2009 MCWC Keynote Speaker - Alan Revere

Alan Revere holds a unique position in the jewelry community, with one foot firmly planted as an award-winning designer and the other as one of the country's most prominent jewelry educators. Revere teaches primarily at the school he founded and directs, the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts, in San Francisco, California. He also lectures on a variety of subjects around the country. He is the creator of instructional books, articles and video tapes for goldsmiths and jewelers. It is no wonder that Alan Revere has been called, "A master's master."

Alan Revere grew up in family of visual artists and designers on all sides of his family. Both of his grandfathers as well as his mother were active artists for most of their lives. Revere attended the University of Virginia, where he studied psychology, languages and art, and he received a B.A. Degree in 1969. Focusing on his life-long interest in art, Alan moved to San Miguel de Allende. During the second year in graduate school he redesigned the jewelry studio, revised the jewelry curriculum and served as an instructor. Alan received a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Universidad de Guanajuato in 1972. The next stop on his journey was Pforzheim, Germany where he attended its famous hundred-year-old jewelry school, the Fachhochschule für Gestaltung as well as the more technical, Goldschmiedeschule Pforzheim. For two years, Revere spent more than 70 hours per week in school and working as a model maker and production jeweler. Alan returned to the U.S. in 1974, settling in Oakland, California where he worked as a goldsmith for the trade as well as on his own. Over the next five years he taught at the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, California, while developing his own collection of fine jewelry.

In 1979, Revere relocated his studio to San Francisco's historic jewelry center and established the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts. The Academy has become a highly respected professional jewelry school which is approved by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education. The Academy offers two diploma programs with over forty classe taught by master craftsmen and other experts. The same year, Alan exhibited his jewelry for the first time at the ACC Craftfair in San Francisco. For the next 15 years, the jewelry of Alan Revere was manufactured in his workshop and available in hundreds of jewelry stores and galleries nationwide. Alan has received a number of international awards for his elegant and innovative jewelry.

In the early 1980's, Alan published his first technical article on goldsmithing in JCK magazine. The series that followed lead to his first book, Professional Goldsmithing, initially published by Van Nostrand Reinhold. Now in its fourth printing under Revere's own RAJA label, this book is considered a modern classic on the traditional art of making jewelry. Alan's series of eight instructional videotapes, Revere on Goldsmithing was produced by Rio Grande of Albuquerque, New Mexico. These tapes have set the standard for that medium. His series of articles in JCK magazine, entitled Practical Jewelry Repair, is being released as a series of books, beginning with Ring Repair and most recently Setting Repair. Revere also completed a book about jewelers called, The Art of Jewelry Making, published by Sterling/Chapelle. Most recently, Alan has curated two books for Lark; 500 Earrings, and Jewelry Masters: Gemstones.

Alan Revere is the founder of the Contemporary Design Group (for jewelry designers) and he is president of the American Jewelry Design Council. In addition to teaching and writing, Alan travels as a guest lecturer and instructor

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Conference Presentation Overview:

Lecture/Demo First Day: Presentation on AJDC

BRILLIANCE! Masterpieces from the American Jewelry Design Council

book title released July 2008 by Lark Books, authors Cindy Edelestein and Frank Stankus

The AJDC is a non–profit educational organization founded in 1988. The group is composed of highly respected jewelry designers who sell their work to stores and galleries throughout US and abroad. AJDC’s mission is to raise the awareness and appreciation of the artistry of fine jewelry.

Each year the group chooses a design theme for which members create one–of–a–kind pieces. The work is for exhibition only and not for sale. The projects are meant to stimulate both the artist and the viewer to think beyond common limits and elevate jewelry expression to the realm of fine art. The results are spectacular, with members employing the finest craftsmanship and an unlimited palette of materials. While diamonds, gold, and platinum are used frequently other materials include wood, glass, photographs, Plexiglas, ball bearings, springs, mirrors, nuts, bolts, and even water.

The presentation covers the history of the AJDC and its members as well as the annual themes. Alan intersperses technical information and commentary on individual works as he guides the viewers through this inspirational slide presentation. While the polished metals and lustrous gems sparkle and have considerable value, it is the range and expression of human creativity that shines most in this collection.

Lecture/Demo Second Day: Presentation on Alan Revere–Autobiographical Survey

Beginning in the 1960&rsquos, Revere shows images of his own art work interspersed with images of his life and the times that frame his work. Images include early work in drawing and sculpture, studies in Germany, studios around the world, exhibitions and his own signature jewelry. The survey follows the development of his jewelry, from modest handcrafted silver to kinetic one–of–a–kind precious wearable sculptures to his production designs and award–winning jewelry. This presentation is as much a glimpse at the American arts and crafts movement of the late 20th century as it is a review of one individual’s attempts to seek meaning and pursue self–expression through highy refined handwork.