The International Society of Glass Beadmakers is honored to announce the artists selected for Convergence: Contemporary Jewelry Design with Art Glass Beads, our juried project in partnership with Bead&Button. Inspired by the four elements of water, air, earth, and fire, this exhibition and the accompanying catalog will highlight the remarkable richness and diversity in one-of-a-kind glass bead and jewelry design from artists around the world.

Congratulations to the following artists! Their work is our Convergence exhibition:

Katy Abbott and Maria Elena de los Santos
Jan Burrows and John Hurlbert
Judy Carlson and Cynthia Lohry
Sheila Comstock and Karen East
Harold Cooney and Genevieve Martineau
Bonny Corner and Jaqueline Johnson
Ronit Dagan and Rachel Nelson-Smith
Stephanie Dieleman and Debra Kallen
Pat Dugmore and Elizabeth Prior
Darlene Durrwachter Rushing
Kim Fields and Nanette Young-Greiner
Kristen Frantzen Orr and Maggie Roschyck
Kerri Fuhr and Melissa Cable
Jinx Garza and Kathy Aust
Susie Harper and Mel Jonassen
Bronwen Heilman and Jennifer Bezingue
Laura Churn Hill and Irene Landaw
Wendy Hitchins and Diane Hertzler
Doretha Jones and Connie Nabholz
Leslie Kaplan
Andrea Kiernan and Jennifer Wood
Sara Sally LaGrand
Patty Lakinsmith and Cyndie Smith
Louise Little and Heidi Kummli
Susan Matych-Hager and Kathy Petersen
Bonnie Morrow and Danielle Easley
Julie Mueller-Brown
Jiley Romney and Joan Babcock
Quincy Seitz and Cindy Cohn
Kelly Shatto and Cheri Stewart
Jari Sheese and Tanya Tegmeyer-Rodriguez
Harlan Simon and Jima Abbott
Lisa St. Martin and Erica Stankwytch Bailey
Katie Stuart and Kelly Wiese
Rita Stucke and Amy Johnson
Christine Sutter and Nan Morrissette
Barbara Svetlick and Judy Saye-Willis
Nikki Thornburg and SallyShore
Patricia Venaleck
Kathryn Wardill
Jeri Warhaftig and Ronnie Lambrou
Debby Weaver and Beth Carey
Stephanie White and Gerry White
Beth Williams
Lewis Wilson and Mickey Kunkle
Pam Wolfersberger and Tracy Van Niel
Stefani Woodams and Anna Smith
Holly Young and Melanie Schow

As an organization, ISGB is dedicated to promoting the growth and recognition of the fine art of glass beadmaking. The mission in creating this opportunity and challenge for artists to come together in creativity and design was to showcase how handmade glass beads can be incorporated into wearable works of art. The work in Convergence proudly represents both individual and team efforts that enhance the achievement of each artist's vision and through this shared passion, the results are nothing less than stellar.

This will be an engaging collection of work. The use of glass, metals, seed beads, semi-precious, fibers, and other materials has resulted in extraordinary creativity, superior artistry, and innovative design. Hours upon hours of detailed work were dedicated to each piece. Through the interweaving of color, form, texture, and line, the Convergence pieces are infused with the energy and spirit found in the four elements.

A beautiful catalog of the exhibition will be published in May, and you can also visit the Convergence shows at the Ohio Glass Museum in Lancaster, Ohio, May 1 to May 24, 2009; the Bead&Button Show in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from June 3 until June 7, 2009; and the Windisch-Hunt Fine Arts Gallery in Coconut Grove, Florida from June 20 until the ISGB Gathering closes on July 24, 2009.

APPEARING IN BEAD&BUTTON

In October, Bead&Button will publish a special step-by-step issue JewelryDesigns with Art Glass Beads, devoted to creating wearable works of art focusing on glass beads and a variety of other materials. Techniques used in making these cutting-edge designs include wirework, stringing, metalwork, and bead weaving. The 21 designs in this special issue have been contributed by artists from the Convergence exhibition and selected by the Editors of Bead&Button. You will be able to preorder this special publication beginning April 21 and receive the issue in October 2009. Please go to www.beadandbutton.com for more information.

Congratulations to the artists who will be featured in this special publication:

Joan Babcock and Jiley Romney
Melissa Cable and Kerri Fuhr
Cindy Cohn and Quincy Seitz
Karen East and Sheila Comstock
Maria Elena de los Santos and Katy Abbott
Diane Hertzler and Wendy Hitchins
Amy Johnson and Rita Stucke
Jaqueline Johnson and Bonny Comer
Leslie Kaplan
Ronnie Lambrou and Jeri Warhaftig
Irene Landaw and Laura Churn Hill
Genevieve Martineau and Harold Cooney
Connie Nabholz and Doretha Jones
Maggie Roschyck and Kristen Frantzen Orr
Judy Saye-Willis and Barbara Svetlick
Melanie Schow and Holly Young
Sally Shore and Nikki Thornburg
Erica Stankwytch Bailey and Lisa St. Martin
Tracy Van Niel and Pam Wolfersberger
Kelly Wiese and Katie Stuart
Beth Williams

APPRECIATION

Convergence did not happen without the commitment of many wonderful people. We would like to extend our sincere appreciation and thanks to Bead&Button Magazine for their partnership and support of this exhibition. I personally want to recognize our Administrator, Sarah Riggle and our Director of Marketing and Communications, Diana Dugina-Riebling for their generous time, talent, dedication, and indefatigable work. Thank you both, for everything.

Our Jurors, who had the challenging task of looking beyond traditional perceptions of jewelry design to explore the creative and inventive use of glass, unique style and concept, artistic composition, and more were Carol Cypher; Ann Davis; Penny Diamanti; Diane Fitzgerald; Julia Gerlach and Laura McCabe. Their extraordinary enthusiasm for the exhibition was invaluable and we are very grateful to each of them.

I hope that through the efforts of our artistic teams and the Convergence exhibition as a whole, new and returning audiences will discover and enjoy each of these amazing pieces, these remarkable works of art, which honor both the ancient tradition of glass beadmaking and contemporary jewelry design.

Congratulations to everyone!

Kendra Bruno
President