2017 MAG – Revere Academy Scholarship Winners

Posted by Kelly Nedderman on May 2, 2017 in Blog Archive, MAG - Revere Scholarship, Scholarships/Awards | No Comments

On behalf of the Metal Arts Guild and Revere Academy of Jewelry, I would like to thank each of the artists that applied for this year’s scholarship and our jurors Michael David Sturlin and Alan Revere.

This year we were very pleased to accept 5 applications for the MAG/Revere Academy scholarship award. Each of the candidates presented a body of work that represented dedication, artistic values, skill, hard work and promise. It was so difficult to choose just one winner, so we expanded our horizons and decided to give the award to two people for 2017. Both of this year’s winners submitted exciting, innovative and well-crafted work. As MAG and Revere give this award, we both acknowledge the achievement of each winner so far, and we also hope that the gift of this class will be a stepping stone, leading toward artistic fulfillment and success.

Alan

Our two winners for 2017 are Jani Mussetter and Michele Dodge! Congratulations!

Jani Mussetter’s Statement

I am influenced by movement and space with art in my process. Bending something so hard and rigid and changing the molecular structure invigorates me. I was a professional dancer in NYC many years ago and incorporating movement as I know it into another medium excites me. Changing one form into another to create beauty, that is movement.

Jani Mussetter – Three Feet – Sterling silver

Jani Mussetter – Time Traveler – Sterling silver, sapphire

Jani Mussetter – Topographical Map Series 1 – Sterling Silver, Stones

Michele Dodge’s Statement

I am a geologist turned jeweler. I began my career as a geologist studying volcanic rocks, and started my journey into jewelry-making about 10 years ago. Art and science remain equally important to me as I incorporate science into my art. My love of geology compels me to use natural gemstones in my work.

Most of my designs begin with shapes I see in nature. I always carry my smart phone with me when I’m out and about, ready to capture lovely shapes, such as the curve of a petal of a flower growing next to a sidewalk. Many of my pieces are the result of a late-night sketching session at the kitchen table. On these nights, I can’t sleep until I’ve put all my ideas on paper.

I make my one-of-a-kind jewelry using a variety of techniques, including fabrication, enameling, and stone-setting. For me, sawing, soldering, and polishing metal can be a very Zen experience, and I hope that comes through in the pieces I create.