Member Directory

Kat St. Aubin (she/her) is a neurodivergent biracial Filipina-American artist born and raised in San Diego, CA. Her artistic practice is primarily grounded in jewelry and metalwork. She holds a BA in Applied Design, Jewelry and Metalsmithing, Minor in Women’s Studies (SDSU, 2018) and MA in Critical Craft Studies (WWC, 2020).

My creative process starts with playing with the materials, letting the design evolve into forms that feel right to me. Part of playing involves challenging traditional ideas and looking for the unexpected in contrasting looks and finishes. Much of my inspiration comes from shapes and textures found in plants, water, architecture and lighting.

Lucas Pointon currently lives in Madison, Wisconsin, teaching metals as an adjunct-lecturer for the University of Wisconsin - Madison. He teaches both beginning and advanced jewelry/metalsmithing courses and is a professional goldsmith managing a local company’s workshop.

Christine Rio is a Canadian designer, crafting jewelry in her home studio in Victoria, BC. Her contemporary jewelry brand, Slate Jewelry, launched in 2016 at Vancouver Fashion Week. She has participated in several international art jewelry exhibitions including Artistar Jewels, Milan Jewelry Week, Automaton 20.21, and Romanian Jewelry Week.

Doris Chou-Durfee is a Chinese-American metalsmith currently based in Washington DC. A lifelong rock hound, she established AMULET by D in 2014 while living in Hong Kong. The mission of AMULET by D is to create gemwear--silver and gold jewelry which incorporate colorful stones, beads and words--that empowers and spreads joy.

In my career, I have explored architectural elements, tools, jewelry, sculpture, wall pieces, and musical instruments made of both precious and refractory metals. Through my art, I became a recognized expert in resistance spot welding and continue to explore its applications in art and jewelry working in both refractory metals and precious metals.

Jeweler is making.

Big Sur Goldsmiths Karl Lee 1945 - 2012 A tradition continued by Carrie Armstrong & Ali Lee Karl Lee began his passionate, rich and prolific career in the “Art Barn” at the famous Esalen Institute on the rugged Big Sur coast of California. While he often worked solely in gold his most famous jewelry pieces were frequently a balance of sterling silver and 22 karat gold. The silver shank of his rings made for “everyday” wearability and affordability. While his various studios eventually moved from the California Central Coast to Kauai, Hawaii to coastal Oregon, Karl’s spiritual grounding was always in Big Sur. Since his passing in 2013 Karl Lee’s studio has grown into a family affair of jewelers. His son Ali Lee and daughter-in-law Carrie Armstrong continue that path that Karl followed for over fifty years. Together Ali and Carrie continue to produce signature Karl Lee designs as well as to create their own unique styles. The passing of the generational “baton” maintains the high level of respect for delicious gemstones and minerals, fine metals and skilled craftsmanship. Karl used to say that his jewelry was created to be worn. Not just as a form of occasional “dress up” expression but as an everyday part of our lives, a representation of our daily selves. In Big Sur people still do “chop wood and carry water”. And to this day they frequently can be seen doing so wearing a Karl Lee design.