Brain Press:
Charles Lewton-Brain

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Charles Lewton-Brain Wins Canada's Highest Award for Craft: the Saidye Bronfman
Short video on his work for the Bronfman

Master goldsmith Charles Lewton-Brain trained, studied and worked in Germany, Canada and the United States to learn the skills he uses. His work is concerned with Process and Beauty as well as function. He thinks of decision making in metal as drawing, working with the same sensibilities of mark and commitment as when working with pen and ink. Many pieces use a 'printmaking' approach to working metal, that is that the work is done in separate steps in groups and layers building towards the finished piece. Process and the tensions between nature and structure are part of his concerns. His work and writing on the results of his technical research have been published internationally. In 1994 Brain Press was established which documents, publishes and markets the results of his research activities. He has worked on the Cage Series of work extensively since 2001. Images of some Cage work is here Slide Show. He traveled to Thailand to visit Dr. Hanuman Aspler, his colleague, in the spring of 2008. This journey contributed to a major exhibition and catalog (River Trip) and rekindled his interest in chasing. Over 700 images from the journey are here. He also published two major books in 2008, Foldforming with Brynmorgen Press, and The Jeweler's Bench Book with MJSA Press. He spent January 2015 in Chiang Mai, Thailand studying chasers. Since 2012 he has co-juried the Lewton-Brain Foldforming Competition, an international online exhibition organized by the Center for Metal Arts and Sue Lacy.
A distinguished Fellow of the Society of North American Goldsmiths, a member of the Royal Canadian Academy and a Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain he has lectured and taught in England, Germany, the United States, Canada and Australia. He is a consultant on the jewelry field, and has written expert witness reports regarding health and safety in US legal cases. A short video interview showing foldforming is here. A 2010 online interview with Jay Whaley is here an hour long interview
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Image by Wayne Norman

He developed 'fold-forming', a series of techniques new to the metalsmithing field which allow rapid development of three dimensional surfaces and structures using simple equipment. The Rolex Awards for Enterprise chose a project of his on the further development of fold forming for inclusion in a book on innovative developments in science and invention in the world, the Rolex Awards for Enterprise 1991 Edition. He has written seven books, over 15 monographs and published hundreds of articles in magazines as well as book chapters. He translated the monumental 560 page German “Theory and Practice of Goldsmithing” into English. He was on the editorial masthead at MJSA magazine, and has been a contributing editor on a number of books to MJSA Press.
He served as a director on the board of the Alberta Crafts Council for five years and six years as the National Crafts Representative on the board of the Canadian Conference of the Arts, where he had national reporting responsibilities and presented the views of Canada’s national crafts organization, the Canadian Crafts Federation of which he was a founding participant. After a year as Vice-President he served over two years as President of the Canadian Crafts Federation/Federation Canadienne des Metiers d’Art. Charles was an essential member of the Craftyear 2007 Project which resulted in over 550 events nationally. He created Alberta's Black Rod for the Legislative Assembly, a major piece of state silversmithing. Similarly he has made maces, chalices and repaired important awards: click here for more.
He has lived in Calgary since 1986 and served for 19 years as Head of the Jewellery/Metals Program at the Alberta College of Art and Design and teaches full time, writing articles, exhibiting, consulting and making work. In 1996 he began a web site collaboration with Dr. Hanuman Aspler in Thailand. The Ganoksin Project web site is now the largest educational site in the world for jewelers with over 4 million unique visitors a year who linger for an average of 20 pages and a 12,500 member archived, searchable discussion email list called Orchid. His writing started the site. From 1991-2002 he and his former spouse, artist Dee Fontans created and ran the Centre for Jewellery Studies in downtown Calgary.
His two daughters Erika Kulnys-Brain and Aniko Lewton-Brain are successful, lovely, intelligent young women. To order Erika Kulnys' 2005 CD "Hurricane" Email Us. His brother Peter Lewton-Brain is a renowned ballet dancer, movement specialist founder of ADMR and osteopath, with his partner, Etoile, former Principal Dancer (Etoile) at the Ballet Rousse and now head of a ballet school, Paola Cantolupo and their figure skater son Davidé.

Gallery Links for Lewton-Brain's Artwork and Goldsmithing / Wall pieces from 2009 / Jay Whaley 2010 hour long interview / CraftCast Interview 09 / Hawk Interview 07 / Slide Show of Cage Series Work / "River Trip" Project Cage Series Work / PDF of Lewton-Brain's CV 2009 / 'My Calgary' Interview 2014

Resume
Charles Lewton-Brain Go to top (2015)

Charles Lewton-Brain RCA, GG, FGA, MFA, BFA

Education
1984 FGA, Gemmology Diploma, Gemmological Association of Great Britain
1980 ZDF, Certificate in German Language Skills: Goethe Institut, West Germany.
1986 MFA, State University of New York at New Paltz, NY, USA
1979-80 Studies at the FHG, Pforzheim, West Germany with Professor Klaus Ullrich
1978 BFA, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Halifax, Canada

Languages
German (written and spoken reasonably fluently; read well)
French (working knowledge, read well).

Professional Experience
1980-15 Fine Craft Artist, independent educator, author, lecturer, publisher.
 
1996-11 Served on provincial and national craft, arts and culture boards. President of the Canadian Craft Federation 2004-2007. Led Craftyear 2007 project and allied IV conference in Calgary. CCA national Craft Representative six years. Five years on the board of the Alberta Crafts Council. Served on a number of NASO committees.

1980-15 Invention and original development of Fold-forming; a group of sheet metal working techniques new to the field characterized by great rapidity and complexity of cross section.  Research is ongoing to the present. Original research and dissemination of compositional systems in metal, gold painting, patination, metallurgy, production.

1986-15 Instructor, Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, Alberta. Program Head (92-00 and 2001-07, 2009-13)

1996-15 Co-Founder, Partner and Co-developer of the Ganoksin Project web site, worlds largest free educational web site for the jewellery field.

1994-15 President of Brain Press Ltd, publishing, consulting and education.

1981-86 Instructor, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, State University of New York at New Paltz, Fashion Institute of Technology, New York City, 92nd St Y (NYC), City of Dartmouth continuing education, Nova Scotia

1982    Manager, Frobisher Jewellery Centre, GNWT, Economic Development, Baffin Island

1977-82 Industry work: Stonesetter, Baird-Weckman, Nova Scotia, goldsmith at Karl Angermaier GMBH, and Richard Bossert, Pforzheim, West Germany, Burkhardts Jewellers, Toronto, Ontario

1978    Instructor, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Halifax, (summer session),

Workshops, Short courses and Lectures Given (Research dissemination)
1979-15 Over 300 workshops, lectures presented across Canada, USA, Australia, England, Portugal. Presented as a visiting artist or conference speaker. Examples of subjects addressed included: Lewton-Brain’s Work, FoldForming, the Ganoksin Project, The Jeweler’s Bench, Future of Craft, PR and Professionalism, Keynote addresses, Business practices, Small Object Photography, Gold Applications, Surface treatments, Safety in the Studio, Chasing and Repousse, Patination, Stonesetting, Construction and hinges, metallurgy, production systems, wax work and casting, ancient metalworking technology.

Selected Grants and Awards
Over 30 national and international awards and recognitions including:
2012 Saidye Bronfman Governor General’s Award for Fine Craft.
2011 Inducted into the Royal Canadian Academy. RCA
2007 Canada Council for the Arts Project Grant for Cage Series development.
2005 Award of Honour, Alberta Crafts Cjouncil Fine Craft Award
1997, 98, 02 ACAD Student Association ‘Teachers’ Cup’ for “having the most positive influence on students education at the college”.
1999 “Board of Governors Award of Excellence”, “in recognition of significant contributions to the arts in the province of Alberta”, ACAD, Calgary
1990 Alberta Visual Arts Project Grant for research on Gold Applications
      Rolex Awards for Enterprise 1990 recognition for Fold-Forming.
1986 Society of North American Goldsmiths Research Grant for research into gold applications technology and history.
1985 Award of Merit, Grand Prix des Metiérs D’Arts, Montreal, PQ

Selected One-Person Shows
Over 85 one-person exhibitions nationally and internationally.

Juried Exhibitions and Group Shows
Over 420 group exhibitions nationally and internationally1975-2015, including the National Gallery, Ottawa, Canada.

Numerous International and National Jurying Service, examples:
2012, 13, 14, 15 Judge, Lewton-Brain Foldforming Competition.
2012    Judge, Saul Bell Design Awards, Albuquerque, NM.
Juror, New Mexico Jewelers Association, ‘All That Glitters’ design competition
Juror, Johnson Matthey Sustainable Design Platinum competition (International).
Juror, Design sans Frontiers, Metal Arts Guild national Exhibition
Judge, MJSA 2010 Innovation Awards.
2011, 12, 13, 14 Judge, Lewton-Brain International Foldforming Competition
2012-06 Judge, MJSA 2010 Innovation Awards.
Judge, Johnson Matthey Sustainable Design international competition.
 2010 Curator, “Look”,  Metalsmith magazine, upcoming, 2011
2009 Juror Calgary Glass Initiative regional exhibition.
2008 Juror, Governor Generals Awards for the Visual Arts: Fine Craft, Sadie Bronfman Award, Canada Council for the Performing Arts, Ottawa, Ontario
2012-08 Judge, Western Showcase, Calgary Stampede, painting.
2006-03 Judge, World Champion Blacksmith's Competition, Calgary Stampede.
              Judge, MJSA/AJM Best New Technology Award, Expo New York, March
2005 Juror, Saul Bell Awards, Albuquerque, NM. Award Ceremonies in Las Vegas.
         Judge, Jewelry Arts Awards, international, Lapidary Journal.
2005-97 Jury Member of the Diplome d'honneur and Kieth Kelly Awards committee of the Canadian Conference of the Arts and for the Rogers Communications Award: English Canada (Media Competition)
2004 Juror, “Body Ornament West”, Exhibition traveled to Calgary and Edmonton
2003 Juror, Saul Bell Design Award, Albuquerque, New Mexico, international
      Selection Jury Working Group, "Artspots", CBC Alberta, Edmonton
1998-1989 Canadian curator, juror and national coordinator for “Handwerk 96”, Munich, Germany.
1996 Juror, “National Artist-Blacksmith Association of North America Exhibit”, Alfred, NY
1987 Juror, Metal Arts Guild Exhibition, 'A Closer Look', Toronto, Ontario

Editorial Advising
Editorial work for numerous magazines, books and competitions, international and national. Ongoing. Including MJSA Journal and Studio Magazine (Canada)

Selected Cultural Service
2015-07 Past President, Canadian Crafts Federation/ Féderation Canadienne des Métiers d'Arts,
1997-04 Member of the Board of the Canadian Conference on the Arts (CCA) as the national representative for Craft with reporting and representational responsibilities to the eleven provincial craft councils and to the Canadian Crafts Federation
2004-07 President of the Canadian Craft Federation/Féderation Canadienne des Métiers d'Arts.
2006-07 Led Craftyear 2007 project IV conference in Calgary
2005-08 Founding member of the Innovation Council on policy for the industry and strategies to improve North American skills in jewelry design and manufacturing. New York City.
2001-07 Founding member of the Board of CJM, the Coalition for Jewelry Makers (six industry partners, MJSA Industry group, SNAG (Art Jewelers group, Rio Grande Co (sponsor and suppliers), Bench Media (professional goldsmith group) and the Ganoksin Project (internet community and voice).

Dissemination of information
Author of 9 books, many monographs, over 280 articles in magazines and journals nationally and internationally, and over a thousand pages of writing online.

2015-1996 Co-founded and worked on a collaborative public service web site with Dr. Hanuman Aspler, based in Bangkok, Thailand.  Ganoksin.com, the largest information website for jewellery in the world. Over 800 pages of my writing there, 500,000 pages of information, several hundred videos, 4 million unique visitors a year, a 12,000 member email news group that gives edited messages a day.

2014 Completed phase one of the Archive Book Project, 40 carefully selected and collected antique technical books, scanned, OCR’d as searchable, interactive pdfs and each was reviewed in a 700-1,200 word essay. These are online, and disseminated at the Ganoksin Project.
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Charles Lewton-Brain:
Professional History Detail

Professional Artist since 1981. Winner of the 2012 Saiye Bronfman Governor Generals Award for Fine Craft, Canada's most important national award for Craft.

Exhibited and published widely with national and international recognition for his contributions as an artist, educator and cultural sector worker. Visiting Artist at numerous colleges in Canada, the United States and Australia, and speaker at conferences in Canada and the United States, England, Australia, Portugal. In 1984 was granted Distinguished Membership status from the Society of North American Goldsmiths and Juried Membership Status in the Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council, Halifax. In 1999 the Alberta College of Art and Design awarded him the "Board of Governors Award of Excellence", "in recognition of significant contributions to the arts in the province of Alberta". In 1997 and 2001 he won the Student Association's "Teachers Cup"‚ for outstanding teaching and inspirational work for students.

Important contributions to historical development: Maintained a strong practice and exhibition record since 1981. Published images of work and opinions widely. Writing subjects ranged from critical to technical, from PR methods and photography for artists to studio safety and research papers on historical and technical subjects. Personal artistic research into process and compositional systems is reported to the field internationally in the form of books, videos and articles. Thousands of metalsmiths internationally have adopted methods he developed and use them in their work. His inventions and working techniques are taught around the world in jewelry programs.

He invented fold-forming, a large system of working sheet metals that is completely new to the world. It uses simple hand tools to produce complex three dimensional and relief forms and structures rapidly. There are hundreds of shapes possible, and the results are widely used for sculpture, installation, decorative blacksmithing and jewellery making. Numerous colleges and schools worldwide now offer courses using these techniques. The British Museum research lab (Metals Head, Paul Craddock) and the Rolex Awards for Enterprise have confirmed this is a new, original approach to working metals (1990).

As an educator he has influenced many students, and directly taught his ideas about position, philosophy, learning and technique to several thousand people through workshops and lectures. Many students credit his teaching for their success in the United States and Canada. He taught at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design from 1982-84, 86 and in Calgary since 1986 at the Alberta College of Art and Design, where he has been jewellery/metals program head for over ten years. He has given over two hundred workshops and lectures internationally.
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Lewton-Brain translated the 560 page book "Theorie und Praxis des Goldschmieds" by Erhard Brepohl (from German into English). A 13 year "service to the field" project (two complete editions were translated). This book is the most important, comprehensive book in the metals field (2001). He has written four books for jewelers, the last one, on safety for metal workers has become a standard resource in the field. Some eight published monographs have sold tens of thousands of copies internationally.

Past President of the Canadian Crafts Federation/Fédération Canadienne des Métiers d'Art, Canada‚s national organization for the craft sector. He was a founding member of the group in 1999. He spent six years as a member of the Board of the Canadian Conference on the Arts (CCA) as the national representative for Craft with reporting and representational responsibilities to the eleven provincial craft councils and to the Canadian Crafts Federation. His reports (every six months) from 1996-2002 were influential in national Craft development and as references for provincial and federal bodies. He served as an Alberta Craft Council Board member1991-95. He has participated in many provincial cultural intitiatives, conferences and workshops provincially and nationally.

Lewton-Brain created a major competitive commission for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, the 'Black Rod' made of sterling silver, gold and ebony, 42" long. Only the British Parliament and Ottawa have this symbolic object. Alberta is the first other commonwealth Legislative Assembly to have one. The British Parliament, the Government of Sri Lanka and the Royal Canadian Legion were all sponsors of the project (1996-97). Other public commissions include the Mace for the Technical University of Nova Scotia in Halifax and a chalice made for the Pope's visit to Halifax in 1984.

His contributions to significant contemporary practice include: Wearable art, exposed in the form of public performances, lectures and published images. Risky work, challenging audience and wearer. Contemporary jewellery shown to the public in numerous venues and disseminated through magazine and catalog images, as well as the internet.

He has focused since 1997 on 'Cage' series works, related pieces bound by format, ranging from performance oriented body art to jewellery. The recent concentration has been on jewellery. The jewellery is made by welding stainless steel wire with an orthodontic fusion welder, then electroformed, literally grown in a copper-acid bath, finally heavy gold electroplating.

He has served as a jury member on a number of juries, Saskatchewan Craft Council, Metal Arts Guild (national), ACAD awards committee member 1990-2001. Member of Diplome D'Honneur committee of the CCA and juror for the national Diplome d'Honneur and for the Rogers Communications Award (English) (Media Competition). Juror for the Keith Kelly Award for Cultural Leadership, and juror for the Saul Bell Awards in 2003. Canadian curator and national coordinator for "Handwerk 96", international exhibition at the Munich Handwerksmeße, Germany for nine years (1989-98). Curated 'Body Ornament West" in Calgary and Edmonton in 2004 and has curated a number of exhibitions of contemporary jewelry in North America. Technical editor and advisor for books by other authors. Editorial advisor and columnist for AJM magazine.

Lewton-Brain's web published articles have touched thousands of artists and craftspeople. In concert with Dr. Hanuman Aspler, he developed the Ganoksin Project (1996-05), now the largest educational resource web site in the world for jewelers and metalsmiths. http://ganoksin.com/ Over 600 pages of his writing are published there. The Ganoksin Project has up to 2,500,000 hits a month, people linger for an average of 20 pages, some 6000-9000 unique individuals visit a day. The 5500 member mailing list 'Orchid' generates some 50 edited messages a day, all archived and searchable. The impact worldwide is huge, and the site provides access to critical, business, PR and technical information to tens of thousands who would not otherwise have it. The Ganoksin Project has created and facillitated partnerships for information sharing with over 12 international jewelry magazines and a number of trade, industry and art jewelry oganizations. A history of the Ganoksin Project is here.

He maintains a list of some 400 metals, jewelry and art links which are widely circulated via email and have been published at several web sites, (SNAG, Metal Web News, Australian Jeweller). He regularly compiles and submits lists of exhibition opportunities to Canada's national metals group (MAGlist) and to the Orchid list.

Influence of his research into compositional systems can be traced in the work of many people nationally and internationally.


Galleries representing Charles Lewton-Brain's artwork and goldsmithing.

Alberta Crafts Council Gallery
,
10186-106 St. Edmonton, AB
T5J 1H4 , Canada, Tel: 780-488-6611, Fax: 1-780-488-8855, Email.
Gallerie Noel Guyomarch,
137 Laurier W., Montréal, Québec, H2T 2N6, Canada, 514-840-9362 Email
Harbinger Gallery, 22 Dupont St. E., Waterloo, ON N2J 2G9,Canada, Phone: (519) 747-4644
Email
INFLUX Gallery
, 2nd level, Art Central, 100 - 7th Avenue S.W. , Calgary, Alberta, T2P 0W4, Canada, Tel: 403.266.7527, Email
La Freniere and Pai Gallery,   13 Murray St., Ottawa, ON Canada K1N 9M5  Tel:  613.241.2767, Email
David Rice Gallery, 100 Osborne Street South, Winnipeg, Canada R3L 1Y5   Tel: (204) 453-6105    Fax (204) 453-1024., Email
R. Grey Gallery, Boise, 818 W. Idaho Street, Boise, Idaho 83702, USA, Email
Willock and Sax Gallery, 110 Bison Courtyard, 211 Bear Street, Banff, AB, T1L 1C2, 1-866-859-2220 Work Email
A slide showof Images of Cage Series Work


Collections housing Lewton-Brain's Work Go to top

Alberta Foundation for the Arts
National Museum of Civilization (Ottawa)
Legislative Assembly of Alberta (made Black Rod)
Royal Canadian Legion, Calgary Branch
Wustum Museum, Racine, Wisconsin
Department of External Affairs, Ottawa, Canada
Technical University of Nova Scotia (made University Mace)
Nova Scotia Art Bank
Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council Permanent Collection.
DoFasco Steel Corporation of Canada, Hamilton, Ontario
Ken Thompson Collection, Toronto, Ontario
Wolf Collection (Barbara Rockefeller Associates), New York, New York
Knapp Collection, New York, New York
Sobel Collection, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
Frosh Collection, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

Lewton-Brain's Teachers and Students
His important teachers included Bob Ebendorf, Jamie Bennet, Klaus Ullrich, Walter Zeiss, Christian Gaudernak, Kurt Matzdorf, John Cogswell, Harold O'Connor, Haaken Bakken, Bill Ottermiller, George Van Duinwyck, and Orland Larson.

His successful students are many, who include Jeff De Boer, Brigitte Clavette, Louise Perrone, Steve Fong, Kari Woo, Devon Clark, Shona Rae. He has taught over 2000 individuals personally through workshops. Some have national Canadian or international fame, and those who have adopted techniques he pioneered from workshops include Harold O'Connor, Cynthia Eid among others.

 

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Lewton-Brain In depth CV

(A snapshot from 2012)

Education
1986          MFA, State University of New York at New Paltz, NY, USA
1984          FGA, Gemmology Diploma, Gemmological Association of Great Britain
1980          ZDF, Certificate in German Language Skills: Goethe Institut, West Germany.
1979-80 Studies at the FHG, Pforzheim, West Germany with Professor Klaus Ullrich
1978          BFA, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Halifax, Canada

Languages
German (written and spoken reasonably fluently; read well)
French (working knowledge, read well).

Professional Experience 1980-12 Fine Craft Artist, independent educator, author, lecturer, publisher.

1996-10 Served on provincial and national craft, arts and culture boards. President of the Canadian Craft Federation 2004-2007. Led Craftyear 2007 project and allied IV conference in Calgary. CCA national Craft Representative six years. Five years on the board of the Alberta Crafts Council. Served on a number of NASO committees.

1980-12 Invention and original development of Fold-forming; a group of sheet metal working techniques new to the field characterized by great rapidity and complexity of cross section.  Research is ongoing to the present. Original research and dissemination of compositional systems in metal, gold painting, patination, metallurgy.

1986-12 Instructor, Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, Alberta. Program Head (92-00 and 2001-07, 2009-11)

1996-12 Founder, Partner and Co-developer of the Ganoksin Project web site, worlds largest free educational web site for the jewellery field.

1994-12 President of Brain Press Ltd, publishing and education.

1981-86 Instructor, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, State University of New York at New Paltz, Fashion Institute of Technology, New York City, 92nd St Y (NYC), City of Dartmouth continuing education, Nova Scotia

1982                    Manager, Frobisher Jewellery Centre, GNWT, Economic Development, Baffin Island

1977-82 Industry work: Stonesetter, Baird-Weckman, Nova Scotia, goldsmith at Karl Angermaier GMBH, and Richard Bossert, Pforzheim, West Germany, Burkhardts Jewellers, Toronto, Ontario

1978                    Instructor, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Halifax, (summer session),

Workshops, Short courses and Lectures Given

1979-12 Over 270 workshops, lectures presented across Canada, USA, Australia, England, Portugal. Presented as a visiting artist or conference speaker. Examples of subjects addressed included: Lewton-Brain’s Work, Fold-Forming, the Ganoksin Project, The Jeweler’s Bench, Future of Craft, PR and Professionalism, Keynote addresses, Business practices, Small Object Photography, Gold Applications, Surface treatments, Safety in the Studio, Chasing and Repousse, Patination, Stonesetting, Construction and hinges, metallurgy, production systems, wax work and casting, ancient metalworking technology.

Selected Grants and Awards

2012 Awarded the national Saidye Bronfman Governor General’s Award.
2011          Inducted into the Royal Canadian Academy.
2007          Canada Council for the Arts Project Grant for Cage Series development.
2005          Award of Honour, Alberta Crafts Cjouncil Fine Craft Award
2010, 09, 04, 03, 02 Nominated for GG Award in Visual and Media Arts
1997, 98, 02 ACAD Student Association ‘Teachers’ Cup’ for “having the most positive influence on students education at the college”.
1999 “Board of Governors Award of Excellence”, “in recognition of significant contributions to the arts in the province of Alberta”, ACAD, Calgary
Nominated for the Canada Council for the Arts Molson Prizes, Alberta Crafts Council.
1998  Nominated for Bronfman Award for Crafts by Canadian Crafts Museum, Vancouver, BC.
1st Juror’s Award, “Setting the Standard”, “Unexpected Settings”, Seattle, WA
1991          Nominated for the Bronfman Award for the Crafts by the Alberta Craft Council
1990          Alberta Visual Arts Project Grant for research on Gold Applications
            Rolex Awards for Enterprise 1990 recognition for Fold-Forming.
1989          Production Award, 'Personal Geography/Interior Mythology', Toronto, Ontario
1988          Bronze Award and Honorable Mention for Display Structure at Toronto IDEX Fair
1986          Society of North American Goldsmiths Research Grant for research into gold applications technology and history.
            Award of Excellence, 10th Regional Crafts Exhibition, Schenectady Museum, NY
1985          Award of Merit, Grand Prix des Metiérs D’Arts, Montreal, PQ
1985-84 Nova Scotia Talent Trust Scholarship, Department of Culture, Halifax, Nova Scotia
1984          Distinguished Membership status, Society of North American Goldsmiths
1984          Award of Merit, Crafts 18, Pennsylvania
1983          Design Award, Metal Arts Guild of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
1977          DoFasco Purchase Award, Metal Arts Guild of Toronto, Ontario
1976          Haystack Mountain School of Crafts Student Assistantship.
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Selected One-Person Shows
2011“Charles Lewton-Brain”, Monterey Penninsula College, Monterey, CA, November
2009          Charles Lewton-Brain, Miami Dade College, Kendall Campus
2008          "River Trip", INFLUX Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
            Linda Richman Gallery, Milwaukee, WI.
            “Charles Lewton-Brain”, Facére Fine Jewelry Gallery, Seattle, August
2006          "Charles Lewton-Brain", Art Building, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, Illinois
2004          Solo Exhibition, "Charles Lewton-Brain", Fleury Gallery, Houston Texas
2001          'April Feature: Charles Lewton-Brain', Juried, Harbinger Gallery, Waterloo, Ontario.
2000 “Charles Lewton-Brain”, Riccardo Accurso Gallery, Sheperdstown, WV.
“Gemscapes”, Firehouse Art Center Gallery, Norman, Oklahoma
“Charles Lewton-Brain”, traveled to: Saddleback College, Irvine, CA, El Camino College, Torrance CA, Santa Barbara City College, Santa Barbara, CA,
1999 “Charles Lewton-Brain”, Canadian Craft Museum, Vancouver, BC
“Charles Lewton-Brain: Work”, North Seattle Community College, Seattle, WA
“Charles Lewton-Brain”, Wesleyan Potters Crafts Cooperative Gallery, Hartford, CT
1998 'Gemscapes', Minds Eye Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona
'Charles Lewton-Brain', R. Grey Gallery (First Thursday), Boise, Idaho
1997 “Charles Lewton-Brain: Work”, Inaugural exhibition, Gallery, NBCC, Fredericton.
1994 ‘Charles Lewton-Brain’, R. Grey Gallery, Boise, Idaho 1992          “Ten Forward”, show of sculptural objects and wall installations, Muttart Gallery, Calgary
1989          'Recent Work', Letki Designs Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
1988          'Recent Work: Sets', Fireworks Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
1987          'Charles Lewton-Brain; Metalwork', UND Art Gallery Grand Forks, North Dakota
1986          'Charles Lewton-Brain; Recent Work: Metal', Anna Leonowens Gallery, Halifax, NS
1983          'Nova Scotia Crafts I: Charles Lewton-Brain', Mount St. Vincent Art Gallery, Hlfx, NS
1982          'Recent Work', Centre des Arts Visuels, Montreal, PQ
1981          'Sculpture in Jewellery', Fireworks Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
1981          'Recent Drawings', Anna Leonowens Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
1980          'Zeichnungen und Schmuck', Rathaus Hauptgebaude, Pforzheim, West Germany
            'Zeichnungen', Rathaus Gallerie, Pforzheim, West Germany, (Drawings)
1978          'Recent Drawings', Shooting Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
            'Charles Lewton-Brain, Graduating Exhibition, Jewellery, writings, drawings.
1977          'Devils, Deaths and Siloman Dreams', Shooting Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, drawings and poetry.
            'Recent Drawings', Sheridan College of Design, Mississauga, Ontario, drawings.

Highly Selected Juried Exhibitions and Group Shows

2011            “24th Annual Contemporary Canadian Jewellery Exhibition”,  La Freniere and Pai Gallery, Ottawa, Ontario, November.
 “25th Anniversary Gallery Exhibition”, R. Grey Gallery, Boise, Idaho.
Royal Canadian Academy New Members Exhibition, Harbinger Gallery, Kingston, Ontario, May
Metal Arts Guild Exhibition in Print (juried), published Fall 2011.
 “To Wed”, exhibition, Gallery IO, New Orleans, July
Alberta Foundation for the Arts Traveling exhibition “Cheong Ju selection”, Rolling Hills, Medicine Hat, elsewhere to come, in Alberta.
2010   Chased & Repoussé, Velvet Da Vinci Gallery, San Francisco, CA, March-April.
            “Wherezdamoney?: Dollars and Cents”, Gallery IO, New Orleans, LA,
“Bond” exhibition, Zilberschmuck Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
“Fiat Lux”, Let there be Light, juried, INFLUX gallery, Calgary, May 6-June 19
2009          “Hitched”, Alberta Craft Council Gallery, Edmonton, invitational
            "Art 2 Wear Accoutrements", LA/Ontario international airport, invitational
            “Pennsylvania Society of Goldsmiths Exhibition”, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA.
            “Unity and Diversity”, Canadian National Exhibition to Cheong-Ju, South Korea
2008          “L’Art Pour L’Art: One of a Kind Champagne Flutes, Gallery IO, New Orleans
            “Micro: Mano” exhibition, Racine Art Museum, Racine Wisconsin
            “Through the Lens”, INFLUX gallery, Calgary, juried.
            “Formula” exhibition, Zilberschmuck Gallery, Toronto, juried
            “Alberta Arts Day”, Jubilee auditorium, Calgary, Alberta Crafts Council.
            "The Anti-War Medal Exhibition", 07-08 Gallery IO, New Orleans, Velvet DaVinci Gallery, San Francisco, traveled to: Electrum Gallery- London, England
                                Festspillene I Nord-Norge - Harstad, Norway, Nordnorsk Kunstnersentrum - Svolvaer, Norway, The Tromso Kunstforening - Tromso, Norway, The Barents Spectacle - Kirkenes, Norway, FAD - Barcelona, Spain
2007          "Hurricane Show", State Museum of Pennsylvania, Gallery IO, New Orleans, LA
            "Influences: Looking Backward: Looking Forward", Harbinger Gallery, Waterloo, Ont
            "MICA Jewelry Center Faculty Exhibition", Gallery G, Baltimore, Maryland
            "Sculptural Jewellery: Multi-Media", LaFreniere and Pai Gallery, Ottawa, Ontario,
            "Artfully Elegant: Jewelry and Fashion", Monsoon Gallery, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania,
            "60 Years of Metal Arts Guild of Canada” and “Craftyear 2007 Juried Exhibition", Toronto, Illingworth Kerr Gallery, ACAD, Calgary
            "Containment: A Chair Exhibition", Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, Sask, traveling.
            "Souvenirs", INFLUX Gallery, Calgary, Alberta, July         
            "Pro-Craft-a-Nation": Juried Exhibition, Alberta College of Art and Design
2006          "Did You Know", Mary Black Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
            ‘The Martini Show’, Altered Space Gallery, Venice, CA, +  Gallery IO, New Orleans, LA
            "Parameters of Preciousness", William Gahlberg Gallery, Blen Ellyn, Illinois.
 2006 "Sparks", juried exhibition, Alberta Craft Council Gallery, Edmonton, AB
            "Etch", INFLUX Gallery, juried, Calgary.
            Seattle Metals Guild Biennial Exhibition, Seattle, Wa, juried.
2005          "Crossing Borders", Jewels by Design Gallery, Calgary
            SOFA Chicago, "Exhibition in Print" Show, Chicago, Illinois.
                      Metalsmith Exhibition in Print, Vol 25, curated by Bally and Raab, No 4, pp49
"100 Medallions", INFLUX Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
"Melting Point", Art Central, Calgary, Metalphoric Group.
Alberta Crafts Council Awards Nominees exhibition, Edmonton, Calgary, AB
"Body Ornament West", ACC Gallery, Edmonton, AB
            "Natural Abstractions", INFLUX Gallery, Calgary
2004 "Oeuvres Récentes de 40 Artistes-Joalliers, Galerie Noel Guyomarc'h, Montreal, PQ
"The Shiny Show", INFLUX Gallery, juried, Calgary
"Body Ornament West", Triangle Gallery,Calgary, AB
            "You Wear What You Eat", Juried, Kirkland Art Center, public, Kirkland, WA, USA.
“Shades”, Exhibition, Object/Design Gallery, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC
“New Art Jewellery”, Virginia Christopher Fine Art, Calgary
“Wind Chill”,  Alberta Craft Council Gallery, Edmonton, AB
"December Exhibition", La Freniere and Pai Gallery, Ottawa, Ontario.
2003 “Big”, invitational, Uncommon Objects Gallery, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto,
            “Is Mail Art Dead?”, University College Northhampton, UK
            Holiday Exhibition, invitational, Lafreniere & Pai Gallery, Ottawa, ON
            December Exhibition, Galerie, Noel Guyomarch, Montreal, PQ
"Adorn and Protect", Alberta Craft Council Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
"Celebrate Tomorrow Today" invitational, Nova Scotia Talent Trust, Halifax, NS
2002          'The Freed Bead', Contemporary Beads, Juried, Target Gallery, Washington, DC
‘Turn up the Volume', Metal Arts Guild national juried exhibition, Toronto, traveling.
‘Art/Craft: The Great Debate’, Juried, Alberta Craft Council Gallery, Edmonton, AB
'Go Figure', Juried, Alberta Craft Council Gallery, Edmonton, AB
‘Our Creative Spirit’, ACC Exhibition, Juried, Medicine Hat Museum, AB
'Oeuveres Récentes de 25 Artistes-Joalliers', Gallerie Noel Guyomarc’h, Montreal, PQ
            'Fax for Peace', non-juried, Istituto Superiore di Spilimbergo, Italy
            December Exhibition, Lafreniere & Pai Gallery, Ottawa, ON
2001          'Yul-tensils' Exploring ideas of Utility and Function', juried, Contemporary Crafts Gallery, Portland, Oregon
            International Enamels Society Presenters Exhibition, Loggia Gallery, Gatlinburg, TN.
            ‘Once Upon a Time: Tales, Myths and Legends’, juried, Wustum Museum, Racine WI
            “The Year of the Bear” Willock and Sax Gallery, Waterton Lakes, AB.
            Holiday Exhibition, Lafreniere & Pai Gallery, Ottawa, ON
            Exhibition, Metals + Gallery, Winnipeg, MB
2000          Curator, “Filtered Senses”, Lynn Tendler Bignell Gallery, Brookfield, CT.
            ‘Attitude and Action: North American Figurative Jewelry’, Atrium Gallery, Birmingham and at DESIGNyard, Dublin, Ireland July-Oct 2000         
            “Exhibition in Motion”, performance, SNAG Conference, Boston, MA
            “December Exhibition” Lafreniere & Pai Gallery, Ottawa, ON.
            “Art Walk 2000” Jewels By Design Gallery, Calgary, AB. Sept.
            “Celebration of Alberta’s Jewellery Artists” Mesa Silver Gallery, Calgary, AB. Nov.
            “Talisman” Tlell Gallery, Haida Gwai, BC. Oct/Nov. Juried.
           
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2000          “Current Views”, Pratt Center for Fine Arts Gallery, Seattle, WA
1999          “Silver”, Invitational Exhibition, Canadian Crafts Museum, Vancouver.
 “Project Empty Bowl”, Canadian Crafts Museum, Vancouver.
                      “Celebration of Alberta’s Jewellery Artists”, Mesa Silver Gallery, Calgary
1999          “Measure by Measure: Jewelers Explore the Four Dimensions”, Invitational, Brookfield Craft Center Gallery, Brookfield, CT
            “Somebody’s Daughter Fashion Show and Performance, Palace Theatre , Calgary
            “Fire and Iron”, CANIRON, Calgary, “Fire and Iron: Selections”, Edmonton, AB.
            "Identity/Identite", Metal Arts Guild national traveling exhibition, Montreal, Toronto, St. John's, Waterloo, Saskatoon and Edmonton. (traveling: 1998-2000)
“The End is Near: Artists Look at the Twentieth Century”, Wustum Museum, Racine, WI.
            “Millennium in Motion”, fashion performance Jack Singer Hall, Calgary
1998          “Setting the Standard”, “Unexpected Settings”, Goldman’s Jewellers, Seattle,
            Accurso Gallery Exhibition, Sheperdstown, VA
            “Valentines”, exhibition, R. Grey Gallery, Boise, Idaho
            "Identity/Identite", Metal Arts Guild national traveling exhibition, Montreal, Toronto, St. John's, Waterloo, Saskatoon and Edmonton.
            "Metalsmithing in the New Millennium", Danforth Gallery, Portland, Maine.
            "Dress Up! Artists Address Clothing and Self Adornment", Wustum Museum, Racine, Wisconsin, traveling.
            “I am Somebody”, Fashion/artwear show, Street Teams Society, Palliser Hotel, Calgary
1997          “Just Follow Your Heart", Street Teams Society and Performance, Palliser Hotel, Calgary
            Group Exhibition, Artisans Gallery, Calgary
            “Another View”, contemporary glasses exhibition, Gallery IO, New Orleans
            “Fontans/Lewton-Brain: Recent Work”, Sunlife Plaza, Calgary
            “Heritage and Diversity”, Montgomery College Art Gallery, Rockville, MD, traveling.
            “Double Vision”, Gallery IO, New Orleans and Wustum Museum, traveling.
1996 ‘Design ‘96’, Great Western Designers Guild competition, Edmonton, AB
‘Coast Paper Edmonton Fashion Show’ Edmonton, AB
‘Threadz Festival’, Fashion Show and exhibition: Hard Rock Cafe, Calgary
‘Neutral Ground CD Exhibition’, Neutral Ground Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
‘Heritage and Diversity’, Montgomery College Art Gallery, Rockville, MD, invitational.
‘Cross Currents: a contemporary Survey’, Gatehead, England, traveled England and US.
‘Double Vision’, Gallery IO, New Orleans and Wustum Museum, Racine Wisconsin,  traveled: National Ornamental Metals Museum, Memphis TN, Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock, AK, Frederick Weisman Museum Art Museum, Minneapolis, MN
‘18 Ringy Thingys: The Art of the Telephone’, traveled, Edmonton, Toronto
1995 ‘Double Vision’, collaborative exhibition, Gallery IO, New Orleans, LA, traveled to Wustum Museum, Racine,
SOFA, exhibition, Miami, Florida, sponsored by Gallery IO, New Orleans.
‘Exhibition in Print’ Metalsmith, Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, MA.
‘The Oxidation/Burial project’, group site-specific work, Boise, Idaho.
‘1995 Exhibition in Print’, curator Daniel Jocz, Metalsmith magazine (USA)
“Op Art: Eyeglasses by Jewelers”, Hoffman Gallery, Portland, OR, traveled AZ, TN, CA.
‘What Alberta Makes, Makes Alberta’, Electrum Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
Deane House Fall Fashion Show, Deane House, Calgary
  “Good Things Come in Small Packages”, Muttart Gallery, traveled two years Alberta.
  ‘Wearable Art Show and Exhibition’, The Pumphouse Theatre, Calgary
1994 ‘The Nudes and Nature’, the New Gallery,
1994 ‘Sculpture on a human Scale II’, invitational, Gallery IO, New Orleans
‘From Head to Toe‘, Glenbow Museum, Calgary.
 “Tea with Eros”, Metal Arts Guild National Juried Touring Exhibition.
“Op Art: Eyeglasses by Jewelers”, Hoffman Gallery, Portland, OR, traveled AZ, TN, CA.
‘Leading by Example’, exhibition, McMullen Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta, May.
‘Canadian Decorative and Contemporary Craft Exhibit’, Levitan Gallery, NY, NY
1993 ‘Interiors: Domestic Objects by Artists’, Triangle Gallery, Calgary, Nov-Dec 1993.
            “The Vessel as Art”, Sun Life Plaza Exhibition, Calgary Alberta
            “Chicago International New Art Forms Exposition”, Invitational, Chicago, ACC
            “Good Things Come in Small Packages”, Muttart Gallery, traveled 2 years.
            “All That Glitters”, Gallery Lynda Greenberg, Ottawa, Ontario
            “Leading by Example”, McMullen Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
            “From the Heart”, invitational exhibition, Zaruba Gallery, Frederick, MD
            “Metal Artists Charles Lewton-Brain and Jeff deBoer” ACC gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
            “North Country Masters Studio Conference Exhibition”, Enfield, New Hampshire
            “Relics for the Future”, NSDCC Exhibition, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
1992          “Chicago International New Art Forms Exposition”, Invitational, Chicago, ACC
            “Charles Lewton-Brain and Dee Fontans”, Turacos Gallery, Calgary
             “Treasury of Canadian Crafts”, invitational, Canadian Crafts Museum, Vancouver
            “Magnum Opus”, Metal Arts Guild juried national touring exhibition, 92-93
            Alberta Crafts Council Exhibition, Nova Building, Edmonton Alberta
            “Wedding Rings”, invitational, Metal + Gallery, Winnipeg
1991          “Formes et Contrastes”, invitational, Grand Prix des Métier d'Art, traveling in Quebec.
            Provenance Gallery Annual (national) Exhibition, Calgary
            “Under the Tree”, invitational, Alberta Craft Council Gallery, Edmonton
1990          'The Medium is Metal, the theme is Water', Metal Arts Guild national touring exhibition
            'The Best of Alberta Craft; Champagne Breakfast', Alberta Craft Council, traveled
            'Amphora', invitational vessel exhibition, Jocelyn Gobeil Gallery, Montreal, Quebec.
            'Show of Hearts', invitational, Metal +  Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
            'Designed for Production; Made for Use', Cartwright Gallery, Vancouver
            'For the Body', touring exhibition throughout Alberta for two years, invitational.
1989          'Sets, New Canadian Jewellery', Roz Macallan Gallery, Brisbane, Australia
            Ring exhibition, invitational, Gallerie Jocelyn Gobeil, Montreal, PQ
            'On Body Ornamentation', Muttart Gallery, Calgary, Beaver House, Edmonton
            'Personal Geography/Interior Mythology', Metal Arts Guild, Toronto, ON, AB, BC
            'Emerging Artists' Society of North American Goldsmiths Conference, San Antonio, TX.
            'Under the Tree III', Alberta Crafts Council, Beaver House, Edmonton
1988          'Craft/Innovation', invitational, Triangle Gallery, Calgary
            'Trends and Traditions', invitational, Cartwright Gallery, Vancouver
            'Objects of Magic', invitational, Grand Prix des Metiers d'Art, Montreal
            'All that Glitters', invitational, Lynda Greenburg Gallery, Ottawa, Ontario,
            Society for Art in Craft Exhibition, invitational, Pittsburg, PA, USA
            Alberta Crafts Council Exhibition, Morristown, New Jersey
            'Craft Focus 3', Ontario Crafts Council, Toronto
1987          'A Closer Look', Harhay and Mckay Gallery, Toronto
            '6 x 6 x 6', Cartwright Gallery, Vancouver 1987-88 traveling
            Opening Exhibition, Harbinger Gallery, invitational, Waterloo, Ontario
            Opening Exhibition, Metal + Gallery, invitational, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
            'Viewpoint', Letki Designs Gallery, invitational, Toronto, Ontario
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1987          'Centennial Exhibition', Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax
            Trax UNI4, mail art exhibition of post cards, Pordenone, Italy.
1986 'Tensmiths', invitational, Fireworks Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
            'A Garden Party', Clodagh, Ross and Williams Gallery, New York City
            'Crafts 20', Museum of Art, Penn. State University, PA
            '10th Regional Crafts Exhibition', Schenectady Museum, Schenectady, New York.
            'Artists Book Exhibition', Galleri T.V., Malmo, Sweden
            NSDCC Permanent Collection Exhibition, Public Archives, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
            'Color in Context', SUNY New Paltz Art Gallery
            'Transforming Ideas into Reality', SUNY New Paltz Art Gallery
1985          'Charles Lewton-Brain: Pamela Ritchie', Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia
            'New Jewellery: Sculpture of a Wearable Scale', Smith-Goodrich Gallery, Providence, RI
            "Grand Prix des Metiers d'Art Quebec', Montreal, PQ, traveled to New York, 1985-1987.
            'Jewellery: Jewelry', invitational, Ontario Crafts Council Gallery, Toronto, Ontario.
            'Good Enough to Repeat', Letki Designs Gallery, Toronto, Canada.
            'Frontiers', External Affairs traveling Exhibition to Canada, Japan, Australia, Asia 1985-88
            'BRAIN CELL 5 and BRAIN CELL 6, Mail Art exhibitions, Osaka, Japan
1984          'Jewellery International', invitational, American Craft Museum, New York City
            'Rings and Pins', invitational, Ontario Crafts Council Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
            'Recent Works', invitational, Bannister Gallery, Providence, Rhode Island
            'Ars Sacra', invitational, Nova Scotia School of Architecture, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
            “New Jewelry Renaissance Contemporary American Goldsmiths” Faber Gallery, NY, NY
            'KAPART '84', Centre Regional de Loisir Culturels Inc., Kapuskasing, Ontario
            'Crafts 18', Art Gallery, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
            'Reflections', Gallery 1667, Halifax, Nova Scotia
            'Metal Arts Guild Exhibition 1984', Prime Gallery, Toronto, Ontario.
            International Mail Art Exhibition, Osaka, Japan
            'Conversations', SUNY New Paltz Gallery, New Paltz, New York.
1983          'Jewellery in Transition', Prime Gallery, Toronto
            Metal Arts Guild Exhibition 1983, Ontario Crafts Council Gallery, Toronto
            'Champagne and Strawberry Christmas', Fashion Show, , Hotel Nova Scotian, Halifax, NS
1982 'Precious Metal Objects', Centre des Arts Visuels, Montreal
            'Canadian National Juried Exhibition', Calgary, Alberta, Toronto, Ontario.
            Metal Arts Guild Exhibition 1982, Ontario Crafts Council Gallery, Toronto,
1981 'Artful Giving', Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto
            Exhibition, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia
1978 'MAG Exhibition 1978', Ontario Crafts Council Gallery, Toronto
            Nova Scotia Designer Craftsmen Exhibition, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax,
1977          'Jewels', Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery, Ontario
            Metal Arts Guild Exhibition 1977, Ontario Crafts Council Gallery, Toronto
1976          'Blue Hill Group Show', Blue Hill, Maine
            Nova Scotia Designer Craftsmen Exhibition, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Selected Public and Private Collections Go to top

            Alberta Foundation for the Arts

            Legislative Assembly of Alberta
            Wustum Museum, Racine, Wisconsin
            Department of External Affairs, Ottawa, Canada
            Technical University of Nova Scotia
            Nova Scotia Art Bank
            Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council Permanent Collection.
            DoFasco Steel Corporation of Canada, Hamilton, Ontario
            Ralph Turner Collection, London, England
            Ken Thompson Collection, Toronto, Ontario
            Wolf Collection (Barbara Rockefeller Associates), New York, New York
            Knapp Collection, New York, New York
            Sobel Collection, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
            Frosh Collection, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
            Fleury Collection, Houston, Texas

Selected Jurying

 2011 Judge, MJSA 2010 Innovation Awards.
Judge, Johnson Matthey Sustainable Design international competition.
 2010 Curator, “Look”,  Metalsmith magazine, upcoming, 2011
2009          Juror Calgary Glass Initiative regional exhibition.
2008 Juror, Governor Generals Awards for the Visual Arts: Fine Craft, Sadie Bronfman Award, Canada Council for the Performing Arts, Ottawa, Ontario
20010-04 Judge, MJSA magazine Innovation Awards (Global/North American industry awards). Also charged with 'cool hunting', predicting future trends and issues.
20010-08 Judge, Western Showcase, Calgary Stampede, painting.
2007 Judge, NCEG 8th International Juried Enamel Exhibition, El Cerrito, CA
2006          Judge, "2006 Bench Jewelers Passion Award Design Competition" (international)
2006-03 Judge, World Champion Blacksmith's Competition, Calgary Stampede.
Judge, MJSA/AJM Best New Technology Award, Expo New York, March
2005 Juror, Saul Bell Awards, Albuquerque, NM. Award Ceremonies in Las Vegas.
Judge, Jewelry Arts Awards, international, Lapidary Journal.
2005-93 Juror, member, ACAD Awards Advisory Committee (chair: 2002-5)
2005-97 Jury Member of the Diplome d'honneur and Kieth Kelly Awards committee of the Canadian Conference of the Arts and for the Rogers Communications Award: English Canada (Media Competition)
2004          Juror, “Body Ornament West”, Exhibition traveled to Calgary and Edmonton
2004-99 Links submission reviewer and juror for the Metal Arts Guild Web Site (Ontario).
2003 Juror, Saul Bell Design Award, Albuquerque, New Mexico, international
Selection Jury Working Group, "Artspots", CBC Alberta, Edmonton
1998-1989 Canadian curator, juror and national coordinator for “Handwerk 96”, Munich, Germany.
1997          Juror, “Metalsmithing in the New Millennium”, Danforth Gallery, Portland, Maine
1996 Juror, “National Artist-Blacksmith Association of North America Exhibit”, Alfred, NY
1996-93 Jewellers Book Club Judge and Reviewer, Jewellers Circular Keystone magazine, USA
                      Judge, Alberta Jewellers Association Design Competition, Calgary, Alberta
1987          Juror, Metal Arts Guild Exhibition, 'A Closer Look', Toronto, Ontario

Editorial Advising Go to top

2012-09 Editorial advisory board for Studio magazine, Canada’s national craft magazine.
2012-01Editorial Advisory Board Member for American Jewelry Manufacturer (AJM) and (it’s name changed) MJSA Journal. Technical consultant and reviewer numerous of articles.
2005 Co-Editor, with Rich Youmans, of 'Flexible Shaft Book', author Karen Christians, MJSA
            Technical Editor, consultant, Woven Wire Jewelry: Contemporary Designs and Creative Techniques by Linda L. Chandler and Christine R. Ritchey, Interweave Press
Technical Editor/advisor for Alan Revere book project “101 Bench Tricks”, MJSA Press
Advisor, consultant, “Kunstchmiede Praxis” by Friedolein Wols, Blue Moon Press, USA
2004 Technical Editor, consultant, Woven Wire Jewelry: Contemporary Designs and Creative Techniques by Linda L. Chandler and Christine R. Ritchey, Interweave Press, USA
Advisor, translation consultant, “Kunstchmiede Praxis” by Friedolein Wols, Blue Moon Press, USA
2003 Advisor, “Woven Wire Jewelry” book project by Linda Chandler and Christine Ritchey, quoted on back cover.
2002 Advisor and consultant on the book Metal Corrugation, by Patricia McAleer.
2001          Translation advisor and technical consultant for book “Moving Metal” by Adolf Steines, a book on chasing and repoussee for Blue Moon Press, New Jersey.
1994 Editorial Reviewer, Chapman and Hall publishers, New York.
1989-90 Manuscript Reviewer for 'Professional Goldsmithing' by Alan Revere for Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York.

Cultural Service Go to top

2009-07 Past President, Canadian Crafts Federation/ Féderation Canadienne des Métiers d'Arts, attended board meetings and committees.
1997-04 Member of the Board of the Canadian Conference on the Arts (CCA) as the national representative for Craft with reporting and representational responsibilities to the eleven provincial craft councils and to the Canadian Crafts Federation
1997-05 Member of Diplome D’Honneur committee of the CCA and juror for the national Diplome d’Honneur and for the Rogers Communications Award: English Canada (Media Competition). Juror for the Keith Kelly Award for Cultural Leadership. Member of CCA committees.
2004-07 President of the Canadian Craft Federation/Féderation Canadienne des Métiers d'Arts.
2003-4 Vice President, Canadian Craft Federation//Féderation Canadienne des Métiers d'Arts.
2006-07 Led the Craftyear 2007 project IV conference in Calgary, chaired group that facilitated 7 exhibitions, demonstrations, and the Craft Organization Directors Association conference.
2003-08 Member, National Craft Year 2007 committee, Canadian Crafts Federation/Féderation Canadienne des Métiers d'Arts. Wrote and co-wrote guidelines/text for Craft Year 2007

2005-08 Founding member of the Innovation Council, a consortium of North American industry and trade representatives that worked on policy for the industry and strategies to improve North American skill sets and capabilities in jewelry design and manufacturing. New York City.
2001-07 Founding member of the Board of CJM, the Coalition for Jewelry Makers (six industry partners, MJSA Industry group, SNAG (Art Jewelers group, Rio Grande Co (sponsor and suppliers), Bench Media (professional goldsmith group) and the Ganoksin Project (internet community and voice). This project was to slice through the information silos in the field sideways, spreading information and helping the individual maker. This group planned and created a successful series of ‘Clasp’ conferences, analyzed the field and looked to fill ‘holes’ in it.
2005-06 Member Intellectual Properties committee, ACAD, Calgary
1989-05 Academic Awards Committee member, ACAD, Calgary
2004-2003 Chair, Premiere Visiting Artists Committee, ACAD, Calgary
2003 Chair, Harassment/Discrimination Special Committee, ACAD, Calgary
2002-4          Curator, “Body Ornament West”, organized jurying, call, exhibition. Triangle Gallery in Calgary and ACC Gallery in Edmonton. Web exhibits produced.
1994-97 Director on the board of the Alberta Crafts Council. Served on number of NASO committees.
1999-09 Advisory Board Member, Canadian Institute of Gemology, Vancouver, BC
1997-2005 Maintained a list of 400 metals related websites which were emailed out upon request  hundreds of times and republished on a number of public service web sites.
2000 Department of Canadian Heritage working conference on “Cities of Culture”, Hull
                      Represented Canada at the First International Craft Fair and Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Represented and reported to the Canadian Crafts Federation.
1999          Member, organizing Committee for “The Future of Canadian Craft”, a national meeting of every province’s crafts council’s representatives, the Canadian Crafts Council and myself as national CCA representative. Assisted in the resulting formation of the Canadian Crafts Federation, which replaced the CCC. Montreal.
1989-1998 Canadian curator and national coordinator for “Handwerk 96”, international craft and design exhibition at the Munich Handwerksmeße, Germany.
1996-09 Created and grew the Ganoksin Project with Dr. Hanuman Aspler.
1995-96 Albertan Coordinator for ‘Phoenix Project’, national project for a book and on the history of Contemporary Canadian Metalsmithing by Aggie Beynon.
1991-02 Created and ran the Lewton-Brain/Fontans Centre for Jewellery Studies in Calgary, this offered classes and showed experimental exhibitions. Exhibitors included Lilian Klimek, Briggite Clavette, Linda Chow, Crys Harse, Andrew Samek, Arctic jewellers, Alberta women metal artists, Dutch “Point of View” show (125 works).
1992-93 Distribution of “freeware” computer disc, with some 200 pages of my writing on it.  Sent some one hundred and fifty out in North America in 1992-93
1994                    Instigated the first Canadian DACUM curriculum development event for jewellers held at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Calgary, created proposal as a result.
1989-99          Translated the 560 page book “Theorie und Praxis des Goldschmied’s by Erhard Brepohl into English. Two separate editions were translated. A “service to the field” type of project and commitment.
1983                    Participant in policy formation in 'Nova Scotia Cultural Policy Conference' Policy formation for the decade 1983-93

Dissemination of information Go to top
Writing and images reporting on the results of research into various compositional systems for metalworking has been shared a number of ways.  (Fold-forming, patinas, gold applications), and service to the field (critical opinion, technical, safety, professional practices, small object photography).

The Internet
2012-1996 Co-founded and worked on a collaborative public service web site with Dr. Hanuman Aspler, based in Bangkok, Thailand. Its aims are to dissolve barriers to information, to make the life of the working jeweller easier, safer and better. Global and free access are important parameters. Called the Ganoksin Project, the site has a search engine and over 700 pages of my original writing on jewellery techniques, critical essays, book reviews, PR techniques for artists, and more. This is now the most comprehensive site in the world for jeweller’s information, with over 500,000 pages, over 300 hosted blogs, dozens of informational videos and republishing agreements with 12 international magazines. There are some 4 million unique visitors a year. They visit an average of 20 pages. The Orchid discussion list, with over 8,500 professional members, produces 50 edited emails a day which are archived and searchable. All this makes our site the most active and largest in the world for the jewellery/metals field. The address is: http://www.ganoksin.com. Besides content and direction my role has been communications and business.

                                Web Published citations:  currently 11,000 on Google for Charles Lewton-Brain

1996-11  Over 212 book extracts and other articles published online at the Ganoksin Project:
                                http://brainpress.com/Ganoksin.html#Articles Subject areas include:
                                Starting Out / Tool Notes / Jewelry Construction / Hinges / Casting and Wax Carving  / Stonesetting / Gemology / Surfaces / Patination / Jewelry Photography / PR Tools / Critical Notes / Fold-Forming / Safety / Repairs / Bibliographies and Book Reviews

1998-11 Constructed, built, maintain Brain Press web site.

Books Authored Go to top
2011-1994 Wrote a number of books and monographs on technical, and other subjects which were published through my company, Brain Press, and with other publishers. These are available across the USA, in England, Australia and have gone to dozens of countries.
2008 Published the hardcover 220 page book “Foldforming” with Brynmorgen Press of Maine.
                      Published the book “The Jeweler’s Bench Book” with MJSA Press of Rhode Island . Won the Silver award in the SNAP  Excel Competition as second best technical book published in the Untied States in 2008. This book raises funds for the Ganoksin Project.
                      Published the book “River Trip”, 80 page catalog of Cage Series work exhibition.
2007-08 Ported over 20 publications to Print-On-Demand (POD) from traditional manufacturing formats. Republished two videos (Small Scale Photography, and Fold-Forming) as dvd format.  Published new monographs, on chasing, Keum-boo, Polishing.
2005          Led, facilitated the 'Impressions: Moving The Surface" book project of ACAD Student work. Published through Brain Press.
2000 “Theorie und Praxis des Goldschmieds”, by Erhard Brepohl published by Brynmorgen Press.
1999          Translated the 560 page book “Theorie und Praxis des Goldschmieds”, by Erhard Brepohl.
1999          Book: The Jewelry Workshop Safety Report. (224 pages) Brain Press. (3 years research)
1997 Book: Hinges and Hinge-Based Catches for Jewellers and Goldsmiths. 112 pages, 200+ line drawings, Brain Press
1996 Published 80 minute video lecture and 90 page book combination titled “Small Scale Photography: How to take great shots of your work’, Brain Press
1994 Book ‘Cheap Thrills in the Tool Shop: Inexpensive equipment options for Goldsmiths’
1992          Book titled “Shareware”, 120 pages.
1991          Monograph Depletion Gilding: a Historical and Technical Introduction.
1988          Monograph 'Gold Surface Applications: A Technology Review
1986 Patinas for Small Studios.
1985          Made instructional videotape at SUNY, New Paltz on Fold-forming, Harrison Cornell; Director. Monographs published : Forming using metal characteristics: Fold-forming and Small scale Doublée making procedures

Print Articles
2012-1981            Over 270 articles and chapters published in magazines and journals in USA, Canada, England, Australia. Go to top
           
Conferences Attended:
2012-1980 Attended numerous conferences and symposia (120+)

Journal Subscriptions
Metalsmith (USA)                                                 
GZ Magazine (West Germany)                                       
Canadian Jeweller (Canada)                                       
Lemel (Australia)                                                 
Craft Arts (Australia)                                                 
Ornament Magazine (USA)                                       
MJSA Journal (USA)                   
American Craft (USA)                                       
Jewellery Business (Canada)
Studio magazine (Canada)
Magazine of the Crafts Council of Newfoundland and Labrador
MAGazine (Canada)
Jewelry Artist (USA)
Art Jewelry Magazine (USA)
Aramco World (Arabian/Muslim art subjects)
Bench Jewelers Magazine (USA)
Go to top

Charles in 2003


Charles in 1985-the beginning of foldforming

 

 

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