Link 'n Link

Stainless steel and gold leaf

My apologies for my long absence...

I wish I had a good excuse for not posting in so long. The truth is I simply felt the need to hide away from the world for a little while while I let things brew. I wish I could say that I have been super productive in my absence but it has been a slow process of reevaluating what I want to make and why I want to make it. So far I don't have any enlightening moments to share. Well that is not entirely true. They occur, and then as time passes life's distractions (work, family, friends, etc) make the certainty of those revelations seem unstable or unlikely. So here is what I have decided: life changes to quickly to try and define who I am, what I make, and how I want to be perceived. Therefore my new goal is to simply live in the moment and pursue whatever passions strike. Lucky for you that means I am ready to share what has been going on the studio and would greatly appreciate any feed back or critique. Thanks for indulging me. 

By the way, this small series is based off the idea of infestations:

 Ant Bowl

Powder coated bronze

Ant Bowl- detail

 Roach Soap

Cast soap

 Moth Brooch

Sterling silver, Glass, Gold leaf

Wing Brooch

Sterling silver, Mica, Stainless steel

Gettin' Published...

I am happy to be a part of this year's exhibition in Print in Metalsmith Magazine. Sorry I failed to write a post when the issue hit the shelves. I figured I could post in time for the actual exhibition which is being showcased at the Metal Museum in Memphis, TN. Below is a link to the Museums website.

 http://www.metalmuseum.org/fresh

I am also happy to announce that one of my rings was include in NEW RINGS: 500+ designs from around the world by Nicholas Estrada and in Thomas Manns new book, Metal Artist's Workbench: Demystifying the Jeweler's Saw

Posts of new work coming soon...

Jewelry workshop with Taiwanese students

I had the pleasure to teach a wonderful group of students from Taiwan during a 2 week workshop at University of the Arts. I must admit that before the class began I had my doubts. However, the class was an absolute success mostly due to our fabulous ESL staff, Dr. Lin, my wonderful assistant Melissa Guglielmo , and of course the students themselves! The class was on small metal forging and forming and in order to get credit the students needed to make 3 projects with only about 45 hours to work in the studio! Insane I know but where there is a will there is a way.

Below are just a few pictures of the work the students made

The chased cat eye bracelet above is by Yi Bang, the only grad student in the group. He has a wonderful way of thinking three dimensionally that is so different from my own thought process that I can't help but be amazed

The forged ring above is by Fanny and my photo does not do it justice but it is supposed to be a goat sleeping.

This bird fibula was made by Ariel who I think may have made the most pieces during the class

This bracelet is by Ho-Lin

Rather than show everyone's piece individually above is a photo that perfectly illustrates how their creativity surrounded everything they touched.

And of course we ended with a little party in the crafts conference room. I hope to stay in touch and one day take my new Taiwanese friends up on their offer to come visit!

some new stuff

Award Ribbons

Here are a few other new pieces...
Blue Leather Ribbon brooch
Leather, sterling , stainless


Gator Grain Ribbon brooch
Alligator grain, sterling, stainless

Snake Skin Ribbon brooch
Snake skin, sterling, stainless


Snake Skin Ribbon earrings
snake skin, sterling

New Work 1

As the semester is ending I am finally finding the time to attend my much neglected blog. Rather than dump a bunch of images all onto one post I am going to try and spread them out onto a few.

Below is a process shot as well as the finished enameled brooch
Front View:

Back View:
Snake Head Brooch
Enamel, silver, tourmaline, stainless steel

Defensive Ornament

I am honored to be a part of the Defensive Ornament exhibit at the G. Gibson Gallery. If you are attending the SNAG conferences feel free to stop by the closing reception on May 27th and send me a few pictures of the exhibit as I am unable to attend.

Interview on love to know

I had the honor of being interviewed for the Love to Know web site. You can check it out at:

http://jewelry.lovetoknow.com/Wild_Animal_Art_Jewelry_Interview

Article on AJF

Great article by Cindi Strauss on Art Jewelry Forum which features my work and some other great artists from schools like SUNY New Paltz and University of the Arts:

At the Crossroads of Trends and Traditions: Emerging American Jewelry Artists Today

Tussie-Mussie

I apologize as this post is long over due. But what can I say its been a whirlwind of a summer. I spent about 7 weeks of the summer teaching at Belvoir Terrace, an all girls summer art camp in Lenox, MA. It was a wonderful experience and I am so grateful for the chance to work with so many talented artists, both on staff and the students themselves. I am also grateful for the chance to use the studio which was in the basement of what was called the "house" but was actually a beautiful mansion built in the 1890s.

This space served my needs perfectly as I had been asked to make a Tussie-Mussie for my friend Katja's wedding. A tussie-mussie (or Hussy tussy as my students preferred to call it) was mostly used in victorian times to hold a small bouquet of flowers that was normally given as a gift from an admirer. Each flower is meant to have a significant meaning so that the giver could communicate his/her feelings non-verbally. The bouquet was also meant to mask the orders of the Victorian woman. These small bouquets were held in ornate flower vases. They often were attached to a ring on a chain so that the wearer could have her hands free while it dangled from her finger. Below is the Tussie-Mussie holder I made. The second picture is from the wedding. As in the tradition of Tussie-Mussie, Kate picked out each flower in the bouquet for it's significant meaning. Congrats Katja and Andy!

cake server

I recently found some old photos on my camera that I had meant to post. I apologize for the delay as these are from nearly a year ago. My talented friends Yoko and Sean McMullen got married last August and they had asked me to carve the handles for their cake knife and server. It was a fun collaborative piece as Sean had made the blades. Their wedding was beautiful and was even featured on the Knot Magazine, fall/winter 2010 issue Pages 76-80. You can check out the work by Yoko and Sean at www.yns-design.com

New Website!

I finally took some decent photos of my work and took the time to change up my website a bit. check it out at www.aliyahgold.com.

On a side note you can see my Serpentine Rings, as well as some other fabulous rings at ZUZU studio gallery this Saturday from 6-9 for the Opening of "Put A Ring On It"

"ZUZU pulls out all the stops to showcase over 100 eye-catching, handmade rings ranging from demure to outrageous. Channel your inner diva as you experience the most innovative and unexpected collection of one-of-a-kind hand candy seen this side of the Delaware."

Saturday June 12th from 6-9pm

@ Zuzu Studio Gallery

577 Haddon Avenue

Collingswood, NJ, 08108

MFA Thesis Opening

I'm still recovering from the last 2 weeks but the opening went better than I could have asked for. Thank you to everyone that came and a special thanks for all the flowers and gifts! I will be taking better pictures of the work but here are some to give you an idea of the work







You can check out some of the amazing work from other artists in the exhibition here.

Thesis Show!!

Animal as Material

Aliyah Gold: MFA Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition

Opening reception: May 21^st from 7:30 – 9:00pm

Exhibition: May 21^st -25^th from 11:00am – 5:00pm

State University of New York at New Paltz

Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art

1 Hawk Drive, New Paltz, NY 12561

Phone: 845.257.3844

updated website

It only took me almost two years but i finally got around to updating my website.
Not having studio access is really forcing me to confront all the tasks I have been putting off. January 11th can not come soon enough. Although I am sure by the time the studio reopens I will have fully adjusted to my couch-potato ways. Hope you are all enjoying the holidays!

Snakes, Mice, & News

Snakeskin Mouse Brooch
Materials: Sknakeskin, Sterling silver, Fine silver, stainless steel

The semester is almost over but that doesn't mean the work is over. Above is a brooch that I put the finishing touches on this week...that touch being the double loop in loop tail. It had been a while and I had forgotten the meditative state making a loop in loop chain can take you to. I highly recommend it.

I spent a good chunk of the semester working on a snake-like necklace. I would post pictures but I am planning to revisit the clasp over the break as it is still not quite right. I have taken the entire necklace apart so many times now that I think it has become quite an epic piece. I just hope it will all be worth it in the end.

Currently I am working on a Snakeskin clutch purse that fill conclude the sake series. Sorry, pictures of that either. I've decided not to post any progress shots until the piece is actually finished.

In other news, the Swarm necklace is actually in the Craftforms 2009 exhibition held at the Wayne Arts Center. The show is up until January 23rd so if your around the area check it out. Tybre Newcomer, a fellow grad's husband is also in the show.

I also have a couple pieces in ARTspace at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center as part of their One & Only: Gifts Made by Hand. The show will be up till January 17th. Below is a picture of the installation that Katie Travers, the exhibition intern was nice enough to send.

just a quck post of a new piece

20 Rings
Materials: sterling silver and stingray skin