Meet The Watson's:
Biography:
Since 1992, Mary and Spencer Watson have been creative partners as well as husband and wife, happily living and working in the Chicago area. They have been making and selling their unique, handcrafted art, online and at select shows and galleries since the early 1990’s. Retiring from shows in 2021, they continue to sell their creations through their website.
Mary has a degree in Industrial Design from the University of Cincinnati and worked in the corporate arena for many years including working for Spence at his previous contract furniture installation business. Spence has an engineering background as well as a strong entrepreneurial spirit, having founded and run two thriving businesses prior to partnership with Mary.
Together, they decided to leave the traditional workplace to indulge their artistic passions and share their creations as SILVER STONE HANDCRAFTED to show and sell their handiwork at exhibitions and galleries throughout the country.
Artist's Statement:
Mary and Spencer's work features finely handcrafted, unique pieces that are created with care and intent for the pleasure of their customers.
Mary uses metalsmithing fabrication processes such as hollow/fold forming, piercing, soldering, hammering, texturing, polishing and stone setting for each jewelry/sculpture creation. She works primarily in sterling silver with some yellow gold accents. Torch fired glass enamel or colored pencil on copper is occasionally worked into the pieces. She frequently sets unusual materials such as semi-precious stones, jaspers, agates, fossils, opals, pearls, carvings, lake stones and other unique materials. Many of her pieces are mounted on removable display bases which allow the work to function as small scale sculpture as well as wearable art. She also creates boxes, memorial jewelry and small scale memorial sculpture.
Spencer creates pieces featuring images and sculptural "heads" on individually hand-picked lake stones by using hand cut stencils and a sand-blasting process. His pieces evoke a primitive beauty with style and humor. The smaller pieces are often incorporated into Mary's jewelry. His stones are great as stand alone sculptures or wonderful in groups.
Achievements:
2021
Jurors’ Choice Award, “Opal Spiral”, Lewton-Brain Foldform Competition, October. www.Foldforming.org/2021
Honorable Mention-Jewelry. Summerfair, Cincinnati, Ohio 6/4-6.
2020
Survived!
2019
Awards Judge-Summerfair, Inc: AIA (Aid to Individual Artists) Award. Cincinnati, Ohio, 2019.
Outstanding Achievement-All Media. Lincolnshire Art Festival, Lincolnshire, Illinois, 8/10-11.
Honorable Mention-Jewelry. Summerfair, Cincinnati, Ohio, 5/31, 6/1-2.
Best Of Show. NSUC Art Fair, North Shore Unitarian Church, Deerfield, Illinois, 4/27-28.
2018
Juror’s Choice Awards for 2 Pieces, “Squirt” and “Flight Club”. Lewton-Brain Foldform Competition. October. www.FoldForming.org/2018
3rd Place-All Media. Art In Bloom, Cantigny Park, Wheaton, Illinois, 6/16-17
3rd Place-Jewelry. Summerfair, Cincinnati, Ohio, 6/1-3
2017
Award Of Excellence-3D. Geneva Fine Arts Fair, Geneva, Illinois, 7/22-23
3rd Place-Jewelry. Summerfair, Cincinnati, Ohio, 6/2-4
2016
Honorable Mention-Jewelry. Carmel International Arts Festival, Carmel, Indiana, 9/24-25
Award Of Excellence-3D. Geneva Fine Arts Fair, Geneva, Illinois, 7/23-24
NWC Award-All Media. Naperville Woman's Club Fine Art Fair, Naperville, Illinois, 7/9-10
1st Place-Jewelry. Summerfair, Cincinnati, Ohio, 6/3-5
2015
3rd Place-All Media. Carmel Interrnational Arts Festival, Carmel, Indiana, 9/26-27
Ed & Helen Kerasek Memorial Award. Art On The Square, Belleville, Illinois, 5/15-17
2014
Outstanding Achievement-All Media. Port Clinton Art Festival, Highland Park, Illinois, 8/22-23
2013
Featured Artist. Illinois Artisans Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, November
Street Banner Program-Featured Artist. Village of Arlington Heights, Illinois, Autumn
Outstanding Achievement-All Media. Port Clinton Art Festival, Highland Park, Illinois, 8/24-25
Sanders Visual Images Honorable Mention. Morning Glory Fine Craft Fair, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 8/10-11
Honorable Mention. Geneva Arts Fair, Geneva, Illinois, 7/27-28
Best Of Show. Art In Bloom, Cantigny Park, Wheaton, Illinois, 6/15-16
2012
Featured Artist. Lillstreet Art Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, December
Best Of Jewelry. Oconomowoc Festival of the Arts, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, 8/18-19
Marcus Center Award Of Excellence-All Media. Morning Glory Fine Craft Fair, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 8/11-12
Award Of Excellence-3D. Geneva Arts Fair, Geneva, Illinois, 7/28-29
Outstanding Achievement-All Media. Gold Coast Art Fair, Chicago, Illinois, 6/30-7/1
1st Place-Jewelry. Summerfair, Cincinnati, Ohio 6/1-3
3rd Place-Jewelry. Under The Oaks Art Festival, Vero Beach, Florida, 3/9-11
3rd Place-Creative Crafts. Sanibel Art Fair, Sanibel, Florida, 2/18-19
2011
Award Of Excellence-3D. Geneva Arts Fair, Geneva, Illinois, 7/23-24
Awards Judge-Hinsdale Fine Art Fair. Hinsdale, Illinois, 6/11
Honorable Mention-Jewelry. Summerfair, Cincinnati, Ohio, 6/3-5
Award Of Merit-All Media. Artsfest, Stuart, Florida, 3/19-20
1st Place-Creative Crafts. Sanibel Art Fair, Sanibel, Florida, 2/19-20
2010
Honorable Mention-Jewelry. Summerfair, Cincinnati, Ohio, 6/4-6
1992-2008
Numerous awards and honors.
Publications:
New Jewellry Techniques (Hoaki Books). By Anastasia Young & Paul Wells. Spring 2023.
Lewton-Brain Foldform Competition (Online). Autumn 2021.
Lewton-Brain Foldform Competition (Online). Autumn 2018.
500 Gemstone Jewels (Lark Books). Spring 2010.
Art Jewelry (Magazine). Gallery section, 9/08.
Foldforming (Brynmorgen Press). By Charles Lewton-Brain. Spring 2008.
Art Jewelry (Magazine). Gallery section, 5/08.
American Style (Magazine). "Essential Guide To Fairs & Festivals", 2/07.
American Art Collector (Alcove Books). Volume 2, book 2, central states, 2006.
Daily Herald (Newspaper). "A Melding Of Metal & Stone", 12/3/04.
American Art Collector (Alcove Books). Volume 1, book 2, central states, 2004.
Daily Herald (Newspaper). "Couple Shares Love Of Art", 9/23/04.
Lapidary Journal (Magazine). "Can I Get It Wholesale?", 1/03.
Ornament (Magazine). "Artist Statement: Mary Watson", Autumn 2001.
Made In Illinois: An Artisan Gallery (Illinois Dept. of Commerce & Community Affairs), Spring 2001.
Lapidary Journal (Magazine). "Motorways", 8/00.
Lapidary Journal (Magazine). "Married Mettle", 8/99.
Exhibitions:
“Midwestern Metal”. Vale Craft Gallery, Chicago, Illinois. 5-7/2019
"Connections". State Street Gallery, Robert Morris University, Chicago, Illinois, 10-12/2017
"Made In Illinois: A Juried Selection From The Illinois Artisans Program". Robert Morris Gallery, Springfield, Illinois 8-10/2007
"Jewelry & Metal Arts Invitational". Peninsula Art School Gallery, Fish Creek, Wisconsin 8-9/2007
"Illinois Artisans Program-20 Years". James R. Thompson Center, Chicago, Illinois 10/2005
"Midwestern Craft Show". Vale Craft Gallery, Chicago, Illinois 10-11/2003
"Fabricated, Formed & Functional". Lillstreet Gallery, Chicago, Illinois 10-11/2002
"Metal & Jewelry Exhibit". Natalie Paul Gallery, Geneva, Illinois 3-4/2001
"Baubles, Bangles & Beads". Columbia College, Chicago, Illinois 1-2/1994