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STATEMENT OF INTENT
I am striving for my
work to be an expression of Nature; just as a frog, a tree, or flake
of gold, without exertion, express Nature. By Nature, I mean not just
the physical world or man's mental processes, but the unseen force
that enlivens all creation.
EXPERIENCE
JIM KELSO,
ARTIST/CRAFTSMAN : 1972-PRESENT
Design and hand-crafting of boxes, vessels, jewelry, sculpture and
netsuke in non-ferrous and ferrous metals, wood, fossil ivory and
other natural materials.
Edged weapon design, hafting, scabbard making, ornamentation and
custom firearms engraving.
1980-1983
Pearsal & Son, Goldsmith, NH: Jewelry design, construction &
model making
1977-1978
Touchstone, Inc.,
partner, retailing of
woodworking tools,
WA.
1972-1976
Self-employed, stringed musical instrument building,
WA.
SKILLS
Work in gold,
silver, non-ferrous alloys, iron and steel using the Japanese and
European techniques of fabrication, casting, engraving, carving,
inlay, coloration, patination, vitreous enameling and blade shaping.
Also, works in wood and fossil ivory using carving, inlay, engraving
and fabrication techniques to complete the piece.
NOTABLE
PROJECTS
Commissioned
by Japanese sword collector Shoji Fukuda to fully mount a
traditional blade forged by Yoshindo Yoshihara, master Japanese
swordsmith. 1993
AWARDS AND
GRANTS
2008
Vermont Studio Center
Grant for metalworking study in Japan.
1997
New
England Foundation for the Arts
Grant for metalworking study in Japan.
1995 & 1996
Philadelphia Museum Craft Show
Best of Show
Award. Second Place Overall Award
1992
Paris Custom Knife Exhibition
First Prize:
Coup de Coeur
1990 & 1991
East Coast Custom Knife Show - Meadowlands, NJ
Best Art
Knife
1989 & 1991
Vermont Arts Council -
Individual Fellowship
1988
Asian Cultural Council
- Japan-US arts Exchange
Fellow:
netsuke & metal working study, Japan
1986
Knifemaker's Guild Show, Dallas, TX
WW Cronk
Memorial Award for best of show
LECTURE PRESENTATIONS
1999-2005
“Painting With Metal: Uncovering the Path of Japanese Metalwork”
Slide lecture given by invitations from:
1. The Society of
North American Goldsmiths.
2. Boston Museum of Fine Arts
3. Freer Gallery Of the Smithsonian
4. New York University
5. International Netsuke Society, convention, Chicago, IL
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