To SNAG or not to SNAG, that is the question...

[Danielle Miller-Gilliam]

I originally posted this on my blog, however Brigitte thought it should be brought into this forum to encourage discussion...so here goes!
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To SNAG or not to SNAG, that is the question...

...well, not really, but it makes for a catchy (or should I say kitschy) blog title!

SNAG = Society of North American Goldsmiths. "An international educational nonprofit organization which supports and advances the professional practice of artists, designers, jewelers and metalsmiths." (or so they state on their website...)

This year's annual conference is entitled "REVOLUTION" and runs from May 20-23, 2009 in Philadelphia, PA.

from the Oxford American Dictionary:

revolution |ˌrevəˈloō sh ən| noun 1 a forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favor of a new system. • ( the Revolution) the American Revolution.
• (often the Revolution) (in Marxism) the class struggle that is expected to lead to political change and the triumph of communism.
• a dramatic and wide-reaching change in the way something works or is organized or in people's ideas about it : marketing underwent a revolution.

2 an instance of revolving : one revolution a second.
• motion in orbit or a circular course or around an axis or center.
• the single completion of an orbit or rotation.

So now the question is, what meaning of revolution is SNAG referring to? Are they revolting against something? If so, WHAT?!? OR...Are they simply orbiting around themselves and dancing in circles?!? These are valid questions. And if anyone knows the answers, please tell me!

Some of you may already be aware of my disappointment in SNAG, as I stated in my older post about Metalsmith's 2008 Exhibition in Print "Equilibrium: Body as Site." If not, you can read it here.

Despite the fact that I dropped my SNAG membership years ago because I didn't feel represented by the organization, I was truly interested in attending this year's conference. The dizzy title "REVOLUTION," naturally peeked my curiosity and the fact that it is taking place in my old stomping ground, Philadelphia, were factors. But I was actually more interested in the conference due to the web 2.0 wave. I feel like I have connected with more of my peers within the last year through facebook, crafthaus, flickr and Etsy than I have in the last 16 years since I graduated from college. The ability to meet many of these people in real life was the real draw. I was also very interested in the Professional Development Seminar. (Although I am confused why it is call a "pre-conference program"...doesn't it take place after registration begins...therefore it takes place during the conference. Are they trying to separate the professionals from the academics at the conference too?)

Unfortunately, I am not able to attend the "REVOLUTION" due to a schedule conflict.

I am looking forward to hearing reports from others about the "REVOLUTION" so I can decide if I want to renew my SNAG membership or to resign to the fact that the organization is not meant for designers like me. I would be naive if I thought that one revolutionary conference would change the feudalism of our art metal community. However, with the influx of a younger, and hopefully more open-minded audience, change may slowly start to take place.

[Harriete E Berman]

Twigs,
I still want to know what kind of programming would appeal to you.
What topic is desired by your community of metalsmiths? Who would you want to hear speak?

Let me know. We, Don Friedlich, Andy Coooperman and I are all non-academic.
We are responsible for the programming for the Professional Development Seminar. Your voice is heard, now I need to know the content, not a complaint.

All ears,
Respectfully,

Harriete

[2Roses]

Yeaaa Thea! Concrete suggestions that can be acted on! Your comments seem focused on three topics:
1. How SNAG can help promote its members, ie Metalsmith more inclusive of a broader range of member's works.
2. How SNAG recruits new members. ie Advertising beyond American Craft
3. How SNAG can provide practical versus theoretical professional development education, ie.what does an editor at a publication such as Elle look for in an artist's press release.

[Chihiro Makio]

I'm finally getting to read everyone's feedbacks to Danielle's post. Very interested and kind of surprised. Am I so naive for not ever realizing or figuring out if I'm a academic or non-academic jeweler? I never really thought we can split into the two separate groups.... Having gone to an art school which focused heavily on "concept" art, I always wanted to be able to make things just because. But that did not make me NOT want to make forms and techniques thats different from whats done before to express "myself" in the form of jewelry. I enjoy reading Metalsmith and am inspired by it as much as by artists' work at craft shows. If metalsmith mag. or SNAG doesn't satisfy the need for some of us, maybe we should create a sub-division that represent the rest of us? I think it is too hard to cover everything in this diverse world in a one magazine or organization... but it will be nice to have ONE place that I can hear everyone's voices. I wish it was a little more affordable to attend the conference for a self-employed struggling artist like me :)

[chrisitnebossler]

Personally I think that the problem is with perception. I don’t believe SNAG (Society of North American Goldsmiths) is exclusive. After all membership is not jured and call for images, publications, and lectures are open to all to submit.

I would define the issues as the following:

Academic vs. Non-Academic is a divisive way of looking at anything. To split a discipline into two or more elements is hurtful to all, everyone has something to offer and can gain from each others knowledge. I personally feel that all work can be looked through both lenses, its just a matter of having the words to go with it.

SNAG’s appearance as catering to academia may just be the result of who is submitting to their calls. Educators and students have to write articles curate and participate in exhibitions in order to meet scholarship requirements set by their institutions. People participating outside this environment can benefit from these activities but the positive results of doing so may not seem as evident, so perhaps less people participate.


I have been a member of SNAG since 2001, I have and will continue to enjoy my yearly membership with this outstanding organization. If I were to ask where to improve it would be the cost of membership and the cost of the conference. I think the cost is the riding factor in exclusivity.

Thanks for your time, great topic.
Christine

[Harriete E Berman]

Cristine Bossler makes a very interesting point. Educators and students are much more likely to write and present in this forum than production people. This is for many reasons already mentioned, but I will add another.

When organizing the Professional Development Seminar (with Don Friedlich and Andy Cooperman) I found that non-academic people and women were very reluctant to speak in front of an audience and had no experience or very limited experience speaking or preparing a presentation.

We want to hear from a variety of perspectives and yet it is very hard to find "voices. " Step up" be counted. Tell us what you want to hear for the Professional Development Seminar and who is willing speak from experience.
Harriete
www.askharriete.typepad.com

[Twigs]

http://crafthaus.ning.com/group/snaghoustonconference/forum/topics/...

This is a current conversation i was involved in about SNAG and it's direction. I have made suggestions about what would appeal to me as a working metalsmith ( and some of my peers). Unfortunately, the responses that I received by some SNAG members weren't very enthusiastic. It's somewhat ironic, after reading this old post, that I have been trying for a few years to have this dialog, asked about the topics that appeal to me, just to have them met with somewhat deaf ears.( I know I'm just 1 metalsmith out there, but still...)

It will be interesting to see if the dialog continues...