelry making and design such as pottery, woodworking, sculpture, and so much more. I’m excited about the prospects and pursuing them,” Holly says.
You can find out more about Holly Gage and the Saul Bell Design Award at http://www.HollyGage.com
She can also be contacted at 717-445-5755 or hgage1@ptd.net.
