(PRESS RELEASE) 92Y’s Jewelry Center will accept applications for its International Jewelry Artist Residency from Jan 1-April 1, 2019. This is a juried residency for cutting-edge, emerging and established jewelry artists to develop their work in the multifaceted New York City art scene. For a month from August 14 through September 15, 2019, the Residency will provide the opportunity for an international artist with a studio-based practice to develop a new body of work or complete research while engaging with NYC’s cultural community. Applications and supporting materials must be submitted by April 1, 2019. A rotating panel of experts and professionals in the arts and humanities will independently review applications and materials, and the selected jeweler or metalsmith will be notified by April 24, 2019.
Jonathan Wahl, director of 92Y’s Jewelry Center said, “Now in its third year, this residency is unique—the only one solely devoted to jewelry artisans and based in NYC, and we look forward to welcoming another artist.”
The International Jewelry Artist Residency includes housing in a 92Y Residence, access to a 24-hour private studio working space, and travel expenses to and from NYC. It offers the opportunity for an artist to share their distinct aesthetic, technical or design style with the NYC design community through a two-day lecture and workshop at the 92Y Jewelry Center during the last weekend of the residency, and through professional meetings with participating cultural institutions while expanding their artistic and professional development.
Proposals for the self-directed residencies must be compatible with available working studio spaces, facilities, and resources. Artistic merit and promise are the basis for selections, but the relevancy of how the NYC environment will affect or progress the artist’s work is weighed highly in the selection process. Mature as well as emerging artists are encouraged to apply. The residency is awarded to one artist each year. Guidelines and application submissions are available here.
Family Legacy, New Chapter: How Wilkerson Turns 89 Years of History Into Future Success
After 89 years of serving the Albany community, Harold Finkle Your Jeweler faced a pivotal decision. For third-generation owner Justin Finkle, the demanding hours of running a small business were taking precious time away from his young family. "After 23 years, I decided this was the time for me," Finkle explains. But closing a business with nearly nine decades of inventory and customer relationships isn't something easily managed alone.
Wilkerson's comprehensive approach transformed this challenging transition into a remarkable success story. Their strategic planning handled everything from advertising and social media to inventory management and staffing — elements that would overwhelm most jewelers attempting to navigate a closing sale independently.
The results speak volumes. "Wilkerson gave us three different tiers of potential goals," Finkle notes. "We've reached that third tier, that highest goal already, and we still have two weeks left of the sale." The partnership didn't just meet financial objectives—it exceeded them ahead of schedule.
