WestCoast Chapter Florida Society of Goldsmiths

December 2009 West Coast Chapter FSG Report 

Submitted by: Mary J. Winstead, President, Board of Directors   This report recording the activities of the West Coast Chapter of the Florida Society of Goldsmiths, is a compilation of the endeavors of the thirteen board directors (including myself), of the West Coast Chapter.  The Directors are: Clara Ricker, Ann Allen, Marilyn Jones, Gini Rollins, Ron Jones, Brenda Harrelson, Robert Harrelson, Emelio Saraceno, Clare Leonard, Wendy Rosen, Mary Ann Assiff and Jean Gurucharri. 

Phil London Exhibition Success:  

Our “Phil London Exhibition”, November 4 – December 6, 2008, at the ArtCenter Manatee in Bradenton , was wonderful.  This was our first major endeavor to showcase not only WCFSG chapter members but all members of FSG.  We had artists exhibiting from all over the United States.  Our gala opening, with over 500 people attending, was officially opened by board director Wendy Rosen, owner of Rosen Buyer Market of American Craft, Niche Magazine and In Style Magazine, and creator of the Small Business Institute.  It took two years of planning and work to complete this project.  All the work was done by our board members and one of the major achievements was that the directors realized that they could work together very well.  Our efforts here continued to complete the “curing” process that has made our board members jell, enjoy each others company and work together for common goals.  The artists who displayed their creations, from internationally known metalsmiths such as John Cogswell, Jean Stark, Sheila Stillman and Soo Young Park, to local beginning artists from the Pinellas Youth Arts Corp, welcomed the opportunity to display their creations and to be gratified by very excellent sales of their work. 

ArtCenter Manatee:

The metal studio WC funded and first established in 2007, was revamped and upgraded summer/fall of 2008.  We are now able to bring to this facility some of the best metals instructors in the USA.  Pam Robinson, John Cogswell, Kay and Tom Benham, Pauline Warg, Ann Allen, and Loren Damewood, to mention just a few.  This metals studio is a prime example of an excellent working relationship between the WCFSG Chapter and a non-profit arts organization.  The ACM is able to provide an extensive metals program that benefits their participants from beginning metalsmithing to highly advanced.  These ongoing classes bring funds and interested participants to assist their organization.  WCFSG Chapter agreement with ACM allows WCFSG members to have use of the metals studio during open studio time.  Therefore local WCFSG members do not have to necessarily establish independent and costly personal metals studios.  The agreement with ACM also allows the WCFSG to present two and three day metals workshops, with the economic proceeds from those workshops going into the WCFSG treasury.  WCFSG is able to provide many metalsmithing benefits to our membership without the WCFSG incurring the cost of maintaining a building to house a metals studio.  In our agreement with ACM does take the responsibility of maintaining the equipment in working order in the ACM metals studio.  Most importantly, the agreement also guarantees that all the equipment and tools provided by WCFSG is the property of the WCFSG chapter.  Also provided within our agreement is the condition that, if ACM no longer wishes to, or is not able to continue the metals studio, all equipment and tools provided by the WCFSG will be returned to the WCFSG so that we can provide another non profit organization with this equipment.  It is also agreed that WCFSG can have board meetings, as required, at ACM. 

Morean ArtCenter (formerly St. Petersburg ArtCenter):

This was the very first metals studio developed by WCFSG in April 1998.  We have maintained our mutual agreement since 1998.  We have enjoyed this long relationship.  WCFSG and Morean ArtCenter are actively and positively working to ensure that our joint commitment remains intact.  The Morean ArtCenter, as with many establishment organizations dedicated to the Arts, has undergone economic challenges during the last few years.  The larger USA economic collapse of the fall 2008 left no art organization untouched.  This was also true of the Morean ArtCenter.  With a new Executive Director, Katee Tully installed this past spring, the direction and focus of the Morean ArtCenter has been refined.  There has been a changing of some staff members at the Morean ArtCenter and a very clear and positive signal of the Morean ArtCenter’s re-involvement with the artists’ community has been sent out.   WCFSG is included in this recognition and there is a renewed commitment from Morean ArtCenter and the WCFSG to not only continue our long relationship, but also to have this relationship grow and develop in ways that will mutually benefit both organizations. We are very excited about the new changes and possibility of new avenues open to WCFSG.

Youth Art Corps of Pinellas County :

We begin another year in partnership with the Youth Art Corps.  The Youth Art Corps will make use of the metals studio at the Morean ArtCenter.  WCFSG has agreed to fund the operations cost of opening the Morean metals studio twice per week for the exclusive use of the Youth Arts Corps students.   The WCFSG board, the Morean ArtCenter and the Youth Arts Corps are extremely happy to be able to have this joint endeavor and to provide metalsmithing exposure to a demographic group (high school students) who normally would not have this art opportunity or exposure.

Hyde Park Studio:

WCFSG continues to grant funds for tools and equipment to this joint endeavor.  The metals studio was built by the Tampa Recreation Department several years ago (before the major economic downturn).  WCFSG provided all of the tools, equipment and benches.  WCFSG has the same agreement with the Hyde Park Studio as we have with all of the metals studios that we have established.  As long as the metals studio is in existence, the tools and equipment are theirs to use.  If they disband, that inventory reverts back to WCFSG.  Hyde Park Studio reports that class enrollment has held up even though the economy has been weak.  Hyde Park has at least 10 students per class each week.  A multitude of subjects and techniques are taught throughout each session.  These include everything from forging, hydraulic press, gold leaf and copper etching are taught. The new session this fall will cover riveting, cold connections, catches and found objects.     

New Metals Studio:

We have received a proposal establishing a fourth metals studio in the WC chapter area.  We are in the process of evaluating and determining how to establish this facility.  We are very enthusiastic about this new metals studio and we look forward to beginning the process with this agency by January 2010. 

Florida Craftsmen Gallery, Inc:

We maintain our ongoing relationship with the Florida Craftsmen Gallery, Inc.  All FSG members can display and sell their creations in the WCFSG display case there.  This last year, WCFSG gave a grant to the Florida Craftsmen, Inc. to upgrade the defunct lights in the jewelry cases.  If the Florida Craftsmen Gallery no longer functions, the donated jewelry cases revert back to the WCFSG organization.  WCFSG suggests that all of Florida FSG chapter members should make use of this space. 

High School Programs:

WCFSG now actively supports 3 high schools metals arts after-school programs.  A former student (now going to University) from Largo High School won the Saul Bell Award for new designer.  Her first contact with metals arts came from the after-school metals program that we funded.  A third area high school has developed an after-school metals program and WCFSG has funded their program.  This program meets our charter goals and mandates.  

Pinellas Technical Educational Center:

WCFSG funded a grant request from PTEC for an engraver to be used in their metals arts program. 

WildAcres Retreat:

WCFSG’s 2009 WildAcres Summer Workshop was extremely successful.  We were completely booked and, in fact, overbooked.  We could have enrolled more attendees but just did not have the sleeping space available to us.  During these difficult economic times the fact that WCFSG was fully booked, speaks highly to the quality of the instructors that we engage.  It also reaffirms the fact that we do not overcharge our participants, and that the attendees know that they are getting an excellent return for the money they spend.  WildAcres Retreat involves the work of the all volunteer WildAcres Committee, made up of members of the WCFSG board members.  This committee is headed by Gini Rollins, who has excellent attention to detail, wonderful working knowledge and camaraderie with so many of the nation’s master metalsmiths.  When Gini calls, often before she can get the question out, “Do you want to instruct at WCFSG WildAcres this year?” their answer is Yes!  

For more information regarding the WildAcres Retreat a special email address has been set up.  It is WCFSG.WildAcres@Yahoo.com 

WCFSG Communications Fall 2009:

The WCFSG Website is in full operation.  WCFSG will use our Internet Website as our major method of disseminating and gathering information to our members.  Leaving the world of snail mail and hard copy mail to go to the Internet will serve our membership, reduce costs of communicating with members and therefore allow a greater fund raising margin for the WCFSG chapter. 

WCFSG Library:

The WCFSG Library is now on our Website.  Please make use of the valuable information which is available to you.  Just follow the library links.  Don’t forget, you can also follow the links on the Home Page for Elections of Officers, and the WildAcres Retreat for summer of 2010.