Jewelry and Metalwork
The Jewelry and Metalwork program at the Lamar Dodd School of Art is an inclusive program of study where students explore and develop technical competencies and conceptual directions. Through an intensive course of study, students gain an appreciation for the history and global trajectory within the field of jewelry and metalwork while also considering the larger arts, crafts, and design movements.
Jewelry & Metalwork Faculty
Students are encouraged to take full advantage of the many opportunities within the field by actively applying for exhibitions and attending related conferences and workshops. The program is an active facilitator and supporter of conference attendance (e.g. Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG) conferences, YUMA symposium, Memphis Metals Museum Repair Days, Mint Museum, East Carolina University Metals Symposium, SOFA Chicago), field trips (e.g. American Craft Council Atlanta, Penland School of Crafts, Joanna Gollberg, Hoss Haley, Meghan Patrice Riley, Atlanta Contemporary Jewelry Show, Museum of Art and Design, St. Udio, Donald Cope Studio), and international travel (e.g. Munich Jewelry week, SIERRAD International Jewelry Fair). The area of Jewelry and Metals has its own studio spaces.
The program of study is further enriched by the Ann Orr Memorial Visiting Artist Program and the dynamic student-run organization Phi Beata Heata.
Ann Orr Memorial Visiting Artist Program
The Ann Orr Morris Memorial Fund was established in 1988 by Martha Odum and the friends and family of Ann Orr. Since then, the Ann Orr Fund has enriched the jewelry and metals program of the School of Art with resources for annual lectures and workshops by nationally recognized leaders in the field of jewelry and metals.
Other visiting artists include:
- Jamie Bennett
- Jan Brooks
- Jim Cotter
- Lane Coulter
- Linda Darty
- Mary Douglas
- Robert Ebendorf
- Phil Fike
- Mary Lee Hu
- Curtis Lafollette
- Mary Ann Scheer
- Sondra Sherman
- Deb Stoner
- Jonathan Wahl
- Jim Wallace
- Julie Woodman
- Nancy Worden
Other recent visiting artists at the Lamar Dodd School of Art who are relevant to the area of Jewelry and Metalwork include Glenn Adamson, Melanie Blienker, Lola Brooks, Ashley Buchanan, Andrew Crawford, Gemma Draper, Iris Eichenberg, Jeaninne Fallino, Lauren Fensterstock, Gary Griffin, Yevgeniya Kaganovich, Anya Kivarkis, Janet Koplos, Zach Letchenberg, Anne and Paul Lings, Barbara Mann, Myra Mimlitsch-Gray, Gary Noffke, Jessica Todd, and Logan Woodle.
Artwork by members of Phi Beata Heata, a student-led jewelry and metalwork organization at the University of Georgia. (Photo courtesy/Leah Mazza)
Phi Beata Heata Student Organization
Since 1976, the student-led jewelry and metalwork organization has promoted and expanded the field of jewelry and metals at the University of Georgia campus and within the larger local community. Phi Beata Heata contributes to special events on campus and holds a jewelry sale at the end of the fall semester to raise money for lectures, visiting artists, travel to national conferences, and museum visits.
Careers
Upon graduating from the Jewelry and Metalwork area, students will be prepared for graduate study or for work in a variety of creative capacities. Examples of industries where such skills are in demand include jewelry, dental, and optometry in roles such as Studio Jeweler or Silversmith. There is likewise a need for the design and restoration of objects such as handbags, furniture, and shoes. Training in the area of Jewelry and Metalwork also prepares one for a role in the public sphere, whether through a museum or gallery as an educator or through public art or design consultations. Recent graduates of the School of Art’s Jewelry and Metalwork program have taken positions with Todd Reed Jewelry, Bethenny Frankel, Domino magazine, Laurel Hill Jewelry, Urban Outfitters Inc., and the Center for Craft Creativity and Design.
Last updated: September 28, 2025