This presentation will provide a brief description of powder metallurgy, the science behind PMC®, and the anecdotal history of its influence on the jewelry industry. It will draw on photo-micrographs, test data, and results of market survey information to provide attendees with a rich and balanced summary of the subspecialty of metal clay. Short videos will provide understanding of the process of working with metal clay, and examples of the exceptional work being made by artists around the world will convey the breadth of influence this revolutionary material might have on the future of the field. Attendees will leave this presentation with a clearer understanding of powder metallurgy in its non-industrial role; a practical and visual understanding of how clay is used and how it compares to traditional methods; and an overview of the development of metal clay, from early experiments in Japan to marketing and community development in the United States and the subsequent creation of base-metal clays, entrepreneurial endeavors, and professional educational organizations.

Author: Tim McCreight