Honorary Chairs: Laurie A. Lyall and heikki Seppä. Their pieces, "Positive Directives, #10/10 in the Floating Cuff Series" and "April Climax" are on display in the window of the Bainbridge Arts & Crafts Gallery on Winslow Way starting August 1. Stop by to view these stunning pieces before they join the private collections of the lucky winning bidders.

Auction for the Arts 2007 Announced the Honorary Chairs:

Auction for the Arts 2007 is honored and thankful that Laurie A. Lyall and Heikki Seppä have agreed to share the honorary chair position. Both work in metal, and both are long-time supporters of and donors to the Auction. Laurie A. Lyall, a well-known Bainbridge Island artist, specializes in fine jewelry with strong architectural elements. She is donating a bracelet which is the last of a numbered and signed edition of ten, a piece that collectors will value for its unique story and historic significance in her career. Her husband, Heikki Seppä, is one of the foremost silversmiths and metalsmiths in the world. He is widely known for his innovative sculptures. He also produced a significant number of ecclesiastical pieces and Judaic pieces commissioned by generous donors. His work is included in the collections of the Smithsonian Institute and the St. Louis Art Museum. He is donating one of the few remaining pieces in his private collection.

Laurie A, Lyall and Heikki Seppä Pieces
Will Be Auctioned On September 8th:

April Climax by Heikki Seppä. Heikki created this piece in April of 1990, a month when springtime transforms winter to summer with a swift urgency in St. Louis. This piece, composed of sterling silver hollowware, reflects the graceful unfurling of life during April. The piece, which Heikki has donated from his private collection, is valued at $9,000, and the bidding will start at $5,000. Interested bidders should know that some pieces of Heikki Seppä's work are now being insured for $25,000 because the artist has retired and is no longer producing new pieces, increasing the market value. Beyond that, what is the true value of contemplating the graceful swirl of new life as the piece sits on a coffee table or tabletop in your entryway?

Positive Directives #10/10 by Laurie A. Lyall. This piece has yet to be created, although you can view the artist's proof in photographs and at the auction. The piece will be custom made and custom fitted in the mirror image of the proof for the winning bidder. Positive Directives #10/10 is a bracelet from Laurie's Floating Cuff series, named for the three architectural levels of the design that give it the appearance of floating above the wrist. This piece, made of 18 karat gold and reticulated sterling silver, is valued at $3,600, and the bidding will start at $2,500.

The story behind the bracelet will fascinate the owner almost as much as the constantly shifting views as the bracelet turns on the wrist to reveal its structure and design secrets. Positive Directives was the first design in the Floating Cuff series, designed when Laurie was a young goldsmith in Florida. She originally made it for herself, and was wearing it when a customer asked her if it was for sale. "No!" was Laurie's quick reply. The customer persisted "Will you make one for me?" Laurie, stunned, hinted th at maybe she could. And the customer asked, "How many of these will you make?" The woman valued original pieces and didn't want something that might be duplicated endlessly. Put on the spot, Laurie said, "No more than ten." And the woman said OK. So Laurie made one for the customer, and then made a few more.

Several years later, a gentleman came to her because he wanted to give the love of his life two bracelets—one for each wrist—so one of the bracelets had to be made in the mirror image of the other. So Laurie made #6 of the first Positive Directives, and the mirror image became #1/1. Sadly, his ladyfriend died a few years later, and he returned the two bracelets to Laurie. Laurie went on to make and sell ten of the first Positive Directives, and nine of its mirror image. The mirror image of Positive Directives that Laurie will make will be the last.

Precisely why, if you are a Laurie A. Lyall admirer, you will understand the value and beauty of this piece.

In addition to the piece, Laurie will give you the October 1986 issue of L'Orafo Valenzano that features Positive Directives, the first design in the Floating Cuff series. The piece was featured after The Jewelers of America Show in New York City honored Laurie A. Lyall as one of ten new jewelry designers "to watch".

As Laurie usually does, Laurie offers to the highest bidder the opportunity to substitute this piece for a different piece of equal value that she may want more than the bracelet.

So Why Are We So Lucky to Have These Two Artists
Laurie A. Lyall and Heikki Seppä With Us On Bainbridge Island?

Love has a way of surprising people, catching them unaware, bringing them together and giving them a place to be.

Laurie began her education in goldsmithing in the United States, then moved to Germany to complete her studies with a private Goldsmith Master. She returned to Florida where she sold her first commissioned piece—a set of 18 karat gold earrings in 1975.

She had always known of Heikki Seppä, the celebrated Master Silversmith, the artist who had transformed silver hollowware from functional form to art, the teacher who has written definitive articles and books on metalsmithing that are used in the teaching of the craft. His ground-breaking work with metal, including his creative invention of the "shell structure" and innovative methods of reticulation, along with his willingness to share his techniques, drew students to his workshops.

It was in 1991 that Laurie met Heikki at a gathering of artists two months before she would actually take one of his famous workshops. Imagine how much planning has to go into taking a three-week workshop; Laurie had to save up the money to pay for the workshop and to carry herself through the three weeks away from her own work, the work that paid the bills. The investment of time and money realized itself immediately as she became hooked on Heikki's method and encouragement. She went home a stronger goldsmith with a head full of ideas.

The early nineties were not kind to Heikki as he coped with his wife's death and retirement while living alone in St. Louis, where he had taught for many years at Washington University. Then, in 1997 he received a phone call from Laurie, who was driving across the country in a planned move to join her sister on Bainbridge Island. Of course he wanted to see her, and he invited her for an afternoon in St. Louis—he planned to show her around a little. She walked in the door and they got to talking, and she was so taken with his European charm—and he so taken with her sparkle... The hours passed, and the days passed, and he ended up on Bainbridge Island with her.

They are so lucky to have each other, and we are so lucky to have them. Auction for the Arts on September 8th is a wonderful time for us to celebrate our artists.

When you come to the auction, say hi to Laurie and Heikki, and admire their artwork, and the artwork donated by so many of our Bainbridge Island Artists.