Rio Grande Announces Saul Bell Awards Finalists

Albuquerque, N.M.--Rio Grande has released the names of the artists who are finalists in the 2017 Saul Bell Design Awards.

In its 17th year, the competition, which is named in honor of lifelong jewelry designer Saul Bell, who lived from 1900 to 1996, honors excellence in jewelry-making and hollowware. Entries are accepted from all over the world.

There were five individuals who served as judges for the first round of this year’s competition: Joseph DeBella, Phillip Scott, Royce Kohlmeyer, Maria Samora and Emily Benoist Ruffin.

And five judges for the final round: Debbie Sheezel, Kaminer Haislip, Mark Mann, Michael Good and Kent Riable.

A full list of the finalists is below, including the finalists in the Emerging Jewelry Artists category, which was divided into two age groups this year--18 and under, and 22 and under.

In addition, all the pieces can be seen on the website created specifically for the Saul Bell Awards. Judges’ biographies are available on the website as well.

Winners will be announced at a dinner scheduled for May 21 in Albuquerque.

Gold/Platinum
“Angel’s Teardrops” by Garen Garibian, Los Angeles
 “Sinuous Line” by Henry Spencer, Effingham, New Hampshire
“Ruby Flora Cuff” by Ricardo Basta, Century City, California
“Aqua Morgana” by Adam Neeley, Laguna Beach, California
“Unfurl Rebel Jewel” by Sarah Williamson, Nevada City, California

Silver/Argentium Silver
“Origami Butterfly” by Sophia Hu, Las Vegas
“Aspen” by Wolfgang Vaatz, Rio Rico, Arizona
“Stampclastic” by Matthieu Cheminee, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
“Flipping Wedges Bangle” by Dana Fear, Cedar, Michigan
“Passarola” by Arturo Sanfelix Garcia, Valencia, Spain

Metal Clay
“Cultivated Woodland” by Cindy Miller, Athens, Alabama
“Triptych” by Iwona Tamborska, Kraków, Poland
“Fairy Flower Wreath” by Helen Sang, Pärnu, Estonia
“Thorn Bird” by Wendy Wallin Malinow, Portland, Oregon
“Cheshire Cat” by Liz Sabol, Pittsburgh

Enamel
“Dried Flower Series: Chrysanthemum” by Nicolette Absil, Philadelphia
“Fool’s Errand” by Sandra McEwen, Raleigh, North Carolina
“Evolutionary Ring” by Palash Banerjee, (Dubai, United Arab Emirates
“Warm Embrace” by Marcus Synnot, Mt. Claremont, Western Australia
“La Luna” by Karen Olsen Ramsey, Grass Valley, California

Hollowware/Art Objects
“Discovery of Eggcellance” by Aleksandr Maryaskin, Yorktown, Virginia
“Royal Coach” by Leonardo Maldonado, Delray Beach, Florida
“The Crane and Plum” by Haiyin Liang, Richmond, Virginia
“Nuthatch Box” by Henry Spencer, Effingham, New Hampshire
“Golden Botrus Teapot” by Genevieve Flynn, Kansas City, Missouri

Alternative Metals/Materials
“Turning Necklace” by Sophia Hu, Las Vegas
“Old World Vines” by Valerie Ostenak, Phoenix
“Poison Ring No. 2” by Andy Cooperman, Seattle
“Firenze” by Valerie Jo Coulson, Pequea, Pennsylvania
“3 Lines and 9 Dots” by E. Douglas Wunder, Kutztown, Pennsylvania

Emerging Jewelry Artist 18 Years of Age or Younger