MajorsApr 27, 2023
BIJC Seeks Love Stories in Second Annual “Together by Design” Contest Events & AwardsApr 28, 2023
Radical Jewelry Makeover’s New Design Competition Highlights Recycled Materials
Selected designers will create jewelry using recycled and donated goods to be exhibited and judged in November.
The application window for The Rejewelry Competition is open on RJM’s website until June 1.
New York—Nonprofit Ethical Metalsmiths' outreach program Radical Jewelry Makeover (RJM) has launched its first design contest, The Rejewelry Competition.
The competition is centered around RJM’s mission of encouraging jewelers to examine mining issues while making innovative jewelry from recycled sources.
Selected applicants will create a suite of jewelry from RJM’s collection of donated and recycled materials. The final creations will be exhibited in New York in November, where a winner will be announced.
The prize includes a solo exhibition at Alma’s, a “Contemporary Craft” gallery and shop in Richmond, Virginia, slotted for January 2025.
Interested designers can submit an application comprised of a resume, artist statement, five images of current works and a $15 application fee by June 1. No membership is required.
“This competition is a creative challenge for those looking to engage in the tangible redistribution of already-mined persistent raw materials full of creative potential,” RJM said.
RJM is an innovative community project aimed at creating supply chain transparency by raising awareness of the connection between mining, metalsmithing, activism, collaboration, and art.
It takes donations of broken, unwanted, or out-of-date jewelry and redistributes it into the hands of artists through jewelry-making events hosted by RJM members.
RJM membership, which includes the “RJM Toolkit” guide, is available to educational institutions, art centers, collectives, businesses, and guilds.
RJM describes its membership initiative as “both performance and event, linking recycling, reuse and collaborative work sessions with the creation of unique, innovative, handmade jewelry, concluding with an exhibition and reception.”
Designed and developed by Christina Miller and Susie Ganch, RJM is now directed by Ganch and fellow Richmond-based artist and exhibitor Kathleen Kennedy.
Related stories will be right here …
The competition is centered around RJM’s mission of encouraging jewelers to examine mining issues while making innovative jewelry from recycled sources.
Selected applicants will create a suite of jewelry from RJM’s collection of donated and recycled materials. The final creations will be exhibited in New York in November, where a winner will be announced.
The prize includes a solo exhibition at Alma’s, a “Contemporary Craft” gallery and shop in Richmond, Virginia, slotted for January 2025.
Interested designers can submit an application comprised of a resume, artist statement, five images of current works and a $15 application fee by June 1. No membership is required.
“This competition is a creative challenge for those looking to engage in the tangible redistribution of already-mined persistent raw materials full of creative potential,” RJM said.
RJM is an innovative community project aimed at creating supply chain transparency by raising awareness of the connection between mining, metalsmithing, activism, collaboration, and art.
It takes donations of broken, unwanted, or out-of-date jewelry and redistributes it into the hands of artists through jewelry-making events hosted by RJM members.
RJM membership, which includes the “RJM Toolkit” guide, is available to educational institutions, art centers, collectives, businesses, and guilds.
RJM describes its membership initiative as “both performance and event, linking recycling, reuse and collaborative work sessions with the creation of unique, innovative, handmade jewelry, concluding with an exhibition and reception.”
Designed and developed by Christina Miller and Susie Ganch, RJM is now directed by Ganch and fellow Richmond-based artist and exhibitor Kathleen Kennedy.
Applications for The Rejewelery Competition will be juried by RJM Artist Project member Sarah Parker and Alma’s owner Sarah Mizer – both Richmond-based artists.
Selected participants will be notified by June 15 and granted access to purchase RJM donation materials of gold, silver, costume jewelry and gemstones at a discounted rate until Sept. 1.
Designers will have until Oct. 15 to use the materials to create their final suite of jewelry.
In addition to the solo exhibition, the winner of The Rejewelry Competition will also be invited to join the RJM Artist Project as an ongoing participant.
The Artist Project was developed in 2014 when a small group of past participants of RJM collaborated to create a series of works from donated jewelry left over from previous donation drives. The exhibit travels across the country to host exhibitions and in 2019, a new group of artists were invited to join.
For more information or to apply for The Rejewelry Competition, visit RJM’s website.
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
MajorsJul 26, 2024
Diamonds Direct Opens Store in AtlantaIt’s the Signet-owned banner’s first location in Georgia.
TrendsJul 26, 2024
Piece of the Week: Bea Bongiasca’s ‘Double Loop’ EarringsCommemorate “brat summer” with these green hoops.
EditorsJul 26, 2024
Out & About: A Dispatch from the Nation’s Smallest StateEditor-in-Chief Michelle Graff returns from Rhode Island with thoughts about in-store shopping and a trends report.
Brought to you by
The End of an Era? Lab-Grown Diamonds' Journey Towards Price StabilityAs the demand for lab-grown diamond jewelry may still be increasing, the most notable change we are likely to see is price stabilization.
Supplier BulletinJul 25, 2024
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionSponsored by Gemological Institute of America
Weekly QuizJul 25, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
TechnologyJul 25, 2024
Amazon, BBB Sue Website Allegedly Peddling Fake Reviews They claim ReviewServiceUSA.com was selling both positive and negative reviews of products and businesses.
SourcingJul 25, 2024
De Beers’ H1 Revenue Falls 21% in ‘Weak’ MarketLab-grown diamond sales in the United States and ongoing economic challenges in China are impacting natural diamond demand.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionGIA®’s most advanced microscope has new features to optimize greater precision and comfort.
IndependentsJul 25, 2024
Store Designer Ruth Mellergaard DiesA longtime member of IJO, she’s remembered for her passion for design, learning, and environmentalism.
FinancialsJul 25, 2024
Boucheron, Pomellato Post Double-Digit Growth in Q2 The gains come amid a tough time for parent company Kering, which saw sales slide 11 percent in the first half of the year.
MajorsJul 25, 2024
Shane Co. Partners With Kids In Need Foundation to Donate 7,200 BackpacksThe fine jewelry retailer filled backpacks with back-to-school essentials for students in 13 states.
FinancialsJul 24, 2024
LVMH’s First-Half Jewelry, Watch Sales Dip 5%Tiffany & Co. is focusing on its “iconic” collections while the company has made changes at the top at TAG Heuer and Hublot.
MajorsJul 24, 2024
See Chaumet’s Paris Olympic Medals Inspired by its High JewelryThe Parisian brand is the first jewelry company in the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to design the medals.
MajorsJul 24, 2024
Jewelers Mutual Acquires Pawnbroker Insurance ProviderUnion Life & Casualty will join JM Insurance Agency Partners, expanding the provider’s pawnbroker coverage.
MajorsJul 24, 2024
Ben Bridge Announces 2024 Lonia Tate Scholarship WinnerLos Angeles-based Bradlei Smith was selected for this year’s award.
ColumnistsJul 23, 2024
Peter Smith: The Case for Optimism in Sales In his latest column, Smith shares multiple reasons why people who look at the glass as being hall full often make better salespeople.
SourcingJul 23, 2024
De Beers’ Production Drops 15% in Q2The company also reported the $150 million sale of an iron ore royalty right, part of its ongoing effort to divest “non-core” assets.
IndependentsJul 23, 2024
Long’s Jewelers Is Giving Away a Luxury Cape Cod VacationThe giveaway is part of the New England jeweler’s summer bridal event.
CollectionsJul 23, 2024
Guzema Debuts ‘Flower Power’ CampaignThe ad features three celebrity florists creating floral sculptures while wearing jewelry by Guzema.
Policies & IssuesJul 23, 2024
Diamonds Do Good Announces Its 2024 Entrepreneurship Grant WinnersThe grant provided a total of $100,000 to support 13 entrepreneurs from diamond communities in Africa and India.
CrimeJul 22, 2024
Florida Jeweler Shot, Killed Following Argument With CustomerGhazi Michel Osta, or “Gus,” was killed Friday by an 83-year-old man said to be a frequent customer at his store, Volusia Gold & Diamond.
Policies & IssuesJul 22, 2024
JVC’s Elyssa Jenkins-Pérez Joins RJCThe organization also announced Effie Marinos as its new specialist advisor for technical standards, as well as four other appointments.
SourcingJul 22, 2024
AWDC Names Karen Rentmeesters as CEORentmeesters has served as interim CEO since April following former CEO Ari Epstein’s resignation.
IndependentsJul 19, 2024
Longtime D.C. Jeweler Brian Mann Dies at 70Mann, whose family’s jewelry store was located inside the Pentagon, is remembered for being a thoughtful champion of the industry.
IndependentsJul 19, 2024
The 1916 Company Opens New Tudor BoutiqueThe 500-square-foot boutique is located in Denver’s Cherry Creek Shopping Center.
CollectionsJul 19, 2024
Piece of the Week: Messika’s ‘So Move Max’ NecklaceDance all night long with the “So Move Max” set’s necklace.
WatchesJul 18, 2024
TAG Heuer, Hublot Will Have New CEOs Luxury giant LVMH is reshuffling the leadership in its watches division.
