Albuquerque, N.M.–Jewelry supply company Rio Grande announced the winners of the annual Saul Bell Awards earlier this month during a gala dinner at its Santa Fe Symposium.
First and second places winners were celebrated in seven categories: Gold/Platinum, Silver/Argentium Silver, Metal Clay, Enamel, Hollowware/Art Objects, Alternative Metals/Materials and Emerging Jewelry Artists, which highlights designers ages 21 or younger.
Award applicants submit imagery of a design for their chosen category; finalists are required to submit a physical piece for judging. Winners receive Rio Grande gift certificates.
The design competition, created to commemorate the life of New Mexican jeweler Saul Bell, is in its 16th year.
See below for a full list of winners.
2016 Gold/Platinum Category
First Place
“The Queen”
Garen Garibian
Los Angeles
Second Place
“Peacock Pin”
Samantha Freeman
Philadelphia
2016 Silver/Argentium Silver Category
First Place
“Unity”
Seung Jeon Paik
Savannah, Ga.
Second Place
“Untitled”
Wolfgang Vaatz
Rio Rico, Ariz.
2016 Metal Clay Category
First Place
“Adore”
Rodica Frunze
Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
Second Place
“Memory Interrupted”
Patrik Kusek
Fairfield, Calif.
2016 Gold/Platinum Category First Place Winner: “The Queen” by Garen Garibian.
2016 Gold/Platinum Category Second Place Winner: “Peacock Pin” by Samantha Freeman.
2016 Silver/Argentium Silver Category First Place Winner: “Unity” by Seung Jeon Paik.
2016 Metal Clay Category First Place Winner: “Adore” by Rodica Frunze.
2016 Metal Clay Category Second Place Winner: “Memory Interrupted” by Patrik Kusek.
2016 Enamel Category First Place Winner: “On the Wing” by Debbie Sheezel.
2016 Enamel Category Second Place Winner: “Orbit #2 Pin/Pendant” by Amy Roper Lyons.
2016 Hollowware/Art Objects Category First Place Winner: “Mace” by Tom Ferrero.
2016 Hollowware/Art Objects Category Second Place Winner: “Symbiotic Relationship” by Sungyeoul Lee.
2016 Alternative Metals/Materials Category First Place Winner: “Moonshine” by Zoltan David.
2016 Alternative Metals/Materials Category Second Place Winner: “Secret Garden Necklace”by Kathleen Nowak Tucci.
2016 Emerging Jewelry Artist Category First Place Winner: “L
2016 Emerging Jewelry Artist Category Second Place Winner: “Monsieur” by Justine B. Gagnon.
2016 Emerging Jewelry Artist Category Third Place Winner: “A Gothic Melody” by Jason Baide.
2016 Silver/Argentium Silver Category Second Place Winner: “Untitled” by Wolfgang Vaatz.
2016 Enamel Category
First Place
“On the Wing”
Debbie Sheezel
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Second Place
“Orbit #2 Pin/Pendant”
Amy Roper Lyons
Summit, N.J.
2016 Hollowware/Art Objects Category
First Place
“Mace”
Tom Ferrero
Windsor, Conn.
Second Place
“Symbiotic Relationship”
Sungyeoul Lee
Seoul, Republic of Korea
2016 Alternative Metals/Materials Category
First Place
“Moonshine”
Zoltan David
Bee Cave, Texas
Second Place
“Secret Garden Necklace”
Kathleen Nowak Tucci
Atmore, Ala.
2016 Emerging Jewelry Artist Category
First Place
“L’Oiseau de la Nuit”
Justine Quintal
Carignan, Quebec, Canada
Second Place
“Monsieur”
Justine B. Gagnon
Repentigny, Quebec, Canada
Third Place
“A Gothic Melody”
Jason Baide
Bozeman, Mont.