Profile: Leon Mege |
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View Larger Image and Additional Photos of Leon MegeI was destined to become a scientist, just like my parents. A twist of fate led me along a much different path. In an attempt to escape the communist Soviet Union I was forced to choose a trade career instead of going to a college. Learning jewelry making was my first and only choice. Ever since I drew a picture of a fish on a freshly painted dining room wall at the age of four, I knew I was born to be an artist.
In the art of jewelry making, minimalism is my philosophy. I create pieces designed to minimize the visibility of the metal exoskeleton. This way only gemstones and diamonds are visible, appearing to float in thin air, seemingly unsupported. The art of platinum is the art of controlling, taming, and hiding the platinum “guts” holding the gems.
I admire jewelry created during the Art Nouveau, Edwardian and Art Deco eras, all seemingly forgotten with advent of Modernism, Constructivism and the idiocy of Abstract. I studied the works of great jewelers of the past: Cellini, Cartier, Faberge, Bucellatti, Lalique, etc.
I admire the discipline all great jewelers possess to keep working and resist the temptation to present a crude draft as a mature perfection. What makes their jewelry priceless is the patience and devotion of the nameless goldsmith spending countless days honing and perfecting his work.
What does it mean to be an artist?
"A grace is not a whim of demigod but ravenous precision of a simple craftsman's eye."
- From the poem "Peter the Great" by O. Mandelshtam.
It takes an artist to recognize an object, a sound, or a thought as a work of art. However, recognition of a masterpiece does not need to come from an artist.
An artist must be constantly hungry - hungry for food, hungry for thoughts, hungry for emotions. He who is not hungry is not a true artist. People like to depict artists as skinny and sickly looking rebels. Nobody is hungrier than overweight middle aged men. However, not all of them are artists; some are just victims of their hearty appetites.
An artist might choose to be a designer, but not all designers are artists. Most designers are busy re-packaging someone else’s ideas. If the world is a supermarket they are the ones asking - "paper or plastic?" Their work in the jewelry field is on display at your local mall under various corporate brands.
What is the Art?
Art is a language: when we are born, some of us receive an unexpected gift. It takes a special person to recognize this gift and learn how to use it. It's like learning another language. Many gifted people are able to speak the language, but only few know what to say.
Art is an emotion: you don't need to speak a language to understand the feelings conveyed in a spoken sentence. When an artist speaks, people recognize the emotions without understanding the words.
Art needs energy.
Just like a honey bee an artist feeds on Mother Nature’s nectar of energy. He then pollinates the colorless world with art, giving it colors and shades, shapes and sounds, lights and shadows.
Art should not be designed by committee, marketing departments, or on spread sheets.
Art is beautiful, kind, overwhelming, and passionate. Jewelry art has an important purpose – to bring peace to people’s minds. Jewelry has been a source of happiness since ancient times, virtual Prozac, dispersed by the world’s oldest pharmacist – a jeweler.
ORGANIZATION:
Leon Mege, Inc.
NON-DESIGN OCCUPATION:
Jewellery assembler Industrial production, manufacture, metal
EDUCATION:
1990, Graduate Gemologist, NY, Gemological Institute of America (GIA), New York/USA
1981, Bench Jeweler, Professional Jewelers Trade School, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation (Former USSR)
EXPERIENCE:
1996, Founder/Owner Leon Megé Inc., New York, NY/USA
1991-1995 Werner Design, Inc. New York
1990-1991 Student at Gemological Institute of America
1988-1990, Bench Jeweler, Henry Dunay, New York, NY/USA
1981-1988, Bench Jeweler, Ruskiye Samotsveti, St. Petersburg/Russian Federation(Former USSR)
EVENTS:
NYC Magazine Wedding Event 2011, New York Magazine, New York City/USA
AWARDS:
2009 AGTA Spectrum Award, Tuscon, Arizona/USA
2011 AGTA Spectrum Award, Tucson, Arizona/USA
2012 First Place winner The American Jewelry Design Council New Talent Contest
PRESS APPEARANCES:
2010, "Paraiba Tourmaline Ring", W Magazine, June, New York/USA
2010, "Poppy Flower Ring", Woman's Wear Daily, July, New York/USA
2010, "Paraiba Tourmaline Ring", Woman's Wear Daily, July, New York/USA
LANGUAGE SKILLS:
English, Russian
COMPUTER LITERACY:
Adobe Photoshop, HTML, Apple Imovie, Filemaker, Microsoft Office
MEMBERSHIPS & ASSOCIATIONS:
Gemological Institute of America (GIA)
Manufacturing Jewelers and Silversmiths of America (MJSA)
Jeweler's Board of Trade (JBT)
WEB SITE:
www.leonmege.com
PORTFOLIO URL:
https://leonmege.com/portfolio/shop-now
RSS URL:
http://www.facebook.com/LeonMege
REGISTRATION DATE:
2011-05-16 11:09:53
COUNTRY/REGION:
United States of America
ACCOUNT TYPE:
Professional
Awards received by Leon Mege
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Reversible Ring Engagement and Vanity A' Design Award Winner for Jewelry Design Category in 2019 Leon Mege for Leon Mege |
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The Maestro Ring Bronze A' Design Award Winner for Jewelry Design Category in 2012 Leon Mege |
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Leon Megé La Petite Collection Necklace Platinum A' Design Award Winner for Jewelry Design Category in 2011 Leon Mege for Leon Mege, Inc |
Runner-Up status designs by Leon Mege
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The Sultan's Pomergrante Ring Runner-Up for Jewelry Design Category in 2013 Leon Mege |
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