BFA

Kendall College of Art and Design- Grand Rapids MI
Alesee Metals and Jewelry Design Program
Expected Graduation May 2007
Studio Excellence Award, Merit Scholarship Award Recipient, Brian Rizzi Memorial Scholarship Recipient, Continuing Education Instructor, President & Founding Member KCAD Metals Guild, Student Representative on KCAD Alumni Board, Founding Coordinator Bodies of Art Student Fashion Show

Employment History

2005-Present

Studio Assistant - Concepts in Metal
Grand Rapids MI

Work in the personal jewelry studio of Bonnie Blandford, help in the daily production of 4 lines of jewelry including all aspects of design preparation, cutting, soldering, surface embellishment and finishing. Duties also include photographing finished pieces, creation of color catalogs, maintaining inventory, studio upkeep and organization, and packaging/ preparing jewelry for sales/ shipments.

2003-Present

Instructor – Kendall College of Art and Design
Continuing Education Program

Instruct an Intro to Metals and Jewelry class for community adults to learn basic metalsmithing skills needed to design and create finished silver jewelry pieces. Maintain tools, materials, and orders for each class.
Established an Intro to Metalsmithing course for community teenagers and designed curriculum to teach basic skills needed to create silver jewelry as well as offer exposure to the metals/jewelry field.
Instructor for Digital Photography included instruction on various digital camera styles and functions as well as basic photographic composition curriculum and an introduction to Adobe Photoshop software program.

2002-2004

Senior Counselor - Craft Program, Shady Trails Summer Camp, Omena MI

Directed daily function of craft facility and oversaw assistant counselors as well as designed new projects for differing age groups. Maintained inventory and ordering of all supplies and materials for entire summer season, as well as seasonal shut down of premises. Worked with up to 80 kids throughout each day in an outdoor, nature-focused environment. Supervised kids working with rock polishers, leather stamping tools, wood construction, metal forming, as well as media including ceramic tiles, fibers, glass, paints, and more.

Additional Experience

2006

Event Coordinator - Bodies of Art, Student Fashion Show

First ever Kendall College student body collaborative art project, fully organized and run by students. Duties included delegating tasks, managing committees, organizing and maintaining timeline, writing mission statement, phrasing headlines and slogans, writing proposals for funding, working with community professionals for donations such as equipment/ facilities/ publications, communicating with media, maintaining a budget, allocating raised funds.

2005-2006

Student Representative - Alumni Board, Kendall College of Art and Design

Attended monthly meetings, met with designated committee, worked on ideation and production of annual student commemorative CD.

2003-2005

President - Metals Guild of Kendall College of Art and Design

One of four founding members of this student club for the Metals/ Jewelry program. Founding responsibilities included writing the mission statement, composing name and logo, gaining student membership. Further duties entailed running weekly meetings, organizing projects and fundraisers, writing proposals, heading up group’s involvement in school opportunities, and directing production of merchandise made by the club. Guild Activities included sale of metal key chains and buttons produced by Guild members, trips to national Metalsmith’s conferences, participation in exhibition of artwork by Guild Members in Kendall Student Gallery, and outings to local exhibitions, speakers, and trade shows.

2003-2005

Student Liaison - Student Leadership Council

Participated along with other selected students from each major in a form of Student Government. Attended monthly meetings with the President of the College, conveying concerns/ ideas from fellow students in my program to the group and reporting information/ solutions back to my peers.

Exhibitions

2006

Shaped in Metal

Muskegon Museum of Art, Muskegon, MI
Group Invitational show, Curated by Art Martin
Exhibited “Julie is Expecting” with “Pacifier Ring” , “Scar Brooch #1” and “Odysseus’ Kylix”

Bodies of Art

Kendall Student Fashion Show, Grand Rapids MI
Imperial Ballroom, Amway Grand Plaza, April 2006
Exhibited “Crowning Glories” headpiece on Runway Model

2005

West Michigan Area Show

Kalamazoo Institute of Art
Juried Participant
Exhibited “Tea Ball Ring” and “Scar Brooch #2”

West Michigan Regional Arts Competition (19th Annual)
Lowell Area Arts Council
Juried Participant
Exhibited “Transmitter Ring” and “Remembering Terri” Brooch

2004

Metals-A-Go-Go

Juried Student Exhibition
Society of North American Goldsmith’s Annual Conference
Florida International Museum, St Petersburg FL
Exhibited “Julie is Expecting” container with “Pacifier Ring”