AJF is delighted to announce this year’s winner of the EAA is Natalya Pinchuk.
The jury was comprised of retired metals professor Arline Fisch, curator Gail M Brown and well-known jewelry artist Nancy Worden. The jury chose from 33 entries representing all regions of the United States as well as the Netherlands and Turkey. The criteria used to evaluate the entries were originality, quality of craftsmanship and continuity of design. The jury was challenged and inspired by the high percentage of exceptional entries.
Pinchuk submitted a body of work she calls Growth Series. In these works, bright flowers seem to sprout from the wearer in formations suggestive of colorful fungi thriving on a vine-like host. They appear to be indigenous to the steamy tropics and Dr Suess. Juror Gail M Brown described these whimsical felt, plastic and enamel creations as ‘daring and joyful.’
Natalya Pinchuk’s work appears in the new Lark Books publication, 500 Necklaces, and will be included in the exhibition of the same name at Velvet da Vinci in San Francisco, in November 2006. She is also represented by Charon Kransen in New York.
Formal announcement of this award will be at SOFA Chicago on Friday, November 10, 2006, at 1pm in conjunction with an AJF-sponsored lecture by artist Mary Preston.
This year, 2006, marks the seventh year that AJF, an organization that promotes education, appreciation and advocacy for contemporary art jewelry, has given an award to an emerging jewelry artist whose work shows exceptional promise.
An interview with Natalya can be read here.
You can see her personal website here.
