2017 MJSA Vision Awards Winners – Indepth

In the 1971 Film Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, the title character invites Charlie (and us viewers) to "come with me, and you'll be, in a world of pure imagination." While you won't find any golden tickets or chocolate bars on the following pages, you will find plenty of examples of jewelers living in their own worlds of pure imagination.

I'd like to introduce you to the winners of the 2017 MJSA Vision Awards competition. Click on each links to view full article of each winning pieces and the artists behind them.

	Splendor Jewellery - A Labor of Love
	Leo Fried and Nanz Aalund - Siege of Herons
	Cheuk Ying Kwan - Purposely Imperfect
	Adam Neeley - Alluring Curves
	Ricardo Basta - Top Flight
	Zoe Zong - Sky Is the Limit

For more than 25 years, the MJSA Vision Awards have recognized outstanding achievement in jewelry and design, by professionals and students alike. And on the following pages, you'll discover how this year's winners were able to bring the pieces dreamed up in their imagination into life. With designs inspired by everything from a simple green garden to explosions occurring at the far reaches of the universe, there is no limit to the creativity of these designers. (The competition also features a Custom

Design Distinction category. To read about this year's winning design, please go to MJSA Custom Jeweler on page 51.)

Before we get started, we'd like to thank the MJ SA Vision Award sponsors, without whose support these awards would not be possible. Our sponsors are featured on pages 36-37, where you can learn more about their products and services.

We'd also like to thank the judges of this year's competition: Michael Bondanza of Michael Bondanza Inc. in New York City; Ann Cahoon of North Bennet  Street School in Boston; Michael Coan of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City; Victoria Gomelsky of JCK magazine in New York City; Barbara Heinrich of Barbara Heinrich Studio in Pittsford, New York; and Marlene Richey, a consultant in Melrose, Massachusetts.

And now, allow me to invite you to enter into these award-winning jewelers' imaginations. And perhaps, as Willy Wonka advises, through them "you'll see, into your imagination."

Additional Winners

MJSA Journal would also like to recognize the following second-place winners in this year's Vision Awards competition.

	Patrick Nelson and Mary Kay Mohs Patrick Mohs Jewelry, Wayzata, Minnesota Night Sky Necklace Second Place, Professional Excellence (4+Years)
	Zoe Zong ZoeZong LLC, McKinney, Texas Contrast Brooch; Second Place, Professional (4+ Years)
	Maneli Sarmadi Savannah College of Art & Design, Savannah, Georgia Sweet Spell Necklace; Second Place, Future of the Industry