Paul Bierker's Posts - crafthaus2024-03-28T13:19:27ZPaul Bierkerhttps://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/PaulBierkerhttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/357607836?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://crafthaus.ning.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=ql5yvyjptaec&xn_auth=noPaul Michael Design In Pittsburgh Needs help again!tag:crafthaus.ning.com,2015-05-28:2104389:BlogPost:5149062015-05-28T15:30:00.000ZPaul Bierkerhttps://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/PaulBierker
<p>We are Growing again!!!! Please share this with anyone you know. I need 2 key hires ASAP</p>
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<p>1- Office manager. Needs to be OCD organized with a thick skin. To help manage the day to day operations of our retail showroom / Production studio. Jewelry experience is a huge plus, Office suite and or Google Docs. Must not be tech adverse. Must be a self starter and have the ability to be self directed and focused on company goals. QuickBooks, Word, excel, Powerpoint, Social media…</p>
<p>We are Growing again!!!! Please share this with anyone you know. I need 2 key hires ASAP</p>
<p></p>
<p>1- Office manager. Needs to be OCD organized with a thick skin. To help manage the day to day operations of our retail showroom / Production studio. Jewelry experience is a huge plus, Office suite and or Google Docs. Must not be tech adverse. Must be a self starter and have the ability to be self directed and focused on company goals. QuickBooks, Word, excel, Powerpoint, Social media platforms will all be a plus.</p>
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<p>2- Technical bench Jeweler. We need a mid to advanced bench jeweler who can work in all metals, set and finish new stock. We have a state of the art studio including laser welder, CAD, 3d Printing and 4 axis CNC mill. Repair skills are a must. any Large company experience would also be a plus.</p>
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<p>Please forward a confidential letter of introduction, Resume and salary requirements to Bierker@aol.com</p>
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<p>Come be part of the Jewelry revolution. This is not your Grandma's jewelry store.</p>New Jewelry Artist Studio and Gallery seeks worktag:crafthaus.ning.com,2014-09-22:2104389:BlogPost:4943392014-09-22T15:09:04.000ZPaul Bierkerhttps://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/PaulBierker
<p>Hello Group! I am opening a new state of the art production gallery in Pittsburgh PA. Our target date for the opening will be October 25th. The Gallery will be at the new Dough Boy square apartment complex on Butler St. in the lower Lawrenceville section of Pittsburgh. This will be a high visibility and profile location.</p>
<p>I am hoping to find new candidates to showcase in this location. If you are interested, Please forward me your info, as well as a link to your work. My target…</p>
<p>Hello Group! I am opening a new state of the art production gallery in Pittsburgh PA. Our target date for the opening will be October 25th. The Gallery will be at the new Dough Boy square apartment complex on Butler St. in the lower Lawrenceville section of Pittsburgh. This will be a high visibility and profile location.</p>
<p>I am hoping to find new candidates to showcase in this location. If you are interested, Please forward me your info, as well as a link to your work. My target retail price points will be 100-1200.00 I seek various styles with renewable materials as a big plus. Please message me here or send info to Paul (AT) Paulmichaeldesign.com. This will be an amazing space and what I think will be a great opportunity for the future. Pittsburgh Artists are STRONGLY encouraged to send work. I will have an entire section of the sore for PGH people. I am also interested in Glass and ceramic items with retails under 500.00</p>
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<p>Thanks again</p>Recomendations?tag:crafthaus.ning.com,2013-01-29:2104389:BlogPost:3922132013-01-29T18:03:43.000ZPaul Bierkerhttps://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/PaulBierker
<p>I need a few existing SNAG members who know me and my studio to offer a recommendation for me to serve in SNAG. If you are willing please send me a message. Thanks.</p>
<p>I need a few existing SNAG members who know me and my studio to offer a recommendation for me to serve in SNAG. If you are willing please send me a message. Thanks.</p>I think I need an Exorcist...tag:crafthaus.ning.com,2009-11-25:2104389:BlogPost:795132009-11-25T04:13:37.000ZPaul Bierkerhttps://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/PaulBierker
As a formerly trained artist/craftsman I sort of sold my soul to seek a living in the commercial realm of jewelry manufacturing- It is an awesome industry filled with talent, genius and a large number of dirt bags to say the least.<br />
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I feel blessed as I have always been allowed to express my opinions on purity in design, conceptual constructivism and "real" high craft craftsmanship.<br />
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Just the other day I engaged in a pretty benign conversation on another board focused on the retail jeweler…
As a formerly trained artist/craftsman I sort of sold my soul to seek a living in the commercial realm of jewelry manufacturing- It is an awesome industry filled with talent, genius and a large number of dirt bags to say the least.<br />
<br />
I feel blessed as I have always been allowed to express my opinions on purity in design, conceptual constructivism and "real" high craft craftsmanship.<br />
<br />
Just the other day I engaged in a pretty benign conversation on another board focused on the retail jeweler industry- We where discussing the best way to install a spring guard into a ladies ring to support her finger after her ring was sized up to overcome some arthritis that had sprung up... I expressed the need for a rolling mill to temper and flatten the strip of gold properly.. I was quite surprised to be somewhat mocked (by an industry profit Guru) because that would take too much time. I should stock the wire I need and not worry about the temper as it would take too much time and be too expensive. After I pulled my face out of my cornflakes I sat at the computer wondering what the heck happened to the Old School. I sat and watched purists and profiteers debate this all afternoon.<br />
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At that moment I realized that I had lost my way, I have been swimming with the sharks in a very small creative pond. Each one that brushed up against me has removed a part of my creative exoskeleton. The more and more I became indoctrinated the less I would think for myself; and now most of my work is pedestrian trade work.... Pays the bills (almost) but leaves the soul thirsting for more.<br />
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Tell me what would be your best advice. How do I turn around and find the proverbial breadcrumbs that I hope i dropped behind me.<br />
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I am excited as I dream more frequently about creating. I am scared about just up and walking out of a career spanning 20 years. How can I exorcise the bad and not lose all the good I have learned along the way..... Thanks for listeningWhere do I go from here.....tag:crafthaus.ning.com,2009-11-02:2104389:BlogPost:761802009-11-02T22:11:22.000ZPaul Bierkerhttps://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/PaulBierker
So When I was in college in the 80's I started this piece. It was my commentary on politics and nuclear proliferation. We where at odds with the soviets and there where enough missiles on the planet to destroy our orb of life a hundred times over- Inspired by what I think was one of the best educators in the craft world at Buffalo State College- I sought to create a piece that was not only massive but had a sort of political tongue in cheek message. (Thanks Steve) I created an 8 finger summit…
So When I was in college in the 80's I started this piece. It was my commentary on politics and nuclear proliferation. We where at odds with the soviets and there where enough missiles on the planet to destroy our orb of life a hundred times over- Inspired by what I think was one of the best educators in the craft world at Buffalo State College- I sought to create a piece that was not only massive but had a sort of political tongue in cheek message. (Thanks Steve) I created an 8 finger summit ring to be worn by Regan and Gorbachev - Whom I affectionately called Ronbo and Gorby... This piece was to be embraced by these two titans of global control as they agreed to put all their stuff away.... On one side was an inlaid American flag and on the other the hammer and sickle pierced in copper and sterling. Between the expansive space a large dumpster sat... approaching the center from each flag where minions of human forms carrying and depositing missiles and warheads into this dumpster which glowed of green nuclear waste and rotated- so, much like any good preschooler they could take their turns while eradicating this fear based construct from this earth. As my semester ended I never finished the piece. Disappointed in myself as the cold war is sort of over well at least with two pronounced actors. (and no I am not making it into a sixteen finger summit/merry go round ring) I could have scrapped it years ago but didn't. I wish to reanimate this piece-. I am looking for input... What diametrically opposed concepts do you see creating a product that is dumpster worthy... I would really appreciate a good creative shot in the arm<br />
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