Charon Kransen workshop

“Re-writing your own script, focusing on your own evolution” - An intensive two-day workshop directed by Charon Kransen from Charon Kransen Arts New York.

29 - 30 SEPT 2025

10 AM - 4.30 PM (with lunch break)

Location: Assamblage national contemporary jewelry school.

cost: 176 EUR for ROJW2025 exhibitors / 220 EUR for non-exhibitors

*Limited spots available, in the order of registration.

Although addressing issues intimately connected to jewelers and jewelry making, students, as well professionals from all fields of Arts, Crafts and Design are eligible to attend. The workshop will be an inner journey attempting to bring to light all pre-constructed beliefs and fears that block the evolution of individual makers both personally and professionally. One of the most current issues for artists/makers working in the field of applied arts, is the analysis of the effectiveness of their own work, to question themselves, trying to find their own way and to make their work unique. Charon Kransen will help us to focus our own evolution.

"The seminars are not about learning yet another technique, but will focus primarily on the aspect of the personal "script" and the re-writing of your real own "script". In our field there is a very strong pull towards commercialism. The traditional commercial craft industry shows us mostly work which are copies of copies of copies of something that maybe at some point was an original idea/design. Work is made to cater to mainstream taste and demand. Artists/makers are often pulled in that direction out of financial necessity, without understand the various other options of working in this field and for other markets.

These issues often come from barriers deeply within ourselves; barriers which limit our personal growth and the discovery of our very own personal expression. In the seminar we address these issues through discussion and exercises. Only when somebody develops insights into why change is needed, we can actually begin to reverse thought patterns in the way we approach our work and that is exactly what this seminar is about.

The core of the seminar is centered around the notion that many of us in the field, are not as successful and satisfied with their professional life as they maybe imagined at one time. We explore the reasons why through lots of discussions and exercises, all verbal, to understand what the barriers inside are which keep us from blossoming as an artist. It is not until once we understand the deep issues, that we can start making changes. Even before the pandemic many things have changed. The pandemic just magnified them. The market has changed. The way galleries and artists work together have changed. Some people think galleries are no longer important and they explore other ways to promote the work. How great would it be to just openly discuss these issues together and develop some more insight in the complex issues in an artist’s life.

We will also address a lot of practical aspects, such as in marketing, pr, pricing, gallery- artist relationship etc., something artists often are not so clear about. After two days participants will walk away with more clarity but also with more questions, yet from experience also with a lot of inspiration and empowerment.

Charon Kransen ( b. Holland 1950 ),  resides in New York City since 1988 ) has worked in the field of contemporary jewelry since 1969. He received his training at the Bezalel Academy of Fine Arts Jerusalem Israel, Fachhochschule fuer Gestaltung Pforzheim Germany and at Juhls Kautokeino Norway.

Professor of Jewelry (and Enamel) Design at the University of  Utrecht Holland; Head of Jewelry and Enamel department at the University Arts Amersfoort Holland;  President of the VES ( Dutch Jewelry Designers Organization) and lecturer at universities, colleges and art organizations internationally. Curator, art-dealer and agent for over 150 international contemporary jewelers (mostly non-Americans) in North-America at various galleries and art fairs such as the Chicago Art Fair SOFA, New York Art Fair SOFA, International Art + Design Fair in New York,  Art Palm Beach Palm Beach, Miami International Art Fair Miami, and SOFA West Art Fair Santa Fe, Art Basel Miami at Red Dot Miami. He also distributes books and catalogs in the field of jewelry/metal/design and his array of international titles are considered the most comprehensive in contemporary jewelry.

He has been the official bookseller of the SNAG ( Society of North American Goldsmiths ) for the past 30 years. He has juried Talente and Schmuckszene in Munich for many years as well as Joya Spain, Gioielli in Fermento Italy, Itami in Japan, Athens Jewelry Week Greece, Legnica Silver Festival, Cheongju International Craft Biennial Korea, Romania Jewelry Week, etc. For the past 25 years he has lectured on contemporary jewelry and gives master-classes to art students and professionals/makers in the USA, Europe, Australia, Asia and South America, His master class is based on the concept of encouraging artists/makers to work from their unique talent instead of relying on the more common route of commercial work that is often dictated by main-stream demand/taste. This involves insight in the often psychological and emotional barriers we consciously or unconsciously have put up within ourselves.