SNAG is an inclusive community committed to advancing the multifaceted field of metalsmithing, jewelry and adornment by inspiring creativity and furthering education and opportunities.
Every year, SNAG hosts conferences and symposiums for metalsmiths, jewelers and makers. They happen in different North American Cultural hubs. This year the symposium is in Detroit and exciting news, cue the drumroll, will be happening in Halifax, Nova Scotia!
The theme for the Halifax symposium is Assemblage — where ocean air, creative energy, and a strong culture of making come together.
I thought I’d spotlight some of the less usual materials and finishes that our goldsmiths use in their work at the studio.
(Starting from the left)
ribbon earrings by Eunice Lin with e-ceramic coating over sterling silver
steel inlay ring by Hyewon Jang
glass micromosaic earrings by Alexis Kostuk
Copper and sterling silver mokume gane ring by Gillian batcher
Steel rust brooch by Alex Kinsley Vey
Acrylic and pearl earrings by Edna Milevsky
Needled felt and sterling silver pendant by Robin Cassady-Cain
Come visit us and check out what else is here! Don’t forget, the studio is celebrating its 20th anniversary, with fun swag and jewellery for lucky golden ticket winners. Get a chance to win with all online purchases in August!
I’m low-key obsessed with this emerald drop necklace by studio member Shafiq Sarwari. Drop in to see it in person (as well as the other amazing pieces he has available!).
I was so excited to recently work on a gemstone cut that I don’t get to see that often – tablet cuts! I also have had an increase of working with gemstones people are purchasing on their own and I get to design around them.
Some of my favourite gemstones come from Brooke’s Customs. This family run business is a wife and husband team that source interesting rough gemstones that they meticulously cut into interesting shapes that are outside of what you would typically find, take a look!
You might already know about this, but Science Rendezvous is happening a week today at the U of T St. George campus. If you don’t know about it, it’s a fun, family-friendly day out with lots of STEAM-related activities and exhibitions, including a Science Fair, a Science Chase (a science experiment obstacle course, how cool is that), something called SR Hacks (a coding and engineering competition), and, of course, the SciArt Gallery – which is where you’ll find me (Robin of House of Cassady)!
I did the SciArt Gallery last year, too, and it was amazing. It was so fun meeting loads of the public, talking about my work, and finding new people to geek out with about science and immunology. What more could I want? I also met other fascinating sciartists and enjoyed their art. So, I am excited about exhibiting again this year, on May 11th.
Brooch – Sterling silver/embroidered quilted panel, brown oakshott cotton. Inspired by ultrastructure of the intestines and the lymphocytes that circulate there (ask me more if you’re interested!)
Whenever I do an exhibition or a show, I try to have some new work. This year, I’m hoping to share the collaboration I did with Carolina Reis last year (you can read about it in another blog entry), called IMMUNITY. Alongside the art piece, I made a series of mixed media jewellery (like the brooch above). I hope that many will see it and experience it. If you miss it next Saturday, it will take up residence in the windows along Roncevalles at the studio for a couple of months. Keep a look out for it, and stop in and tell me what you think about it!
In the meantime, enjoy the lovely weather that we’ve been having :).
This class has a material fee of $200 plus hst. Students receive a kit of 6 cast pieces in sterling silver, calibrated synthetic gemstones for the settings, as well as the burs needed for the settings. Students will also make 2 of their own setting tools in the class.
To enroll in this class you must have completed at least one 8 week jewellery making class or the equivalent through weekend workshops.
This class comes with a kit that consists of a set of 6 cast pieces in sterling silver, calibrated gems and setting burs for the projects, materials to make 2 setting tools to use in your work. The kit has a fee of $200 that must be paid at or before the session begins.
