Speakers and Presenters

Plenary Presentation Descriptions

"Artists and Industry" - A Working Relationship with Porcelain Enamel

 KVO Industries, a porcelain enamel sign company located in Santa Rosa, CA, will be offering our (their) experiences in working with various artists in our (their) manufacturing facility.

The presentation will include: a brief history of KVO Industries and owners Steve Vandyk and Keith Keeler, a discussion on how artists can utilize KVO's facility and/or services as well as some examples of past, current and future relationships between artists and KVO, an explanation of various imaging techniques including traditional screen printing, air-brushing, stenciling, hand-painting and a variety of special techniques to create interesting visual effects.

KVO will also explain their proprietary high resolution photographic process.

An overview of several public art projects created by artists and KVO highlighting imaging techniques and the various working relationships will be discussed. A "mock project" will be presented with fabrication and installation details, as well as a variety of pricing structures as they relate to a number of different imaging techniques.

The presentation will be followed by a brief questions and answers period. A break out session is also planned for some additional Q and A where more specifics about pricing, etc. can be discussed.

Steve Vandyk:
With a background in Graphic Arts, Steve started his career in porcelain enamel at Enameltec in 1986 where he was initially hired as a screen printer. Steve worked in all facets of the graphics side of the business where he served as Graphics Manager. Steve relocated to Santa Rosa (along with Keith Keeler) to start Fireform Porcelain where he served primarily as Director of Project Management and Product Development. In 2000, Steve partnered with Keith Keeler to form KVO Industries where he serves as Vice President of Marketing and Project Management.

“Why? Oh why? Oh why? OH?” - The Ohio Connection: Master of Painting with Fire

In this illustrated talk, Bernard Jazzar and Hal Nelson, co-curators of Painting with Fire: Masters of Enameling in America, 1930 – 1980, the first major exhibition to survey the enameling field since the Museum of Contemporary Craft’s pioneering 1959 show, will discuss the origins of enameling in Ohio and the individuals, institutions, and businesses that supported the growth of the field in its early years of development.

While their talk will explore some of the artists and issues covered in Painting with Fire, it will also feature many Ohio-based enamelists not included in the exhibition such as Fern Cole, Charles Bartley Jeffery, Kalman Kubinyi, Norman Magden, Mary Ellen McDermott, John Puskas, Mel Someroski, Curtis Tann, and others.

Bernard Jazzar & Hal Nelson
Bernard Jazzar curates a private Los Angeles-based collection and Hal Nelson, former director of the Long Beach Museum of Art, is an independent curator and researcher.  Specialists in the decorative arts and contemporary craft fields, they recently organized the critically-acclaimed exhibition Painting with Fire: Masters of Enameling in America, 1930 – 1980, the first museum exhibition to explore enameling in this country in almost fifty years. They also co-authored the book Painting with Fire, the first publication to survey the enameling field during this rich period in its development.

Break Out Session Descriptions

1. Step-By-Step Plique-a-Jour – Diane Almeyda

This session is a casual and loosely structured look at the process of plique-a-jour enameling by way of step-by-step examples along with a digital image presentation.  Participants may browse the visual aids and ask questions related thereto.  You can make this a 5 minute “quick peek” or spend the entire time closely examining the steps of the process.

Diane Echnoz Almeyda is a studio enamelist specializing in plique-a-jour, often called the "tour-de-force" of enameling techniques. She has won numerous awards at shows and exhibitions around the country. Her work has been featured in several miniaturists' magazines around the world as well as in Lapidary Journal. It also appears in several books on enameling in addition to other art publications.

2. Eutectic Enameling – Jaime Frechette

We will explore enameling with the eutectic process, and examine samples to understand how to achieve the various results.  This unique way of working has been pioneered by Frechette and was recently written up in Glass on Metal.

Jaime Frechette is a Cincinnati studio artist mom, working with unconventional methods and constructions.   Her BFA in Metalsmithing and Enameling have allowed her to understand and manipulate the materials, which has been the inspiration behind her work.

3. Creating Multiples for the Marketplace – Susan Hunt

Want to make some money doing what you love to do?  Susan will present, with visual aids and a demo, a way of producing fun and interesting pieces for the Arts and Crafts market. She will show form cutting and reproducible designs using stencils.

Susan Hunt trained as an Art teacher at Miami University but has made a living for the past 25 years taking her enamel pins to Arts and Crafts fairs.  She focuses on high quality, low end pieces that make people smile.

5. Nuts and Bolts of Working with the Enamel Industry- KVO Industries (Keith Keeler and Steve Vandyk)

This break out session follows the plenary presentation by Keith and Steve and will be for those wanting specifics on how to work in an industrial setting.  Issues such as pricing, contractual agreements, mounting, shipping, firing, etc. will be discussed.

6. Discover Precious Metal Clay: It’s Awesome for Enamel – Jeanette Landenwitch

So you’ve heard about Precious Metal Clay but haven’t had a chance to check it out.  Stop by this session to find out what it’s all about.  We’ll discuss the types of PMC and the basic process for working with the material, from forming to firing to finishing.  There will be a short demo.  Questions are welcome and encouraged.  Finished samples will be available to view.

Jeanette Landenwitch, currently the executive director of the International PMC Guild, is a Senior PMC Instructor for Rio Grande and teaches classes and workshops across the country. She has written many articles about PMC, as well as published her first book on the subject. Her award-winning work has been featured in articles and exhibited internationally, and is included in the permanent collection of PMC work at Mitsubishi Materials Corporation in Japan.

7. Enameling on Fold-Forms – Patricia Nelson

A PowerPoint presentation covering the production and enameling of 4 different fold formed copper shapes.  Metal preparation, tools, and possible problems encountered in enameling three-dimensional forms will be discussed during the production sequence. These 4 sample shapes will range from very simple folded surfaces to highly dimensional forms. The samples shown are examples of the hundreds of forms possible to enamelists by using the fold forming technique. Nelson will bring examples of finished pieces which show a variety of ways to utilize enameled fold forms in larger pieces.

Pat Nelson's education in enamels began at the University of Washington and continued at the State University of New York at New Paltz. Throughout the past 25 plus years that she has been teaching at Ball State University in Indiana, she has taught all aspects of metals and design including enameling. Her current work combines three dimensional sculptural enamels with forged wire into vessels that speak of the mathematical structure of the natural world.

8. Art Deco and Forged Copper - Don Neuenschwander

Discussion of techniques and procedures used to form art deco style vessels and other items from copper pipe into sheet.  Finished work will be available for examination.  Don will distribute handouts.  There will also be discussion of coloring the finished pieces by developing patinas and enameling.

Don Neuenschwander began to pursue contemporary blacksmithing in 1991 after he retired.   After studying copper forging he began to instruct various levels of workshops in the creation of three dimensional forms reminiscent of the art deco style.

9. Techniques Learned in the Fauré Studio – Mauricette Pinoteau

Examples of work in progress to show the techniques learned at Atelier Fauré from the master enamelists who created the unique vases with built up, carved textures and wonderful transparencies over foil.  Pinoteau will answer questions about materials and the unique method of working that she has single-handedly resurrected.

Mauricette Pinoteau comes to us from Limoges where she owns a gallery and continues to enamel in the Fauré “style”. She is only one of two living enamelists who learned from the masters while working at Atelier Fauré and is eager to pass on her knowledge.

10. A Contemporary Approach to Limoges Painting Techniques - Larissa Podgoretz

This session includes a presentation of images of Larissa’s work over the years, and a discussion of her concept and design process.  She will talk of her move from the pure enamel painting to the Limoges method and use a specific project to illustrate the stages from concept through design, the whole enameling process to the final assembly of the completed piece.

Larissa Podgoretz was born in the USSR. After living and working in the U.S. in the 1980’s she now lives, teaches, and works in Israel. Her Limoges enamels have won numerous awards.

11. Cloisonné: Tricks of the Trade - Merry Lee Rae

After thousands of pieces and as many mistakes, Merry Lee’s repertoire of tricks and fixes may aid you in the pursuit of your enameling challenges.

Merry Lee Rae lives and works in Aptos, CA. She sees herself as a dedicated romantic. Her cloisonné jewelry is her voice.

12. What’s Involved in Enamel Repair – Joan Strott Alvini

This session is an overview from one of the few enamel repairers in the U. S.  Joan will discuss how to evaluate enamels for repair, metal-working and enamel repair, matching colors, removing old enamel, using “cold” enamel, and pricing.  This session will include a question and answer period.

Joan Strott-Alvini, Jeweler/Enamelist, works out of famed Jeweler's Row in the heart of historic Philadelphia. Her training includes classes at Glen Echo Park outside of Washington D.C., Haystack Mt. School of Arts & Crafts in Deer Island Maine. and Moore College of art in Philadelphia PA. She has practiced the art of jewelry making /enameling for over 25 years.

Joan's range of experience covers many traditional techniques, including Cloisonné, Champleve`, Plique a` jour, and Limoges. Her varied clientele include not only trade-based work directly to jewelry stores across the U.S., but private custom work and antique restoration. Much of her experience lies not only in wearable jewelry, but decorative metalwork such as boxes, cases, bowls and various objects d'art.

13. It’s A Print! Historic and Contemporary Printmaking with Enamel – Cathy Kay Taylor

Enamel signage, clock faces, and contemporary fine art enamel have all made use of printmaking techniques to apply enamel to metal. Come see the variety of objects and printmaking processes possible with enamel; including work from the factory and the contemporary enamelist. Simple printmaking techniques and materials for use in any size studio will be shown.

Cathy Kay Taylor did her master’s thesis work at Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, in enamel on copper. After completing her MFA she continued to be involved with the university teaching enameling and working with the Large Scale Enamel Outreach Program at Kent State.

14. Finishing Techniques for Cloisonné – Don Viehman

A demonstration of the methods used to create a high-gloss polished surface for cloisonné pieces (the methods may have some relevance for other enameling techniques). Equipment will be shown and use of the equipment explained. Cloisonné examples will be provided to illustrate the visual and textural differences.

15. Contemporary Cloisonné: An Overview – Don Viehman

This session is a slide presentation of finished enamel pieces made by many enamel artists to illustrate a wide variety of approaches to creating cloisonné. The focus is to explore the enormous diversity of design possibilities and to show the ways in which enamel artists choose to emphasize different characteristics and aspects of the cloisonné process.

Don Viehman began enameling in 1979 when he joined with two other artists in California to form the Cloisonné Collection to create contemporary cloisonné art jewelry pieces, and to express their personal visions. Viehman then struck out on his own exhibiting at arts and crafts shows and participating in exhibitions. He currently maintains studio at The Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, VA, where he works, teaches, and exhibits. Viehman has been a member and a Board of Trustees member of the Enamelist Society, serving as President from 2001-2003.

16. Suppliers Forum

This forum, moderated by Judy Stone, provides an opportunity for conference attendees to offer suggestions for a equipment/tools/supplies/enamels "wish list" to the major suppliers in attendance at the conference.

Last Update: 8/17/07