Who We Are and What We're Up To
Over the past 10 years, members of M.A.C. have encouraged and fostered the growth and development of each other's work. As active leaders in the local arts community, these artists have brought this creative spirit into the classrooms of post secondary and after-school programs, adult enrichment and certification degrees. These artists are also part of a larger Bay Area movement of studio jewelers through their involvement with the Metal Arts Guild (MAG), established in 1951. M.A.C. members' service on the MAG Board of Directors, including past President and Exhibition and Workshop Coordinators has brought metal art into the broader light of the general public.
Most recently, the group put on 21st Century Salon, an exhibition of members' work, which included a collaborative piece. Each artist in the group documented their process, with photographs and text, as they transformed the piece to its next manifestation. The finished piece was displayed along with the documentation of each step from its birth as a cast silver ingot all the way to its culmination as a gold and silver metal sculpture. During the exhibition, the members requested visitors to "critique" the exhibition. The majority of the visitors stated they liked the group piece the most: they could relate to it because they could understand how it was made.
Since the exhibition in 2007, the group has taken the community feedback to heart. Currently the group is focused on working collaboratively and documenting their process of creating art. Through this collaborative process, the idea for the exhibition Jewelry_cycle was born.
Founded in 1997
After meeting through the Metal Arts Guild, Shana Astrachan and Christine Dhein founded the Metal Arts Critique Collective in 1997 as a way to regain the collaborative, supportive benefits of peer criticism they experienced in art school. They invited metal artists who were dedicated to their field, and who would also be dedicated to participating in the group, to join. The group provides encouragement, direction and motivation for each member to succeed as visual artists in the community.
The critiques are structured meetings held once a month where each member is given the opportunity to present current projects in progress and establish goals. The focused, constructive discussion encourages everyone to express his or her ideas and provide valuable feedback. Although we are each other's best cheerleaders, we have no qualms with giving "tough love" when necessary.
We come from a variety of educational backgrounds and professional experiences. Our work is widely exhibited, nationally and internationally, as well as published in various magazines and art books. Collective members are active participants in the development and education of the art metal and jewelry community as a whole.
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