2019 AGTA Spectrum Meeting - Feb 8th, 8:30am at AGTA

Lisa Elser · **Posted:** Fri Dec 21, 2018 9:59 pm

DATE AND TIME CHANGE

This is important if you want to be able to compete as a lapidary artist. Please plan to attend.

Some of you probably read Meg Berry's post on the problems with Spectrum. If not, it's here

https://www.facebook.com/meg.berry.58/p ... 6486531117

I know a lot of us including those of us who've won awards have lost interest in competing because of exactly the problem's Meg listed. I stopped when a tanzanite cab won in Faceted Stones. But the fact that it's become a contest of 'Biggest Wallet' without any requirement that

- the piece be new
- the piece be made by the submitter
- the cutter be named
- or even the RULES be followed

Now they are allowing an institution to enter a tonne of pieces they bought. I'm not sure about the rest of you, but my safe does not compete with a major international gem collection. If institutions can enter 25-35 pieces each year, then really most of us have no chance.

Meg, and Naomi Sarna made some noise. The AGTA has set up a meeting for Friday, Feb 8th, Room TBA. You do not need to be badged for the AGTA show to attend.

If you've competed and are concerned about the way the competition is being run, please attend. If like me you've walked away from it, attend. It's the only lapidary competition in the US anymore and if they're claiming to support gem artists then let's see if we can make them actually do that.

Lisa

Stephen Challener · **Posted:** Sat Dec 22, 2018 4:32 pm

I don't know mich about the politics of AGTA, but is that the Somewhere in the Rainbow collection they are complaining about? I never could figure out what thr heck that was supposed to be.

Lisa Elser · **Posted:** Sat Dec 22, 2018 4:51 pm

It is. I like the collection - I participated in the first cutting exhibition. But should a museum or collection be able to compete with works they buy/commission? And someone very tightly connected to them was a judge this year when they won a tonne of awards.

They submitted a NECKLACE from Germany in Objects of Art that won. But the rules say explicitly that the entries are not supposed to be wearable.

If the Smithsonian decided to start submitting from their collection, that would stink. So why should another museum be able to buy pieces all over the world and enter them?

Stephen Challener · **Posted:** Sat Dec 22, 2018 9:03 pm

From an outsider perspective, it feels a bit like they act like they own the joint. I also don't really understand what a nonprofit jewelry collection's purpose for existing is, though I'll admit I have enjoyed their posts and displays which is sort of an answer I guess.

vistagrande · **Posted:** Sun Dec 23, 2018 11:36 am

I don't get to Tucson until that evening. I would be very curious to know how things there transpire. Will the session be recorded?

maialetto · **Posted:** Tue Jan 22, 2019 8:45 pm

I'd love to see the Hope diamond submitted in the contest. :lol:

Peter Torraca · **Posted:** Wed Jan 23, 2019 8:04 am

Again, thanks for spearheading this. Maybe the coffee hasn’t kicked in, but I don’t see the time change.

Also, is there a text/email/whatever list for updates? Might be very helpful when Tucson actually gets going; things change quickly during the shows.

peter

Lisa Elser · **Posted:** Thu Jan 24, 2019 11:14 am

Looks like it's set at Friday Feb 8th, 8:30am, in the Gila room. It's in the AGTA conference area, so you don't need an AGTA badge.

Lisa Elser · **Posted:** Tue Feb 05, 2019 11:52 am

I have to head home for some medical stuff and can't make the Friday 8:30 meeting but please if you can, do.

AGTA Gila Room 8:30 Friday. There will be coffee and doughnuts I'm told.

I did send an email to Doug Hucker doug@agta.org which included the following suggestions

___________

My Spectrum award was a great boost to my career. I would love for it to be there for the people who are newer to the industry but as things stand, I don’t see it. What would help?

- no institutions entering or sponsoring entries. It’s wrong.
- no inconsistant following of the rules (cab winning faceted, old entries, category violations)

And
- categories for actual gem cutters. We need some categories with limited number of entries, owned by the artist, and a value limit.

I would love not to be competing to see who has the biggest safe. That’s always going to be the big firms. Categories for individual gem cutters with a value limit and a requirement that the gem by owned BY THE CUTTER so big firms can’t just sponsor house cutters to throw a dozen pieces in under different names.

__________

If you aren't able to attend, maybe consider emailing Doug. I believe in AGTA and Spectrum and it saddens me to how impossible it is anymore for people who aren't giant firms or museums to get a foothold.

Lisa

360 · **Posted:** Mon Feb 18, 2019 5:54 pm

I would love to hear a recap of the meeting if anyone can share.

Thanks much,
360

Lisa Elser · **Posted:** Mon Feb 18, 2019 8:07 pm

I had to leave Tucson on Wednesday for a medical issue at home but my understanding is about 50 people showed up. AGTA's representatives didn't seem to have a good understanding of the complaints and issues that many folks had already sent them.

They did ask that people get together and submit suggestions. Meg and Naomi launched a group on Facebook so anyone who wants to add their input and possibly sing on, let me know and I'll get you added.

Naomi's conversation with the AGTA board and the Spectrum committee included:

- The AGTA Spectrum must follow the rules. Both Jeff Bilgore and Doug Hucker emphasized that they were following the rules, i.e. Objects of Art were designed NOT TO BE WORN but the 2nd place winner was a pendant on a necklace which violates the rules.

At the meeting many people noted that a cabochon won in a faceting category. Another broken rule which cannot continue. The AGTA must follow the rules.

- New categories are suggested: jade objects; one stone made by an North American cutter/carver.

- The Spectrum Competition was organized for businesses and individuals, not institutions. Sponsorship such as the Platinum Guild or the WJA may be encouraged but not as active participants in the competition itself.

vistagrande · **Posted:** Mon Feb 18, 2019 8:36 pm

They seemed unaware that their entry form allowed only one name, thus making things awkward for pieces that were the result of a collaboration. It sounded like that was one thing they would review and adjust.

For the most part it was "you guys tell us what you think and maybe we will consider it." However they also made it pretty clear that adding a number of categories probably was not going to happen. Possibly a couple, but they felt it was already hard to get the judging done as is.

360 · **Posted:** Mon Feb 18, 2019 9:00 pm

Lisa and Mary,

Thanks so much for your answers.

360

Lisa Elser · **Posted:** Mon Feb 18, 2019 9:16 pm

Personally I'd probably enter again if they just

- followed the rules, and
- didn't allow museums, trade orgs, collections, etc to enter

But Gem Diva is a meta category sponsored by WJA, and Platinum Honors is a meta category sponsored by the Platinum Council. Best Use of Pearls is a meta category. You tick the box showing that you meet the qualifications, and no matter what category your piece is in, or whether it wins in that category, you're considered for the meta award. So something that is entered in Bridal might not win there, but if it's made in Platinum it might get Platinum Honors.

There's no reason that groups like Somewhere in the Rainbow couldn't sponsor meta categories for lower value goods, independent cutters, etc.

It seems like the straws that broke the back were the disregard for rules, and a museum deciding to compete. Let's fix those, and work on making some categories that encourage gem artists rather than just the ones with Big Safes and Deep Wallets.

360 · **Posted:** Tue Feb 19, 2019 12:02 am

Hmmmmm, follow the rules? In the meantime, I'm hopping a plane to Idar to buy some carvings to submit.

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