James Binnion, Metalsmith
Jim has been making jewelry for over 30 years. He first learned jewelry basics in high school, but his love of crafts started much earlier in his grandmother's house. His grandmother was a weaver and furniture maker who inspired Jim to use my creative talents.
He has always been drawn to the beauty and superb workmanship of Japanese craft. From the first time he saw mokume gane in the 1980s with its wonderful patterns and colors he wanted to learn how to make mokume. He developed a technique for making electric kiln fired mokume gane and established James Binnion Metal Arts (JBMA) in 1991 working exclusively in mokume gane. He has devoted his time to refining his lamination process as well as his jewelry designs. He have consulted with other mokume artists and metallurgists to develop both a theoretical and practical knowledge of precious metals metallurgy. He manufactures the mokume gane billet in his studio as well as making mokume jewelry of his own designs.
His designs reflect the two major, often conflicting aspects of my personality: the engineer and the artist. These are reflected in the rigorous requirements to successfully laminate the mokume gane and the fluid patterns carved in its surface. The finished designs combine hard geometric framework with soft and fluid internal forms and patterns.
Jim is a recognized master of mokume gane. He has taught numerous classes in metalsmith and goldsmith techniques throughout the US. He teaches workshops on making mokume gane as well as giving professional presentations to other metalsmiths and jewelry professionals. He has written and presented a number of papers on mokume at The Santa Fe Symposium on Jewelry Manufacturing Technology in New Mexico. In May 2003 he was awarded the Industry Leader Award by The Santa Fe Symposium for his significant contribution in sharing quality technical information. A chapter he wrote describing the use of the electric kiln in making mokume gane appears in Steve Midgett’s book, “Mokume Gane A Comprehensive Study”. An article he wrote on making patterns in mokume, “Pattern Recognition”, appears in the April 2003 issue of AJM magazine. He freely shares his expertise on the Ganoksin Orchid jewelry forum and has been interviewed and featured in a number of magazine articles.
The National Ornamental Metal Museum in Memphis presented an exhibit, “Knock on Wood: An American Mokume Invitational” in April 1998. Jim was one of twenty invited artists exhibiting work in mokume gane at this exhibit. One of his pieces, a teapot in copper, brass and sterling silver, was included in the book, “Teapots Transformed – Exploration of an Object” by Leslie Ferrin.
His studio is in Western Washington. His very skilled assistant Chipp works with Jim in the studio. Jim's wife Terry is general manager for the business and most oftenworks with the wholesale clients. Jim's daughter Joya handles all retail inquiries and works closely with the retail clients; she is also learning her way around the studio. In addition we have two office cats: Sprocket and D2 who keep Terry and Joya amused while working in the office. We lost our cat, Ed, in December 2007 to lymphoma. The two Shiloh Shepherds, Taiko and Pharaoh. give Jim and Terry a break during the day demanding walks and romps in the yard.
Organizations
Member of Society of North American Goldsmiths
Member American Crafts Council (ACC)
Member of the Seattle Metals Guild
Member of Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America, Inc. (MJSA)
Member ABANA: Artists Blacksmiths Association of North America
Member ASM International the materials information society
Member Better Business Bureau
Past member of Board of Directors of Metal Arts Guild in San Francisco Bay Area
Invitational Shows and Juried Exhibitions
1992
14th Annual Vahki Exhibition: Galeria Mesa, Mesa, AZ
1992 Spring Invitational Show: Joan Michlin Gallery, NY, NY
1993
National Valentine Invitational Jewelry Show: Sheila Nussbaum Gallery, Milburn, NJ
1998
Invitational Show: “Knock on Wood: An American Mokume Invitational”: National Ornamental Metals Museum Memphis TN
1999
Invitational Show: “Bands That Bind”: Thomas Mann Gallery, New Orleans, LA
2001
Invitational One Man Show: R. Grey Gallery, Boise, ID
2002
Invitational Show: “The Art of the Martini”: Zaruba & Co., Inc., Frederick, MD
2003
Invitational Show: “the Knock – Off Show”: Thomas Mann Gallery, New Orleans, LA
Professional and Juried Craft Shows
ACC
Baltimore, Columbus and West Springfield
Buyers Market of American Craft
Boston, Philadelphia and San Francisco
Contemporary Crafts Market
Santa Monica and San Francisco
All works Copyright 1996-2008 James E. Binnion
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