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Barbara Wheat Lipatapanlop
CEO - Gemalytics LLC

F or the first time ever Ethical FMetalsmiths (EM) is hosting exhibitions of jewelry made by its members and affiliates starting with a themed jewelry exhibition at Linhardt Design in New York City in April.

The ‘Gardens of Gold ‘exhibition celebrated the organization’s ten years of collective accomplishments. Jewelers from across the United States andCanada loaned and donated pieces from their socially and environmentally responsible collections, some of which were auctioned off to support Ethical Metalsmiths’ programs and outreach.

“From day one we wanted Ethical Metalsmiths to be a springboard for taking sustainably made and responsibly sourced jewelry into the mainstream,” says Christina Miller, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the non - profit or ganization.

In the organization’s ten-year history Ethical Metalsmiths has success fully advocated for responsibly sourced jewelry via partnerships with mines and USbased refiners, which represents a first in the US.

Their programs are intended to both educate jewelers about ethical jewelry practices and provide access to trace able supplies of raw materials such as gold, silver and gemstones.

“The Gardens of Gold auction items and sponsorships that have been donated by our members and supporters are a testament to the generosity and dedication of our artisan jewelry community and their personalcommitment to our collective goals,” says Martin Taber, Ethical Metalsmiths’ Board President.

Proceeds from the auction will go directly to:

. Building an innovative curriculum for educating emerging jewelers to work ethically from day one.

. Advocating for ethical jewelry as the rule, rather than the exception on a consumer level.

. Developing life-changing opportunities for artisanal miners to access markets with their traceable gemstones, diamonds and precious metals.

Ethical Metalsmiths is a US based, internationally recognized, independent jewelry ethics association aimed at making jewelry a vehicle of long-term positive benefit for the global community.

The organization’s 250+ members are jewelers, consumers, educators, retailers, suppliers, and environmental stewards who are driven to create a legacy of beauty and justice.

EM is committed to responsible environmental practices, social rights, and economic justice.

Ethical Metalsmiths is a US based, internationally recognized, independent jewelry ethics association aimed at making jewelry a vehicle of long-term positive benefit for the global community.

The organization’s 250+ members are jewelers, consumers, educators, retailers, suppliers, and environmental stewards who are driven to create a legacy of beauty and justice.

EM is committed to responsible environmental practices, social rights, and economic justice.

“Ethical Metalsmiths’ member jewelers are the backbone of our organization not only because they voluntarily pursue the most responsibly sourced materials available but because they also pioneer emerging and untested alternatives: Our members are effectively transforming the jewelry industry from the inside out,” said Miller.

One of EM’s programs is Radical Jewelry Makeover (RJM), a traveling community jewelry mining and recycling project.

It is also a creative art education project, teaching makers how to produce fresh jewelry from recycled sources.

RJM places responsible jewelry in the hands of consumers. The overall project raises awareness of the connection between mining and metalsmithing, drawing attention to our habits of consumption and showcases innovative designs using srecycled products.

Contact the organization via the Website: www.ethicalmetalsmiths.org Barbara Wheat Lipatapanlop is CEO of Gemalytics LLC based in New York City. She can be reached at: barbara@gemalytics.com.