ACC show

Everyone who is not planning to carpool to the ACC show Thursday February 21st should meet at the Pratt street entrance to the convention center at 9:30. The show opens at 10:00am. For those who are meeting at school to carpool meet in 2015 at 9:00.

Another Blood Diamond?

So all this talk about Blood Diamonds got me thinking about Elizabeth Taylor's diamonds, and in particular the Krupp Diamond.

"The Krupp diamond gets its name from actress Vera Krupp, the original owner of the diamond, who belonged to the famous Krupp family, owners of Krupp AG, the industrial giant of Germany, that was one of the world's principal steel makers and arms manufacturers until the end of World War II. Established in 1811 by Friedrich Krupp, the company was the first to introduce the Bessemer and the Open-Hearth steel making processes on the European Continent. The company became internationally famous during world war I, by manufacturing guns, such as the 16.5 in (420mm) howitzer called the "Big Bertha" and the long range gun that in the spring of 1918 bombarded Paris from a distance of about 75 miles (120 Km).

During the second world war Adolf Hitler, used the company to produce military hardware needed for his military conquests. The Krupp Combine manufactured submarines, trucks, locomotives, and warships, in addition to artillery and munitions. After world war II, at the Nuremburg trial, Alfred Krupp, the chairman of the company was convicted of war crimes, specifically for the employment of slave labor. The company was re-organized in the 1950s, and eventually became one of the largest companies in West Germany, manufacturing steel, heavy machinery, transportation equipment, automotive parts and assembly and industrial plants. . . .

The next important item of jewelry he {Richard Burton} bought for Taylor was the famous, 33.19-carat, asscher-cut Krupp diamond, set in a platinum ring, which is the subject of this narrative. In her book "Elizabeth Taylor-My Love Affair with Jewelry"{yes, I actually own this book, it was on sale and it's not a bad read}, Taylor says, 'the Krupp diamond was owned by Vera Krupp of the famous German munitions family, which helped knock off millions of Jews. When it came up for auction in the late 1960s, I thought how nice it would be if a nice Jewish girl like me were to own it.' "

From http://www.internetstones.com/krupp-diamond-famous-jewelry.html

This makes me wonder: If the means by which you earned the money to buy the diamond are unethical, is it a "blood diamond" regaurdless of it's orgins?

End of Suburbia/Extra Credit

I just read a few of your extra credit papers on The End of Suburbia and am reminded of how important these issues are and I am glad that I gave you the extra credit opportunity. Discussion is important- thinking about the issues.

A few questions I have for those of you who have seen this movie is: Who made the movie? I.E. whose opinion is being espoused? What are the movie makers credentials? Always check the authority of the voice. Do you feel like The End of Suburbia is fear-mongering? When you read a book, a magazine article, see a movie, know who is espousing the ideas...what are their qualifications?

Design is everywhere. A mantra from last semester: 'everything except the planets and the trees has been designed". This includes our cities, our suburbs, our cars, our mass transit systems, all of our social systems, marketing campaigns (DeBeers diamond campaign). It is all design. You are creative. You can imagine better solutions.

Most of you recognize the situation as having some truth to it. One criticism I have heard about the film is that no alternatives were proposed, it didn't seem hopeful or that we could find solutions. I would encourage you all to look to other countries who are more progressive and forward thinking than the US is. Which countries? What are they doing? How do they organize living? How does one find out about such things? READING WORLD NEWS. I listed on your syllabi The World Press' website. Other reputable news media are The Guardian out of the UK, Le Monde out of Paris. The New York Times is delivered to YOUR campus daily throughout the semester. And I personally like The Economist magazine. Magazines and newspapers have the most current information. Everyone has too much competing for their time. Create a habit. First thing in the morning you grab coffee and the NY Times. If you can only read one issue of the NY Times, read the Sunday edition. Split the cost with friends.

I would suggest you look at The Netherlands, Belgium, the Scandinavian countries (Norway, Sweden, Finland). Coincidently (?) the socially progressive countries are progressive in many ways, including the creative industries. Check it out. Check out the blogs of students in class with me last semester. Those in Metals + Jewelry 2 last semester, studied Droog Design Collective based in the Netherlands (and started by a famous art jeweler) and Materialise based in Belgium. My point: There is hope. There are lots of smart people doing ground breaking work all around the world- find out and be heartened.

3D Design + Social Issues, the special topics course that I ran last semester addressed all kinds of issues. I want to educate and motivate creative people to understand a variety of current issues and come up with new approaches to some of the challenges we face today. What can you do? Check out my blog associated with the 3D Design + Social Issues course: designlikeyougiveadamn.blogspot.com. Let me know if you are interested in the course.

I was recently at a conference that centered around new technologies and how we develop educational curriculum in conjunction with technological developments. One of the participants worked for GM developing the electric car. The only reason the electric car is not a reality today is b/c the oil companies bought the information to keep it under wraps and continue to fund their businesses. I say shame on GM for selling the information. Have some backbone. How much money do people really need? Happiness, contentment, a satisfied, fulfilling life does not come from gross amounts of money.

Be an educated citizen of a world super power! If any group of individuals around the world can affect change, Americans can. We are in the midst of an election- what do the candidates really stand for? Who are your local politicians.....they are the ones who shape policy. They represent YOU. "No taxation without representation" is America's battle cry. Be an educated consumer. America is business. As consumers, we can yield tremendous power....if we can move out of our cushy, affluent lifestyles and make an effort. Live your life so that you are proud of who you are. Be hopeful. Take Action.

I recently watched the documentary Energy War on the Sundance Channel. I highly recommend it. A central voice is Thomas Freidman author of The World is Flat and The Lexus and The Olive Tree, two important and recent books. It is scheduled to air again this Sunday, 3:35- 5:00pm on the Sundance Channel, channel #165.
Educate Yourself!

Keeping In Touch/ Craft Blog

Hello Folks, Hisano Takei is a recent alumni (MFA) from SUNY New Paltz one of the most prominent metals + jewelry programs in the US. She applied for grad school at Towson and b/c of the building project decided to go to SUNY New Paltz but she has stayed in touch with me. Smart networking. The field is small: when you meet someone from the field in one context you have no idea how and when they will come around again. Be nice. Stay in touch. Anyway, here is some of her current work featured on a craft blog: craftgossip.com. Enjoy!

NY Gift Fair Report

One of our faculty members, Megan Auman recently exhibited at the NY Gift Fair in New York City. It is a huge show, nothing like the ACC show in Baltimore which feels big to us/craftspeople. I used to shop this show as a buyer while managing a gallery in Philadelphia so I am curious to hear the details from Megan. I thought many of you would also be interested in this conversation as well. We are shooting for Monday, February, 18th, 5-6pm in one of the studios, probably 2006. We are constrained by schedules- Megan is only in Baltimore on Mondays and has a class at 6pm- so if you could make some arrangements, I feel fairly certain you will get something out of it.

Let me know if you are interested and are planning to attend.
Let me know.
Thanks,
Jan

Snag Educational Endowment Scholarship Award

Ellen Harper- history lessons. MFA Thesis Exhibition Thursday Feb 7, 7:30-9:00