2018 AJF Collectors Symposium

Have you ever wondered why Art Jewelry Forum is so focused on thinking about jewelry, in addition to wearing it? Join us for an opportunity to discover the history and stories behind AJF, discuss the private collections of Susan Cummins and Susan Beech, and celebrate the power of jewelry in our lives.

• LOCATION: Nahl Hall on CCA Oakland Campus, 5212 Broadway Avenue, Oakland, CA
• DATE: Sunday, January 14, 2017
• TIME: 10:00am - 12:00pm
• AGENDA:
  • Spend an intimate morning with Susan Cummins and Susan Beech as they discuss the history and stories behind their world famous art jewelry collections. Don't miss this rare opportunity to meet and learn about collecting, analyzing and wearing jewelry from two of the most iconic women in the field.
  • Renowned Ethnographer and Sociologist of Culture, Sarah Thorton will add an insightful perspective to the event with her presentation of why thinking about jewelry and art is important.
  • Rebekah Frank, Executive Director of Art Jewelry Forum, brings everything together for collectors with an overview of Art Jewelry Forum, the definitive thought leader and information resource for all things art jewelry.

Be prepared to laugh, learn and have a great time as you take a walk on the wild side of art jewelry. Light refreshments will be consumed by all. Be there, or hear about it from those who were.

SPEAKERS

Susan Beech is the founder of the Susan Beech Mid-Career Artist Grant and a jewelry collector based in Tiburon, California, just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco.

Susan Cummins has been involved in numerous ways in the visual arts world over the last 35 years, from working in a pottery studio, doing street fairs, running a retail shop called the Firework in Mill Valley and developing the Susan Cummins Gallery into a nationally recognized venue for regional art and contemporary art jewelry. Now she spends most of her time working with a private family foundation called Rotasa and as a board member of AJF and California College of the Arts.

Rebekah Frank is an artist dedicated to steel and contemporary jewelry artist who received her MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art in 2012. She lives in San Francisco and is the executive director of Art Jewelry Forum.

Sarah Thornton was described by the Washington Post as "the Jane Goodall of the art world," Thornton is a writer, ethnographer and sociologist of culture. She is the author of three books: Seven Days in the Art World, 33 Artists in 3 Acts and Club Cultures: Music, Media and Subcultural Capital. Formerly the chief writer on contemporary art for The Economist and currently a contributing editor at Cultured magazine, Thornton researches, writes and talks about art, design, architecture and technology. Holder of a BA in Art History and a PhD in Sociology, Thornton lives in San Francisco and is an adjunct professor in Curatorial Practice at the California College of the Arts.

Special thanks to Marilyn da Silva and Curtis Arima and California College of the Arts for their sponsorship of this event.