Two Canadian designers took top honours at MJSA’s 2011 Vision Awards.
Gregoré Morin of Gregoré Joailliers, Santa Barbara, Calif., won first place in the ‘Design Excellence’ category for an objet d’art of Hiruko, the Japanese god of fishermen, good luck, and workingmen.
Julie Buckareff of Toronto-based JJ Buckar took home second place in the same category for ‘Bird’s Nest,’ a locket brooch of 18-karat rose gold wire and 19-karat white gold leaves.
Both entries also received honours in the ‘Laser Distinction’ category.
Morin—a first-time winner at the awards—says he was inspired to make Kokeshi, or Japanese dolls, after picking up a book on the subject during a trade show.
“I was intently overwhelmed with visions of my own ideas for where I could take this,” he tells Jewellery Business. “Since then, ideas have come one after the other and each more elaborate than the next. Just to finish what is already designed on paper will be two or more years worth of work, with more ideas needing to be finalized.”
Buckareff—also a first-time winner at the Vision Awards—says the brooch’s cameo inspired the design for ‘Bird’s Nest.’
“The woman on the cameo was surrounded by stars and flowers,” she says. “We wanted to keep the flow organic and natural”¦ We purchased the cameo directly from the artist in Italy and loved the carving’s dimension.”
The competition recognizes the innovation of designers whose work is influencing design trends in the jewellery industry. Winners were chosen in professional and student categories.
A winner of several design awards, Buckareff says the exposure gained from these types of competitions allows consumers and retailers to get a feel for a designer’s style and ability.
“It also puts a fresh picture of what you’re doing in the minds of old customers who may not have heard from you in awhile,” she says. “It’s also nice to be recognized by your community and fellow colleagues for your hard work.”
Winners of the annual contest were announced last month at the MJSA Expo New York, where the pieces also went on display.
