2017 Lewton-Brain Foldform Competition

2017 Sponsors
​2017 Results Video
Interweave Story
​Press Release​

​​FIRST PLACE
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“Curva” by Ferruccio Maierna

Ferruccio Maierna, www.ferrucciomaierna.com, Rome, Italy “Curva” (23 x 72 x 20 cm) Metal sheet from cans; photo by Ferdinando Gatta

SECOND PLACE

“Silver Mouth Pitcher Plant” by Dorian S. Custodia

Dorian S. Custodia, etsy.com/shop/CrystalMetalCreation, Sellersville, PA, U.S. “Silver Mouth Pitcher Plant” (6 x 6 x 18 in) Copper, Argentium Silver, silver plating, brass, red copper oxide, green verdigris, clear acrylic enamel

THIRD PLACE

“Freedom” by Chelsea Dyck

Chelsea Dyck, www.mycreativeworks.ca, Calgary, Alberta, Canada “Freedom” (14 x 9 in) Niobium, sterling silver

INNOVATION AWARD

“Fold Forms in Glass” by Ed Lay

The 2017 Innovation Award goes to Ed Lay for his "Fold Forms in Glass." Thin copper is foldformed, then enameled on one surface. The enameled copper is then placed in an etching bath to remove the copper-- and the resulting piece is all glass.

It's all the more exciting because the piece tests our competition rules-- innovation should push the boundaries, right? There is no metal in the finished piece. However, metal is the negative space, and was essential to creating the glass form. 

"The process for making foldforms in glass is conceptually straightforward. However in practice, one quickly runs into some inherent technical difficulties, mostly related to the properties of glass," writes the artist about this tricky process. 

Ed Lay is a metalsmith, enamelist and instructor at the Richmond Art Center in the San Francisco Bay Area.   He has generously submitted a detailed technical description of his work with glass fold forms, which we've shared on his Artist Spotlight page along with more images of his work. 

The Innovation Award is optional for the jury, and rarely awarded.  To date, it's gone to just one other artist -- Noah Deledda in 2014.  

VIEW FULL ARTIST SPOTLIGHT STORY HERE

Ed Lay, El Cerrito, CA, U.S. “Fold Forms in Glass” (1 cm to 3 cm) Glass

​HONORABLE MENTION

“Chess Set” by Amir Nasiri​

Amir Nasiri, Tehran, Iran “Chess Set” (45 x 45 cm board) Copper, pure silver; photo by Hamid Aghaei

​HONORABLE MENTION

“Straze Rocking Vessels” by Alex O'Connor

Alex O’Connor, www.alexoconnorsilver.co.uk, St. Just, Cornwall, England, U.K. “Straze Rocking Vessels” (14 x 20 cm) Britannia silver, lemon gilding, rhodium plate; photo by Paul Mounsey

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JURORS' CHOICE

2017

Nick Grant Barnes, www.nickgrantbarnes.com, Silver Spring, MD, U.S. “Cicetti Ring” (25 x 20 x 28 mm) 18ky, 14ky, smoky topaz; photo by David Terao

Jennie Tornberg Alvarsson, www.jennietornbergalvarsson.com, Leksand, Sweden “Skull” (12 x 6 x 13 cm) Copper

Emma-Jane Rule, www.emma-janerulesilversmith.co.uk, Leicester, England, U.K. “Prickled Vessel” (13 x 9 x 8 cm) Britania silver; photo by Nigel Essex

Amir Nasiri, Tehran, Iran “Sound of Silence” (5 cm H largest link) Silver, vitreous enamel, gold amalgam, pearl; photo by Hamid Aghaei

Sher Novak, www.shernovak.com, Albany, CA, U.S. “Shield Pendant” (3 x 1.25 in) Sterling silver; photo by George Post

Nick Grant Barnes, www.nickgrantbarnes.com, Silver Spring, MD, U.S. "Fire and Satin Ice" (83 x 24 x 10 mm) Acrylite satin ice, 18ky, sterling silver, brass, Boulder Opal, steel cable; photo by David Terao

Denys Knight, www.accidentalhammer.com, Bonners Ferry, ID, U.S. “Into Beyond” (38 x 46 cm) Copper; photo by Stan Knight

Nuan Tansrisakul, nnuann.wixsite.com/nuan, Bangkok, Thailand “Concrete Line” (8.5 x 8.5 x 2 cm) Copper, silver solder inlay, silver; photo by Kanyawee W.

Ken Roussin, www.myobjetsdart.com, Winnetka, CA, U.S. “Splat #14” (2.125 x 1.875 in) Copper, enamel

James Thurman, www.jamesthurman.com, Denton, TX, U.S. “Cesm-i Bulbul Cube Open” (7 x 9.5 x 7 in) (18 x 24 x 18 cm) Copper, hot blown glass

Darcie Beeman-Black, www.darciebeemanblack.com, Memphis, TN, U.S. “Lapel Pin” (1 x 1 x 5 in) Silver and copper

Anick Dusseault, www.anickdusseault.com and Gustavo Estrada, www.gustavoestradajewellery.com, Montréal, Quebec, Canada “Resonance” (15 x 20 x 60 in) Copper, patinated brass, black walnut wood; photo by Anthony McLean

Zee Galliano, www.zeegalliano.com, Ajo, AZ, U.S. “Face Pendant” (3 x 4 in) Copper, sterling silver

Mary K. McIntyre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada “Light Cycle” 21.6 x 21.6 x 21.6 cm) Sterling silver, bronze, deerskin, paper; photo by Christina Gapic

Ruth Ackerman, Richmond, CA, U.S. “Blue Bowl” (6.75 x 5.25 x 3.25 in) Copper; photo by Ed Lay

Barbara Zander, www.barbarazander.com, Shoreline, WA, U.S. “Growing into the Space” (76 x 38 in) Copper, acrylic paint, aluminum; photo by Bret Corrington

Pimploy Theerachai, Bangkok, Thailand, “Curvy” (1.1 x .7 x .5 in) Brass, plated with gold, pink gold, rhodium

Ed Lay, El Cerrito, CA, U.S. “Flower” (8 x 5 x 5 in) Glass, copper, enamel, wood, silver

Emiro Uribe, www.hogbackforge.com, Silt, CO, U.S. “Moonflower Bar Pendant” (8 x 10 in) Copper

Alex O’Connor, www.alexoconnorsilver.co.uk, St. Just, Cornwall, England, U.K. “Veer Vessels Series” (28 x 40 cm) Britannia Silver; photo by Paul Mounsey

Rhonda Kap, www.rhondakap.com, Cornell, CA, U.S. “Copper Birch Wall Fountain” (5 x 5 ft) Copper; photo by Alisha Volotzky

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​THE JURY

2017

See all the judges here.

Charles Lewton-Brain: Artist Goldsmith, Educator, Foldforming Pioneer

Merle White, Editor, Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist magazine

Seth Rosen, Owner, International Gem Society and Ganoksin

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2017 WINNERS

​FIRST PLACE: Ferruccio Maierna, www.ferrucciomaierna.com, Rome, Italy
“Curva” (23 x 72 x 20 cm) (9 x 28.3 x 7.9 in) Metal sheet from cans; photo by Ferdinando Gatta

SECOND PLACE: Dorian S. Custodia, etsy.com/shop/CrystalMetalCreation, Sellersville, PA, U.S.
“Silver Mouth Pitcher Plant” (15.2 x 15.2 x 45.7 cm) (6 x 6 x 18 in) Copper, Argentium Silver, silver plating, brass, red copper oxide, green verdigris, clear acrylic enamel

THIRD PLACE: Chelsea Dyck, mycreativeworks.ca, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
“Freedom” (35.6 x 22.9 cm) (14 x 9 in) Niobium, sterling silver

INNOVATION AWARD: Ed Lay, El Cerrito, CA, U.S.
“Fold Forms in Glass” (1 cm to 3 cm) (.4 to 1.2 in) Glass

HONORABLE MENTION: Amir Nasiri, Tehran, Iran
“Chess Set” (45 x 45 cm board) (17.7 x 17.7 in)​ Copper, pure silver; photo by Hamid Aghaei

HONORABLE MENTION: Alex O’Connor, www.alexoconnorsilver.co.uk, St. Just, Cornwall, England, U.K.
“Straze Rocking Vessels” (14 x 20 cm) (5.5 x 7.9 in) Britannia silver, lemon gilding, rhodium plate; photo by Paul Mounsey
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2017 Jurors' Choice Selections
Alphabetical order by artist

Ruth Ackerman,  Richmond, CA, U.S.
“Blue Bowl” (17.1 x 13.3 x 8.3 cm) (6.75 x 5.25 x 3.25 in) Copper; photo by Ed Lay

Nick Grant Barnes, www.nickgrantbarnes.com, Silver Spring, MD, U.S.
“Cicetti Ring” (2.5 x 2 x 2.8 cm) (1 x .8 x 1.1 in) 18ky, 14ky, smoky topaz; photo by David Terao
"Fire and Satin Ice" (8.3 x 2.4 x 1 cm) (3.3 x .9 x .4 in) Acrylite satin ice, 18ky, sterling silver, brass, Boulder Opal, steel cable; photo by David Terao

Darcie Beeman-Black, www.darciebeemanblack.com, Memphis, TN, U.S.
“Lapel Pin” (2.5 x 2.5 x 12.7 cm) (1 x 1 x 5 in) Silver and copper

Anick Dusseault, www.anickdusseault.com  and Gustavo Estrada, www.gustavoestradajewellery.com, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
“Resonance” (38.1 x 50.1 x 152.4 cm) (15 x 20 x 60 in) Copper, patinated brass, black walnut wood; photo by Anthony McLean

Zee Galliano, www.zeegalliano.com, Ajo, AZ, U.S.
“Face Pendant” (7.6 x 10.2 cm) (3 x 4 in) Copper, sterling silver

Rhonda Kap, www.rhondakap.com, Cornell, CA, U.S.
“Copper Birch Wall Fountain” (1.5 x 1.5 meters) (5 x 5 ft) Copper; photo by Alisha Volotzky

Denys Knight, www.accidentalhammer.com, Bonners Ferry, ID, U.S.
“Into Beyond” (38 x 46 cm) (14.9 x 18.1 in) Copper; photo by Stan Knight

Ed Lay, El Cerrito, CA, U.S.
“Flower” (20.3 x 12.7 x 12.7 cm) (8 x 5 x 5 in) Glass, copper, enamel, wood, silver

Mary K. McIntyre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
“Light Cycle” (21.6 x 21.6 x 21.6 cm) (8.5 x 8.5 x 8.5 in) Sterling silver, bronze, deerskin, paper; photo by Christina Gapic

Amir Nasiri, Tehran, Iran
“Sound of Silence” (5 cm H) (2 in) Silver, vitreous enamel, gold amalgam, pearl; photo by Hamid Aghaei

Sher Novak, www.shernovak.com, Albany, CA, U.S.
“Shield Pendant” (7.6 x 3.1 cm) (3 x 1.25 in) Sterling silver; photo by George Post

Alex O’Connor, www.alexoconnorsilver.co.uk, St. Just, Cornwall, England, U.K.
“Veer Vessels Series” (28 x 40 cm) (11 x 15.7 in) Britannia Silver; photo by Paul Mounsey

Ken Roussin, www.myobjetsdart.com, Winnetka, CA, U.S.
“Splat #14” (5.3 x 4.8 cm) (2.1 x 1.9 in) Copper, enamel

Emma-Jane Rule, www.emma-janerulesilversmith.co.uk, Leicester, England, U.K.
“Prickled Vessel” (13 x 9 x 8 cm) (5.1 x 3.5 x 3.1 in) Britania silver; photo by Nigel Essex 

Nuan Tansrisakul, nnuann.wixsite.com/nuan, Bangkok, Thailand
“Concrete Line” (8.5 x 8.5 x 2 cm) (3.3 x 3.3 x .8 in) Copper, silver solder inlay, silver; photo by Kanyawee W.

Pimploy Theerachai, Bangkok, Thailand
“Curvy” (2.8 x 1.8 x 1.3 cm) (1.1 x .7 x .5 in) Brass, plated with gold, pink gold, rhodium

James Thurman, www.jamesthurman.com, Denton, TX, U.S.
“Cesm-i Bulbul Cube Open” (18 x 24 x 18 cm) (7 x 9.5 x 7 in) ​Copper, hot blown glass

Jennie Tornberg Alvarsson, www.jennietornbergalvarsson.com, Leksand, Sweden
“Skull” (12 x 6 x 13 cm) (4.7 x 2.3 x 5.1 in) Copper

Emiro Uribe, www.hogbackforge.com, Silt, CO, U.S.
“Moonflower Bar Pendant” (20.3 x 25.4 cm) (8 x 10 in) Copper

Barbara Zander, www.barbarazander.com, Shoreline, WA, U.S.
“Growing into the Space” (1.9 x 1 meters) (6.3 x 3.2 ft) Copper, acrylic paint, aluminum; photo by Bret Corrington

 Artists entered the 2017 competition from England, Scotland, Canada, Chile, Thailand, Iran, Italy, Sweden and 15 U.S. states.

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2017 SPONSORS

​Thank you to our 2017 sponsors for making this event possible!

 

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The Paper Hammer OFFER
​Sponsor, 2017 Lewton-Brain Foldform Competition

DISCOUNT OFFER:  $5 off handcrafted paper hammers only at www.foldforming.org/tools. 

​​"This paper hammer is beautifully handcrafted.
It is the only hammer that does not damage
the metal it is used on.

It will pay for itself in a very short time
​because of reduced finishing costs.”

​--Charles Lewton-Brain

If you are currently using a rawhide, rubber or polyurethane mallet to avoid hammer marks in  metal, you're in for a nice surprise. Our top choice for this job is a paper hammer.  Even brand new out of the box, these leave no marks.  Handcrafted one-by-one in Bonners Ferry, Idaho.  Read the full story at www.accidentalhammer.com. ​