History
The Florida Society of Goldsmiths first met on a campus of the university of South Florida on January 15, 1984, for the purpose of "forming an educational non-profit group to provide workshops, lectures, shows and related activities of interested jewelers and related crafts". Nine people who attended and selected Phil London, president, Richard Miller, vice president, Brenda Osborne, secretary, and Edward Borow, treasurer. The group quickly grew to a membership of 40 and the society became a Florida corporation on December 21, 1984. Tax exempt status was acquired the following year, September 1985.
In 1989, FSG reorganized into a local chapter structure to better serve the widely disbursed membership. Six chapters are now in effect: Northeast, Northwest, South, Southeast, Southwest, West Coast. Members who reside out of state are members at large. These chapters provide workshops and educational programs for members around the country. Each chapter is governed by a board of directors elected from chapter members. The statewide organization coordinates the activities of the chapters and has a board of directors consisting of representatives from all of the chapters.
FSG and its chapters have developed partnerships and cooperative arrangements with art centers around the state to assist those centers with their metals programs. Support ranges from providing equipment and supplies to sponsoring workshops conducted by many of the leaders in the art metal movement. The Northeast chapter has established its own studio in Deland and the Northwest chapter has equipped a maker's space, Making Awesome, in Tallahassee, to serve as its studio. In addition FSG has conducted weeklong workshops since 1987 at Wildacres Retreat in North Carolina.
In 1999, FSG originated the National Metalsmiths Hall of Fame, to honor metalsmiths with exceptional careers as well as recognizing others for their significant achievements in related fields; also to foster an appreciation of metalsmithing by collecting, preserving, exhibiting and making this information available to anyone interested. The first recipient of this award was Kurt Matzdorf, prominent artist and professor emeritus, SUNY at New Paltz, NY. Nominees can be suggested by anyone interested and must be from North America. FSG has appointed a committee of six, made up of prominent artists, educators, and arts administrators to review the nominations each year and make the selections.
In 1989, FSG reorganized into a local chapter structure to better serve the widely disbursed membership. Six chapters are now in effect: Northeast, Northwest, South, Southeast, Southwest, West Coast. Members who reside out of state are members at large. These chapters provide workshops and educational programs for members around the country. Each chapter is governed by a board of directors elected from chapter members. The statewide organization coordinates the activities of the chapters and has a board of directors consisting of representatives from all of the chapters.
FSG and its chapters have developed partnerships and cooperative arrangements with art centers around the state to assist those centers with their metals programs. Support ranges from providing equipment and supplies to sponsoring workshops conducted by many of the leaders in the art metal movement. The Northeast chapter has established its own studio in Deland and the Northwest chapter has equipped a maker's space, Making Awesome, in Tallahassee, to serve as its studio. In addition FSG has conducted weeklong workshops since 1987 at Wildacres Retreat in North Carolina.
In 1999, FSG originated the National Metalsmiths Hall of Fame, to honor metalsmiths with exceptional careers as well as recognizing others for their significant achievements in related fields; also to foster an appreciation of metalsmithing by collecting, preserving, exhibiting and making this information available to anyone interested. The first recipient of this award was Kurt Matzdorf, prominent artist and professor emeritus, SUNY at New Paltz, NY. Nominees can be suggested by anyone interested and must be from North America. FSG has appointed a committee of six, made up of prominent artists, educators, and arts administrators to review the nominations each year and make the selections.