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Events & AwardsMar 02, 2016
‘Illusion’ earrings take top honors in design contest
The Cultured Pearl Association of America has announced the winners of its 6th annual International Pearl Design Competition.
Providence, R.I.--The Cultured Pearl Association of America has announced the winners of its sixth annual International Pearl Design Competition.
The winners are as follows.
--President’s Trophy: “Illusion” by Alexia Gryllaki of Athens, Greece
--Luster Award: “Yes or No” by Wei-Na Tu of Taipei City, Taiwan
--Designer’s Award: “Pearls and Lace in Space” by Brenda Smith of Woodstock, Ga.
--Brilliance Award: “There is More to Them Than Meets the Eye” by Shu-Yi Huang of New Taipei City, Taiwan
--Orient Award: “Sizing Up Shapes” by Kuan-Chen Hou of Taipei City, Taiwan
--The Visionary Award: “Candies” by Ting-Ju Lin of Taipei, Taiwan
--The Fashion Award (shared by two): “Josie” by Mary Feliciano of Union City, N.J., and “Spiral Revolution Earrings” by Geoffrey Middle of Leicestershire, England
--Wedding Day Pearls: “Dancing with the Stars” by Shin Yue Chen of Taipei City, Taiwan
--Fantasy Award: “Splash & Love” by Indika Wijayarathna of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Commendations also were given to 12 entries that demonstrate high standards of achievement in accordance with judging criteria. Those winners are as follows.
--Jorge Adeler of Great Falls, Va.
--Paula Crevoshay of Albuquerque, N.M.
--Aspen Demirdjian of Los Angeles
--Hector Hassey of The Woodlands, Texas
--Chi Huynh, Galatea Jewelry by Artist of San Dimas, Calif.
--Michael Jensen of Rio Rancho, N.M.
--Patrick King of Durham, N.C.
--Elizabeth Kirby of Harbor Springs, Mich.
--Francesco Lops of Dubai, United Arab Emirates
--Mark Schneider of Long Beach, Calif.
--Hisano Shepherd of Los Angeles
--Saul Waxman of Miami
All winning entries not created upon submission will be produced in time to be displayed. For the first time, the CPAA is asking those who received commendations to display their winning pieces at the 2016 AGTA GemFair show in Tucson, Ariz. and the 2016 JCK Las Vegas show, along with the winners’ pieces.
Jean Francois Bibet of Cartier, Cheryl Kremkow of Citrine Media, Jewelers of America’s Amanda Gizzi, Claudia Mata of W magazine, and JCK’s Jennifer Heebner judged the competition this year.
A nonprofit group founded in 1957, the CPAA serves to cultivate awareness, interest, demand and marketing for cultured pearls for retailers and consumers.
Shu-Yi Huang of New Taipei City, Taiwan, won the Brilliance Award for “There is more to them than meets the eye.” The award is given to the best illustration for the spectrum of pearl colors.
The Designer’s Award, given to the entry that takes pearls “to the far corners of the imagination,” was given to the “Pearls and Lace in Space” design from Brenda Smith of Woodstock, Ga.
Indika Wijayarathna of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s “Splash & Love” design won the Fantasy Award for the best conceptual, aspirational design.
The Fashion Award, given to the modern, fresh design that could be seen on a Paris runway, was given to two different contestants. At left is Mary Feliciano of Union City, N.J.’s “Josie” piece, and at right are the “Spiral Revolution Earrings” by Geoffrey Middle of Leicestershire, England.
These “Yes or No” earrings by Wei-Na Tu of Taipei City, Taiwan were honored with the Luster Award, given to the most marketable design for retail.
The Orient Award goes to a compelling design aesthetic that inspires a new affinity for pearls. In the 2015-2016 contest, it was given to Kuan-Chen Hou of Taipei City, Taiwan for “Sizing Up Shapes.”
The President’s Trophy, the highest honor awarded in the competition, was given to Alexia Gryllaki of Athens, Greece, for the “Illusion” earrings.
The “Candies” necklace from Ting-Ju Lin of Taipei was honored with the Visionary Award, given to the design that redefines the iconic pearl strand and shifts the perception of cultured pearls for today’s consumer.
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