ARTS AND CRAFTS SOCIETY IN BOSTON PLANS EXHIBITS

The Society of Arts and Crafts in Boston, Mass., will celebrate its centennial with a series of special exhibitions and educational programs beginning in June.

The society’s two galleries will each feature six exhibitions focusing on specific craft areas, including jewelry, metals and ironwork; ceramics; glass; furniture and wood; and fibers.

In addition, SAC will produce portfolio catalogs and documentary videos for each exhibition, a year-end centennial journal and a statewide craft guide. The Society of Arts and Crafts, 175 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116; (617) 266-1810.

LONDON MUSEUM OPENS NEW EXHIBIT

Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington, London, is featuring the first major exhibition devoted to the work of Placido Zuloaga from now through Jan. 11, 1998.

Zuloaga (1834-1910) is one of the great masters of damascening, the ancient art of embellishing metal objects with intricate designs of gold and silver inlay.The exhibit comprises some 40 objects ranging from urns and caskets to mirror frames and furniture. Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington, London SW7 2RL; (44-171) 938-8607, fax (44-171) 938-8341.

CRAFT COUNCIL PLANS MENTORING PROJECT

The American Craft Council will debut its Craftsman Mentoring Project, designed to promote the work of young craft artists, at the ACC Craft Fair Columbus. The fair is scheduled for June 29 to July 1 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio.

The project will allow an experienced artist who has exhibited in at least five wholesale ACC Craft Fairs to sponsor a new artist at the fair. The mentors help first-time exhibitors with applications, slide presentations, display design and booth construction. They also can advise new artists on procedures such as choosing and pricing work and following through on orders.

Work displayed at the juried fair will encompass a variety of media in furnishings, utensils, fashions, jewelry, toys, ornaments, tapestries and art objects. ACC, 21 South Eltings Corner Rd., Highland, NY 12528; (800) 836-3470 or (914) 883-6100, fax (914) 883-6130.

GLDA TO ADD ATTRACTIONS

The Gem & Lapidary Dealers Association Inc. will add new attractions and services to its 1998 Tucson Gem Show.

Free seminars and an on-site European Gem Lab will aid buyers in identifying, grading, certifying and buying diamonds and colored stones. “Carving a Niche” in the gemstone market will be cutters featured in a Gem Carving Gallery. And GLDA hopes to add an exclusive designer section, including international jewelry designers with large and small operations.

The association welcomes feedback and suggestions. GLDA, P.O. Box 2391, Tucson, AZ 85702; (520) 792-9431, fax (520) 882-2836.

IADC HOSTS SUCCESSFUL ROAD SHOW

The Indo-Argyle Diamond Council hosted its traveling Exclusive Viewing Show in Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta and New York City this spring Martin Hurwitz of Market Vision, the marketing arm of IADC, says the 1997 show went to fewer cities than in 1996, but was successful in attracting major retailers such as department stores, chain jewelers and large independents.

“Buyers loved the format. It gave the majors a chance to meet in privacy with the manufacturers,” says Hurwitz. “It was a more relaxed way of doing business, and what starts at the EVS often evolves into business in time for the JCK Show in Las Vegas.”

Products on display ranged from smaller pieces with diamond accents wholesaling for $49 to major rings wholesaling for $15,000. This is a higher price point than many buyers associate with Indian manufacturers, but Hurwitz says the market is pushing the Indians upscale. “The market tells them where to go, we just put the two together,” he says. “To have stores like Fortunoff’s and Ben Bridge attending says that the Indians are figuring out they need to have innovative product and marketing.” But despite the market push for higher qualities, he says, there’s another part of the market that’s still pushing for price point, especially in baguette jewelry.

Another EVS is planned for May 28-30 at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas. Any retailer wishing to attend may obtain more information from

Market Vision, 470 South Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90212; (800) 797-IADC or (310) 284-6068.

FOREIGN SHOW UPDATE

The Hong Kong Jewelry & Watch Fair will be held at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition

Centre Sept. 3-7. Organizers expect more than 1,400 exhibitors from 40 countries, including those exhibiting in official pavilions for Germany, Italy, France, Taiwan, Australia, Japan, Brazil, Thailand, South Korea, India, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom and Colombia. Exhibitors will feature diamond and gemstone jewelry, antique jewelry, objets d’art, rough and cut loose gemstones, watches and clocks. Seminars will be conducted by the Diamond High Council of Belgium, the Gemological Institute of America and the Gemmological Association of Hong

Kong. Miller Freeman Inc., One Penn Plaza, 11th Fl., New York, NY 10119-0004; (212) 615-2859, fax (212) 615-2856.

The Bangkok Gems, Jewelry, Watch & Clock Fair will be held Sept. 10-13 at the Queen Sirikit

National Convention Center, Bang-kok, Thailand. About 430 exhibitors will offer gold and silver jewelry, gemstone jewelry, loose and rough stones, jewelry boxes, tools and machinery, and publications. Department of Export Promotion, Thailand

International Trade Fair Section, Trade Fair Division, 22/77 Rach-adapisek Rd., Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (66-2) 513-1909-17, ext. 307 or ext. 309; fax (66-2) 512-2670 or (66-2) 513-1828.

Portoj Pr, a goldsmithery and watchmaking exhibition, will be held Sept. 24-28 in Oporto, Portugal. Exhibitors will be manufacturers and distributors of jewelry, gold, silverware, watches and clocks, machines and accessories. Exponor – Feira Internacional do Porto, 4450 Leça da Palmeira, Oporto, Portugal; (351-2) 998-1400, fax (351-2) 995-7499, Internet http://www.exponor.pt.

The Design Collection was a highlight of the International Spring Fair, held Feb. 2-6 in Birmingham, England. Exhibitors said retailers were in a better buying mood than at last year’s spring show.

International Jewellery Tokyo, held Jan. 29-Feb. 1 in Tokyo, Japan, had 785 exhibitors from 31 countries. Despite reports of a sluggish Japanese economy, organizers reported strong business for gems and jewelry at all price levels. Particularly noted was a strong interest in new designs, making the Designers and Craftsmen Pavilion at the show a success.

The next IJT is planned for Jan. 28-31, 1998.

Exhibitors at Ambiente, held Feb. 14-18 in Frankfurt, Germany, said retailers were most interested in high quality pieces, workmanship and large colored stones. Also reported popular were broad rings with enamel inserts, jewelry that mixed precious metals with acrylic glass, charms and jewelry with rich fashion colors. Design stole the show in the watches and clocks section. Popular were grandfather and table clocks with fine woods. Wood also showed its face in wrist watches, and straps made of thick leather and metal were popular

Jewellery World Expo by the Canadian Jewellers Association will be held Aug. 9-11 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario. The Gemological Institute of America will present two workshops; the education program also includes seminars titled “Your Store Is a Theatre Where You Stage a Performance!” and “Catching the Eye of the Customer” by Philip Jones. In addition, the show allows duty- and tax-free importation of all merchandise brought for display and order-taking purposes. Canadian

Jewellers Association, 27 Queen St. East, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5C 2M6; (800) 580-0942 or (416) 368-7616, ext. 229; fax (416)368-1986.