Shana Astrachan is a metal artist and object maker working and living in San Francisco, CA. She is fascinated with the exploration of unexpected materials not found within the context of traditional jewelry materials. She is constantly experimenting with new materials and unconventional approaches to working with them.
Shana’s work has been exhibited across the United States and has been featured in many books including Jewelry: Fundamentals of Metalsmithing, Wire in Design, 1000 Rings, Felted Jewelry, and Art Jewelry Today.
A full interview about my career and inspiration can be viewed here.
education
BFA, Jewelry and Metalsmithing
Maine College of Art, Portland, ME, 1996
Studied with Tim McCreight, Alan Perry and Stephanie Briggs.
publications
Metalsmith Magazine Exhibition in Print, 2010 edition, curated by Garth Clark
500 Necklaces, curated by Marjorie Schick
500 Pendants, curated by Mike Holmes and Elizabeth Shypert
500 Plastic Jewelry Designs, curated by Susan Kasson Sloan
1000 Rings, curated by Robert Ebendorf
Art Jewelry Today and Art Jewelry Today 2, by Jeffrey B. Snyder
Design and Make: Mixed Media Jewellery: Methods and Techniques, by Joanne Haywood
Felted Jewelry, by Cindie Cooper
Jewelry: Fundamentals of Metalsmithing, by Tim McCreight
Wire in Design: Modern Wire Art & Mixed Media, by Barbara McGuire
professional affiliations
Metal Arts Critique Group, since 1997
Metal Arts Guild, since 1996
American Crafts Council, since 1993
Society of North American Goldsmiths, since 1992
select exhibitions
Homage to Ancestors, Macchiarini Creative Design, San Francisco, CA 2012. Hosted by The Metal Arts guild. Juried by Daniel Macchiarini, Emma Macchiarini Mankin, emiko oye, Chrystal Powell
MOveMENT, The Metal Arts Guild/724 Studio, San Francisco, CA 2011. Hosted by The Metal Arts guild. http://www.metalartsguildsf.org/
Realizing the Neo-Palatial, National Ornamental Metals Museum, Memphis, TN 2011. www.metalmuseum.org/
Closet Artists: Art to Wear, sponsored by IKEA, Florida Craftsman Center, St. Petersburg, FL 2011
The Plastics Show: Invitational group show based on the book 500 Plastic Jewelry Designs, Velvet Da Vinci, San Francisco, CA 2010. http://www.velvetdavinci.com/show.php?sid=119
NEXUS: New Visions of Jewelry and Sculpture, Lireille Gallery, Oakland, CA 2010
ReVisions, juried by SCRAP Eco-Center, SF Department of the Environment, San Francisco, CA 2009
Urban Renaissance: New Visions of Jewelry and Sculpture, ACCI Gallery, Berkeley, CA 2009
Brilliant ReUse, Maker Faire, San Mateo, CA 2009
Jewelry_cycle, Museum of Craft and Design, San Francisco, CA 2009. http://www.flickr.com/photos/26065322@N08/sets/72157608330761407/
New West Coast Design, Velvet Da Vinci, San Francisco, CA 2008. www.velvetdavinci.com/newwestcoastdesign
The Earring Show: Invitational group show based on the book 500 Earrings, SNAG, Savannah, GA and Velvet Da Vinci, San Francisco, CA, 2008. www.velvetdavinci.com/theearringshow
21st Century Salon: Celebrating a decade of the Critique Collective, Bluespace Gallery, San Francisco, CA 2007
Critique Collective: 10 Years in Metal, Velvet Da Vinci, San Francisco, CA 2007. www.velvetdavinci.com/critiquecollective
MAG 2006 Exhibition: An Annual Exhibition of Metal Art, Oakland Museum of California, Oakland, CA 2006
The Necklace Show: Invitational group show based on the book 500 Necklaces, Velvet Da Vinci, San Francisco, CA 2006. www.velvetdavinci.com/thenecklaceshow
MAG 2005 Exhibition: An Annual Exhibition of Metal Art, Oakland Museum of California, Oakland, CA 2005
200 Rings: Invitational traveling group show based on the book 1000 Rings. Facere Gallery, Seattle, WA, Shaw Gallery, Northeast Harbor, ME, Gallery M, Cleveland, OH, Obsidian Gallery, Tucson, AZ, Velvet Da Vinci, San Francisco, CA 2004-2006. www.velvetdavinci.com/200rings
MAG 2004 Exhibition: Metalwork from the Metal Arts Guild, Oakland Museum of California, Oakland, CA 2004
Stones/s: a piece of rock for a specific function, Juried group show at Emerson Gallery, St. Louis, MO 2004. Hosted by The Society of Midwestern Metalsmiths.
\'snag\n: Metalwork from the Metal Arts Guild, Oakland Museum of California, Oakland, CA 2003. Juried by Eric Powell, Mija Rydel, and Diane Master
Natural Influences: Metal Under the Influence of Nature, Pismo, Denver, CO and Cultureclash, Salida, CO 2002
Fifty Years in the Making: The Bay Area Metal Arts Guild 1951-2001, Velvet Da Vinci, San Francisco, CA 2002. www.velvetdavinci.com/fiftyyears
Holiday Art to Wear Exhibit, Art Forms Gallery, Red Banks, NJ 2002
Art Jewelry 2001, Langman Gallery, Willow Grove, PA 2001
Rock Paper Scissors: The Tenth Anniversary Exhibition, Velvet Da Vinci, San Francisco, CA 2001. www.velvetdavinci.com/rockpaperscissors
101 Rings, Yaw Galley, Birmingham, MI and SOFA New York, NY 2001
Full Circle: Metalwork from the Metal Arts Guild, Oakland Museum of California, Oakland, CA 2001, Juried by Linda Watson
Art Jewelry 2000, Langman Gallery, Willow Grove, PA 2000
Site Specific: Jewelry from the Metal Arts Guild, Oakland Museum of California, Oakland, CA 1999. Juried by Dawn E. Nakanishi
Diversity in Metal, A Metal Arts Guild group exhibition, Richmond Arts Center, Richmond, CA 1998. Juried by Susan Cummins, Sandra Enterline and Colleen Schenck
Ring Show, Fibula Gallery Portland, ME 1996
Maine College of Art Senior Thesis Exhibition, MECA Portland, ME 1996
Fibula Show, Fibula Gallery Portland, ME 1995, Maine College of Art Student Show: MECA, Portland, ME 1995
awards
Daunis Dunning Scholarship Award,1995
Annual Craftsman Fair Scholarship from NH League of Crafts, 1992
workshops and symposia
Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Deer Isle, ME 2007
Two week Intensive Workshop w/ Wendy Ramshaw, Unexpected Materials
Society of North American Goldsmiths annual conferences since 1995
San Francisco, Denver, Boston, Seattle, Santa Fe, Washington, New Orleans
New England Metals Symposium, Bridgton, ME 1995
Attended lectures and workshops with Alan Perry, Bruce Baker, and Claire Sanford
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN 1995
Work Study program, workshop and lectures w/ Beverly Penn
Visiting Faculty Workshops at Maine College of Art 1993
Workshops with Tim McCreight, Alan Perry, Christine Clark, Chris Ramsay, Heikki Seppä, and Frederick Woell
Materials used: Gold, silver, precious and non-precious stones, plastics, mohair and silk