The Caribbean Islands Education Foundation Inc. at its Rare Earth Studio continues its mission to expand educational and workforce development opportunities for residents of the Virgin Islands. In this time of global economic shifts, particularly in the Virgin Islands, new career plans and professional skills will be essential to economic diversification and expanding employment opportunities for Virgin Islands residents. Since 2005, Rare Earth Studio has been blazing trails for local residents in the vast, untapped career and economic development opportunities of the jewelry industry.
lts latest innovation is its new Masters in Residence Program, which brings master artisans and craftspeople to the Virgin Islands to participate in study programs. The first master in residence will be Mette Laier, a Danish jewelry designer who creates handmade jewelry rooted in the Danish jewelry tradition: simple and with no fuss. She will be presenting comprehensive workshops Feb. 9-11 and 16-18.
Laier plans to help to start a design exchange between the West Indies and Denmark, ending in a collaboration creating a special collabrative jewelry collection. Her work is inspired by the objects and materials we see and use in our everyday lives. She works with different objects, materials and ready-mades, and with a fine sense of humor transforms them into beautiful wearable jewelry.
Master artisans and craftspeople already committed to the Rare Earth Studio program include:
• Mette Laier of Copenhagen, Denmark (Environmental Design of Jewellery)
• Paul Jordan of St. John, USVI
• Paul Barrett of the United States
• Philippe Grifnee of Belgium (Fine Art Hand Engraving)
• Alfonso Vitiello of Italy (Conch Shell Carving)
• Jesus Moroles of Texas (Local Volcanic Basalt Public Art and Personal Sculpture)
In this time of global economic shifts, particularly in the Virgin Islands, new career plans and professional skills will be essential to economic diversification and expanding employment opportunities for Virgin Islands residents. Since 2005, Rare Earth Studio has been blazing trails for local residents in the vast, untapped career and economic development opportunities of the jewelry industry.
The Caribbean Islands Education Foundation Inc. and Rare Earth Studio, as a certified supplier for Virgin Islands EDC companies offers unique designs to support corporate gifts and incentives. Through its “Treasures of the Earth” Programs, it provides gemology and career development sessions for people of all ages, learners ranging from kindergarten to registered apprenticeship (K-RA).
For more information or to get details on Rare Earth Studio or the 2012 class schedule, contact Paul Jordan – 513-3703; Rare Earth Studio – 777-7774 or e-mail: rareearthstudio@msn.com
Rare Earth Studio 2012 class schedule (revised)
Classes are intensive Friday-Saturday workshops that comprise three hours of instruction and demonstration and three hours of studio production work plus breaks from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The costs of each session of instruction are $1,575 for tuition plus tools and materials. Participants must have a high school diploma or equivalent and have completed the Rare Earth Studio Skills Discovery Evaluation.
Session I, Feb. 3 to March 3
• Feb. 3 — Jewelry design and redesign
• Feb. 4 — Introduction to chain maille and wire works – Julia Gardner
• Feb. 9-11 – Design methodology and production focusing on natural surroundings of the West Indies, part one (Master-in-Residence Mette Laier of Denmark)
• Feb. 16-18 – Design methodology and production focusing on natural surroundings of the West Indies, part two (Master-in-Residence Mette Laier of Denmark)
• Feb. 24-25 — Comprehensive wax modeling techniques
• March 2-3 — Lost wax casting, vacuum casting and mold making
Session II, March 9 to April 28
(Students must have completed Session I)
• March 9-10 — Restoration, basic jewelry repair and stone setting
• March 16-17 — Metal piercing
• March 23-24 — Metal forging, raising and planishing, polishing
• Dates TBA — World-renowned fine art hand engraver Philippe Grifnee will be Master-in-Residence working with students, teaching them the basics of hand engraving to be utilized in various art forms. (Special workshops with Grifnee will cost be an additional fee of $1,500.)
Session III, May 11 to June 30
(Students must have completed Session II)
• May 11-12 — Lapidary (work with natural materials including coconut, black coral, exotic woods, semi-precious gemstones; learning about cutting, tumbling and polishing techniques)
• May 18-19 — Torch fire enameling
• May 25-26 — Caribbean Islands cultural materials (including sea glass and chaney, coconut, regional organic materials and pearl and natural gemstone bead design)
• Dates TBA — Italian craftsman Alfonso Vitiello – Carving of the queen conch shell
• June 22-23 — Staging and marketing
• June 29-30 — Rare Earth Studio annual exhibition
