Society of North American Goldsmith’s 48th Annual Conference
The Loop: Coming Full Circle
Dates of Conference: May 22nd – May 25th, 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Hotel: The Palmer House Hilton, 17 E. Monroe, Chicago, IL 60603
Chicago, Illinois, located on the shore of Lake Michigan, is filled with a diverse population of friendly, hardworking people, who love to share their city with visitors. This city is known worldwide for its jazz and blues heritage, its architectural history, its 26 miles of lakefront parks, its Picasso sculpture, its shopping along the Magnificent Mile, and its world-class museums. Including, the Art Institute of Chicago, with its famous Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collection. Chicago’s dining scene is eclectic and offers more than just their delicious deep-dish pizza, renowned Chicago-style hot dogs, popcorn, and beer. This city will not disappoint.
In 1969, seven jewelry and metal artists formed the Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG) after a meeting held in Chicago in 1968. They were united by a belief in the value of strengthening the jewelry and metals field through professional conferences and quality exhibitions. SNAG has since become a large creative community of artists coming from diverse backgrounds, artist-designers, makers, collectors, curators, historians, patrons, and the metalsmithing-curious. SNAG members are united by their ability to see potential to create artwork in a wide range of materials and processes. Members share a desire to create and a strong commitment to their community.
Since the original group of smiths came together at the organization’s first conference in 1970, the impact continues to resonate in the organization as SNAG endeavors to positively influence and enhance the livelihood of its large membership. 50 years later, SNAG is pleased to return to Chicago, where the first meeting took place, for our 48th Annual Conference, The Loop: Coming Full Circle.
Theme:
SNAG is celebrating 50 years as an organization. To talk about where we are going, we must talk about where we have have been. SNAG’s 48th Annual Conference, The Loop: Coming Full Circle will celebrate SNAG’s first 50 years by focusing on the history of our field and SNAG’s vital place within that history, as both are inextricably intertwined through the collective pivotal moments that have brought the makers, educators, artists, and students in this field together and to where we are today. Along with presentations that look backward to explore significant moments and concepts in our history, both personal and collective, we will emphasize space for critical discourse, concepts/ideas, and technical presentations that speak to current questions and issues that exist in the field today. The 2019 Conference will launch SNAG into a year-long 50th Anniversary celebration culminating with the 2020 conference, which will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the spark lit at our first conference. By gathering to explore where we have been, celebrate what we’ve accomplished, and look at where we are going, we can build a strong foundation for SNAG’s next 50 years — and beyond!