NICHE magazine, the trade publication for retailers of North American craft, has announced the finalists for its 2009 NICHE Awards competition in the professional division. Jurors selected 149 finalists out of more than 1,000 entries in 34 categories—including 27 jewelry finalists in six categories.

The annual NICHE Awards program recognizes the outstanding creative achievements of North American craft artists who produce work for craft galleries and retail shops.
 
Judging is based on three main criteria: technical excellence, both in surface design and form; market viability; and a distinct quality of original and creative thought
 
All finalists are invited to display their work in a special NICHE Awards display at the Philadelphia Buyers Market of American Craft, the nation’s largest wholesale craft show, Feb. 13-16, 2009. Finalists in the professional division will also be featured in the Winter 2009 issue of NICHE magazine.
 
Winners will be revealed at a special ceremony to be held Feb. 15, 2009. The NICHE Awards ceremony is one of the most anticipated events of the winter Buyers Market.

The following are finalists in the jewelry competition:

Fashion
Clef
Cynthia Gorman
Ed Levin Jewelry
Cambridge, N.Y.
 
Raven Necklace
Ananda Khalsa
Ananda Khalsa Jewelry
Providence, R.I.
 
Ruffle Earrings
Lindly Haunani
Cabin John, Md.
 
Tango
Nancy Goodenough
Monte Rio, Calif.
 
 Teardrops
Victoria Varga
Victoria Varga, Inc.
Cumberland Foreside, Maine
 
 Gold
And So It Begins
Martha Keith
Charlottesville, Va.
 
Golden Sunburst Necklace
Alexandra Hart
San Diego, Calif.
 
Octopus Jellyfish Pin
Amy Roper Lyons
Summit, N.J.
 
Tubular
Jeffrey Appling
JEA Jewelry
Palm Springs, Calif.
 
Gold with Stones 
Baton Rouge
Travis Ogden
Aurora, Colo.
 
 Interlocking Ring
Andrea Denelzen
Burnt Sienna Jewellery
Toronto, Ont., Canada
 
Meisterstück Armband
Charles “Fritz“ Pearce
Fritz & Mischell / 3 Arts Studio
Sonoma, Calif.
 
Obelisk Necklace
Jacob Albee
Jacob Albee Designs
Burlington, Vt.
 
Sculpture to Wear 
Apollo Bracelet
Jacob Albee
Jacob Albee Designs
Burlington, Vt.
 
Dawn Shadows
Jee Hye Kwon
Brooklyn, N.Y.

 
Shooting Star Necklace
Alexandra Hart
San Diego, Calif.
 
Untitled
Borislav Goynatsky
Mesh NY
New York, N.Y.
 
Silver 
Collar of the Chancellor
Tom Ferrero
Windsor, Conn.
 
East Meets West
Patricia Tschetter
Tschetter Studio
Dallas, Texas
 
Golden Halo Moonlight
Tavia Brown
taviametal
Charlottesville, Va.
 
Sprouting
So Young Park
So Young Park Studio
Rochester, N.Y.
 
Twenty-One
Marie Scarpa
Marie Scarpa Designs
Petaluma, Calif.
 
 
Silver with Stones 
Aphrodite Cuff
Belle Brooke Barer
Belle Brooke Designs
Los Angeles, Calif.
 
Kinetic Mod Necklace
Danielle Miller-Gilliam
Danielle Miller Jewelry
Greenville, S.C.
 
Mooncheese
Erik Stewart
Erik Stewart Jewelry
Tucson, Ariz.
 
Moonrise Necklace
Belle Brooke Barer
Belle Brooke Designs
Los Angeles, Calif.
 
Vinci Cuff
Davide Bigazzi
Menlo Park, Calif.

Images of the jewelry finalists can be found here. Finalists in the student division will be announced next month.

Jurors for the professional division of the 2009 awards were: Meghan Bunnell, executive director of the Arts Business Institute; Valerie Heck, jewelry exhibits manager for the Buyers Market of American Craft; Sherry Masters, buyer for Grovewood Gallery in Asheville, N.C.; Martha Sielman, executive director of Studio Art Quilt Associates; and Matthew Stinchcomb, vice president of communications, Etsy.com.
 
A complete list of the professional division finalists is available here.

JCK