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The Michael
Bloomstein Prize
Since 2004 Michael
Bloomstein Precious Metals have sponsored the University of Brighton
metal department with a prize for graduates and a gift of silver for
use in a project:
“The sponsorship is
very important to us – the gift of silver for the project is
instrumental in introducing the students to silver and establishing
their confidence in using it and the prize helps them when they
graduate to move into a professional life using silver.
The silver project
has developed over the years to become a Masterclass and Lecture, a
highlight of the final year, being led by well-known and emerging
jewellers and silversmiths, such as David Clarke, Lucian Taylor and
Lina Peterson. The students perceive silver to be an expensive
material and this sponsorship allows them to jump that hurdle and
start to experiment freely and develop an ongoing relationship with
it. As a result, increasing numbers of students have chosen to work
with silver for their final graduation exhibition.
The Michael
Bloomstein Prize is awarded for the best use of silver in the
graduating exhibitions and it has become an enjoyable annual event
to walk around with Michael discussing the imaginative use of
silver. Michael, a keen craftsman in wood, is always fascinated by
the inventive ways in which silver is combined with other materials
such as wood, plastics and ceramics. The prize has enabled graduates
to begin a collection of work in their first steps in the
professional world - some establish their own workshops such as Eve
Taylor, who won the prize in 2008, and others go on to study for a
postgraduate at Royal College of Art, such as Max Warren who won the
prize in 2006. The prize gave him the chance to raise in silver and
begin a series of bowls, one of which was purchased for the
Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge, and to begin what is proving to be a
successful career.”
Cynthia Cousens,
Senior Lecturer at University of Brighton MDes/MFA & BA Hons
Materials Practice, (Wood Metal, Ceramics, Plastics)
“It’s an amazing
opportunity and has definitely encouraged me to continue with my
work in silver… The shop has been crucial to my work and I will
hopefully be a continuing customer.” Charlotte Stuart prize winner
2009
"Winning the
Bloomstein award gave me a huge confidence boost, it helped me to
decide that I could pursue a career in silver. The gift of metal
meant that I could start work on new pieces straight after my degree
and build on the momentum gained at college." Max Warren prize
winner 2006
Cynthia Cousens
Senior Lecturer Area Leader for Metals Programme of 3D Design &
Materials Practice University of Brighton
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