I have been making jewelry for over 30 years. I first learned the basics of fabrication and lost wax casting in high school craft classes, but my love of crafts started much earlier. My grandmother is a weaver and furniture maker and had craft projects and the magazine “Craft Horizons” in her home for me to enjoy. I attended Texas State Technical Institute and studied commercial art and advertising (1974-1975). A large portion of my adult life has been spent reading, studying and experimenting in the metal arts. While I do not have any academic training in jewelry metal arts I have attended many workshops and seminars that have focused on the technical aspects of jewelry making, metallurgy and metal arts.
I have always been drawn to the beauty and superb workmanship of Japanese craft. I knew from the first time in the 1980s when I saw work in mokume that I wanted to learn how to make it. I researched and developed a technique for making electric kiln fired mokume gane. I established James Binnion Metal Arts in 1991 working exclusively in mokume gane. Most of my studio time since then as been devoted to refining my laminating process as well as my jewelry designs. I have consulted with other mokume artists as well as metallurgists to broaden my understanding of the theory underlying the process. I have developed both a theoretical and practical knowledge of precious metals metallurgy. My current design line includes a complete line of jewelry as well as my engagement, wedding and commitment rings. I have recently introduced ring boxes in sterling silver and mokume into my line.
My designs reflect the two major, often conflicting aspects of my personality: the engineer and the artist. These are reflected in the rigorous requirements to successfully laminate the mokume gane and the fluid patterns carved in its surface.
I have taught numerous classes in metalsmith and goldsmith techniques as well as workshops in mokume gane. I have spoken on mokume gane at professional conferences and meetings. I have been interviewed and featured in articles by AJM on ebusiness (“Big E, Little E” March 2001) and mokume gane (“Forming a Bond” July 2001) as well as Professional Jeweler Magazine ("Mokume-Gane: Manufacturing Works of Art, Part 1" October 2004 and "Mokume-Gane: Manufacturing Works of Art, Part 2” November 2004).
The National Ornamental Museum presented an exhibit, “Knock on Wood: An American Mokume Invitational” in April 1998. I was one of twenty invited artists exhibiting work in mokume gane at this exhibit. One of my pieces, a teapot in copper, brass and sterling silver, was included in the book, Teapots Transformed – Exploration of an Object by Leslie Ferrin. It is now in a private collection.
I have been on the Web since August 1996 selling my mokume gane jewelry. I currently have my studio in Bellingham, Washington. I have one full time metalsmith assistant, Chipp Allard. My wife, Terry, is general manager for the business and focuses her time on our wholesale accounts and marketing. In addition, my daughter Joya Benson, A.J.P. is Terry’s assistant in the office.
James has a website.
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