Owego Free Academy Student Alice Dang Wins Jewelry Design Challenge
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OFA student Alice Dang / Photo courtesy of Tioga Arts Council
Owego Free Academy student, Alice Dang, is the winner of the OFA Jewelry Design Challenge. “As I was looking at numerous different necklaces online, I came across one that had angel wings on it. That necklace then inspired me to make this lovely necklace,” said Dang. “The pink circle represents a pink baby pearl. The smaller circles on the ‘wings’ are white/clear, faceted, round-shaped gems. The part that is at the top of the pearl as well as the wings are both gold.”
Dang was recognized was the winner of the design challenge on Saturday, August 29, at Van Horn Jewelers, 31 Lake St., Owego.
Michael Husted / Photo courtesy of Tioga Arts Council
For years, Michael Husted – Jewelers of America, Master Bench Jeweler; artist; sculptor; musician; and Tioga Arts Council member – has contemplated how he could inspire a younger generation to pursue a career in the arts. After much consideration, the result was the OFA Jewelry Design Challenge.
In early 2020, Husted connected with OFA Art Teacher and former TAC board member, Susan Camin, who agreed to help facilitate this initiative. At the same time, COVID-19 was emerging. After the first local cases were announced, OFA shut down and shifted to virtual learning. Despite the closures and difficulty, Husted and Camin persisted and shifted, too, facilitating the challenge remotely.
With assistance from Madison Hornick, a Van Horn Jewelers colleague, Husted created a video presentation that gave an introduction to jewelry making and included a few tips on how to develop ideas, both aesthetically and practically. Camin designed a piece of jewelry as an example for students. At the end of the presentation, Husted promised to select one design, build it, and present it to the student designer compliments of Van Horn Jewelers. Despite quarantine, the students responded and the result was overwhelming. Between March and June, 18 students submitted 325 designs.
“I was greatly impressed with the effort and quality of the designs. Any number of them would have made for outstanding pieces of jewelry but I narrowed it down and ultimately selected a pendant designed by Alice Dang.” According to Husted, Dang, who was at that time a Junior, submitted several good designs that were rendered in a beautiful manner, but he kept returning to one design in particular. It consisted of a round major stone above opposing wings set with rows of small, round gems.
Reproducing her drawing on a CAD program, Husted grew a polymer model with a 3D printer, which was then cast in sterling silver and set with a cabochon pink coral gem and multiple round cubic zirconia. With permission from Dang, Husted created two versions of her design. The first is a sterling silver necklace with 32 round cubic zirconia and a pink cabochon coral gem. This will be a gift for Alice. The second is 14K yellow gold necklace, with coral encircled by diamonds, that will be for sale at Van Horn Jewelers.
On August 29, Dang saw the finished pieces in store and receive her necklace. The 14K gold design will be for sale at Van Horn Jewelers and a portion of the commission will go to Dang for her creative contribution upon its sale. On top of this, Husted took it upon himself to create a second design. He also built Camin’s original design and gifted it to her as a token of appreciation for making the OFA Jewelry Design Challenge possible.
“I am myself a graduate of Owego Free Academy (Class of 1975) and had some of my best moments in the art room and was looking forward to returning to give the presentation to the art classes,” said Husted. “I wanted to expose the students to the field [of jewelry craftsmanship] and to give them the opportunity to work in a medium that they were not experienced in. I also wanted to show them that there are ways to earn a living as an artist that they may not have considered.”
If you have questions, contact Christina Di Stefano at [email protected].
