info@lorettafontaine.comAlbany, New Yorkphone: 518-438-4751

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Loretta Fontaine's parents knew they had an artistic child, when, at age 4, she entered a Mickey Mouse coloring contest with the outlines not just colored, but filled with stripes and polka dots. She went on to make her own sandals out of cardboard at 6, and a dress of duct tape for a college formal. Of course, she had to not only sew her own wedding dress, but bake the wedding cake!

After receiving a Master's degree in Architecture, Loretta didn't last long in an office. "I was envious of the people working with the real materials - laying the concrete block and nailing the wood," she recalls, "I missed working with my hands." She left to start Loretta Fontaine Jewelry, creating artistic pieces in sterling silver and 14K gold combined with her own miniature original photography. "Taking a sketch and transforming it into a piece of jewelry is a thrill," she says, 'it's truly a dream job!"

Loretta received a New York State Council for the Arts grant to further study goldsmithing, and her jewelry was featured by Lark Books in 1000 Rings: Inspiring Adornment For The Hand and 500 Bracelets, 500 Earrings and 500 Metal Vessels. Publications that have featured her work include National Jeweler, Modern Jeweler, The Crafts Report, NICHE, and Lapidary Journal.

Three pieces of her work were shown in the 2003 exhibition “Fine Crafts; Ancient Practices, New Visions: 60th Exhibition of Central New York Artists,” at the Munson Williams Proctor Arts Institute in Utica, New York. The ring "July Ring" was on display in the 2004 exhibit “Rings,” at the Cannon Gallery of Art and Design in Raleigh, North Carolina. A writer and photographer, Loretta writes widely on the arts and lives in Albany, New York with her husband and three children.

EDUCATION

1993 Masters of Architecture, University of New York at Buffalo
1991 Bachelor of Architecture, University of New York at Buffalo

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2005 Arts Business Institute

1998-99 Craft Business Institute (former name of Arts Business Institute)
1994-97 Jewelry Design, Arts Center of the Capital Region, Troy, NY
1992-93 Foundations Design, University of New York at Buffalo

GRANTS, AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS
2003 Special Opportunity Stipend, The New York State Foundation for the Arts
1997 Artisan of the Month, The Schenectady Museum
1992 Grace Legendre Fellowship, Business and Professional Women’s Club of NYS
1992 Mark Diamond Grant, State University of New York at Buffalo
1991 Henry Adams Certificate, American Institute of Architects

SOLO AND GROUP EXHIBITIONS, selected
2004 “Rings,” Cannon Gallery of Art and Design, Raleigh, NC
2003 “Fine Crafts; Ancient Practices, New Visions: 60th Exhibition of Central New York Artists,” Munson Williams Proctor Arts Institute, Utica, NY [catalog]
2000 Nicholas-Harrison Gallery, Wellfleet, Massachusetts (solo)
2000 Designers Studio, Saratoga Springs, New York (solo)
2000 “Metalheads Society Annual Members Exhibition,” NW Barrett Gallery, Portsmouth, NH
2000 “Ornament,” Craft Alliance of New York State
1999 “The 16th Northeast Crafts Exhibit,” Schenectady Museum, Schenectady, NY
1998 “Design Explorations,” The Schenectady Museum, Schenectady, NY
1996-97 Faculty Exhibit, Arts Center of the Capital Region, Troy, NY

PUBLICATIONS AND MEDIA, selected

Victoria, “In Full Bloom”, Katie Brandon, March/April 2008 p. 88

500 Metal Vessels: A Stunning Collection of Contemporary Art, Fred Fenster, Lark Books, 2007, p. 154
National Jeweler:“High Rollers: A Preview of Vegas Designs”, Beth Braverman, June 2007, p. 57
ABC7 News Television: Amanda Gizzi, “Mother’s Day Trends In Fine Jewelry”, May 4, 2007
Art Jewelry: Gallery, 2007
500 Earrings: New Directions in Contemporary Jewelry, Alan Revere, Lark Books, 2006 p. 37, p. 336.
The Art and Craft of Making Jewelry, Joanna Gollberg, Lark Books, 2006 p. 148
500 Bracelets: An Inspiring Collection of Extraordinary Designs, Charon Kranson, Lark Books, 2005 p. 139The Crafts Report, “Insight”, March 2005, p. 14
1000 Rings: Inspiring Adornment For The Hand, Robert W. Ebendorf, Lark Books, 2004, p. 176
NICHE: “Retail Details”, Winter 2000, p. 59
NICHE: “When We Were Artists”, Autumn 2000, p.67
Cape Cod Chronicle: June 2000, p. A6
NICHE: “Marketing To Gen X”, Winter 1999, p. 83
Modern Jeweler: “Jewelry Showcase”, June 1999, p. 130
The Crafts Report: April 1999, p. 16
Ornament: Winter 1998, p. 64
The Saratogian: August 7, 1998, p. A3
Inform: “Craft Alliance News”, December 1998, vol. 17, no. 4, p. 2
The Crafts Report: “Insight”, August 1998, p. 11
The Schenectady Gazette: October 30, 1994, pg. G1
Lapidary Journal: November 1994, p. 94
The Sunday Messenger: June 14 1993, p. A4

LECTURES
2005 “Define Your Line”, Flying High With ABI, The Arts Business Institute, Philadelphia, PA

2004 “How did Orr do it? - Combining Family and Art,” Juggle Fever, The Arts Business Institute, Philadelphia, PA
1998-99 ”Finding Your Voice in Craft,” Craft Business Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
1999 “Metallurgy in Jewelry Design,” co-presented with Dr. Andre Castagna
to the Eastern New York chapter of The American Society of Metallurgists, Latham, NY

ARTICLES WRITTEN

Fontaine, Loretta “Steel Resolve: Sculptor Dale Rogers taps into emotion to find turnaround success”, The Crafts Report, September 2008

Fontaine, Loretta “Doorway To Inspiration”, The Crafts Report, December 2007
Fontaine, Loretta “Heroes Behind The Cash Register”, The Crafts Report, November 2007
Fontaine, Loretta “Insight Gained: Kendra Roberts: A Determined Take On Tradition”, The Crafts Report, October 2007 p. 50-54
Fontaine, Loretta “More Books For Giving”, The Crafts Report, October 2007
Fontaine, Loretta “Regional Profile New York: Bloom Town: Celebrated Festivals and a Rich History Make Albany County An Area Worth Discovering”, The Crafts Report, September 2007 p. 38-41
Fontaine, Loretta “Crafts Marketing: Artist Card Makeover: Gazelle Glass”, The Crafts Report, September 2007 p. 52-53
Fontaine, Loretta “Green Steps”, The Crafts Report, September 2007
Fontaine, Loretta “Business Wise: Handle With Instructions: A Little Knowledge Helps Retailers and Customers Care For Craft”, The Crafts Report, August 2007 p. 40-42
Fontaine, Loretta “Weekend Unplug”, The Crafts Report, August 2007
Fontaine, Loretta “Profile In Success: Rooted In Tradition: The New York Folklore Society”, The Crafts Report, July 2007 p. 51-53
Fontaine, Loretta “Bright Lights to Cure Hang-ups”, The Crafts Report, July 2007
Fontaine, Loretta “The Anti-theft Curtain and Other Tales”, The Crafts Report, June 2007
Fontaine, Loretta “Mood Music”, The Crafts Report, May 2007
Fontaine, Loretta “Swimming Away Stress”, The Crafts Report, April 2007
Fontaine, Loretta “Artists In Charge”, The Crafts Report, March 2007
Fontaine, Loretta “The Island of Misfit Jewelry”, The Crafts Report, February 2007
Fontaine, Loretta “Balancing Act”, The Crafts Report, January 2007
Fontaine, Loretta “No Discount For You!”, The Crafts Report, December 2006
Fontaine, Loretta “Wearing New Hats”, The Crafts Report, November 2006
Fontaine, Loretta “Books For Giving”, The Crafts Report, October 2006
Fontaine, Loretta “Regional Profile Connecticut: Legendary Festivals and Sophisticated Charm: Focus on Norwalk”, The Crafts Report, September 2006 p. 50-53
Fontaine, Loretta “Ten By Ten”, The Crafts Report, September 2006
Fontaine, Loretta “Hollywood Calling: Three Artists’ Work Plays Supporting Roles”, The Crafts Report, August 2006 p. 36-39
Fontaine, Loretta “Regional Profile California: Sun, Art and Good Vibrations: Focus on San Diego”, The Crafts Report, August 2006 p. 51-53
Fontaine, Loretta “What’s In The Cards”, The Crafts Report, August 2006
Fontaine, Loretta “Profile In Success: Carly Wright: An Expressive Voice”, The Crafts Report, July 2006 p. 26-29
Fontaine, Loretta “Lessons From Calder”, The Crafts Report, July 2006
Fontaine, Loretta “Working Both Ways”, The Crafts Report, June 2006
Fontaine, Loretta “Help Me Momma!”, The Crafts Report, May 2006
Fontaine, Loretta “Teaching Oneself”, The Crafts Report, April 2006
Fontaine, Loretta “Not Your Ordinary Road Trip”, The Crafts Report, March 2006
Fontaine, Loretta “Sign My Guest Book, Please!”, The Crafts Report, February 2006

Fontaine, Loretta “A Magical Reincarnation in the Catskills: The Sugar Maples Center For Arts and Education”, The Crafts Report, January 2006
Fontaine, Loretta “A New Year, A New Leaf,” Loretta’s Last Line, The Crafts Report, January 2006
Fontaine, Loretta “The Handcrafted Gift,” Loretta’s Last Line, The Crafts Report, December 2005
Fontaine, Loretta “A Banana For The Teacher,” Loretta’s Last Line, The Crafts Report, November 2005

Fontaine, Loretta “Gifting The Book,” Loretta’s Last Line, The Crafts Report, October 2005

Fontaine, Loretta “Line It Up,” Loretta’s Last Line, The Crafts Report, September 2005
Fontaine, Loretta “Crafts Find Their Place In An Urban Art Utopia. Regional Profile: Connecticut
and New York, SPECIAL FOCUS: NEW YORK CITY”, The Crafts Report, September 2005

Fontaine, Loretta “Weekend Conflicts,” Loretta’s Last Line, The Crafts Report, August 2005

Fontaine, Loretta “The Looming Deadline,” Loretta’s Last Line, The Crafts Report, July 2005

Fontaine, Loretta “Playing Tag,” Loretta’s Last Line, The Crafts Report, June 2005

Fontaine, Loretta “Getting the Story Right,” Loretta’s Last Line, The Crafts Report, May 2005

Fontaine, Loretta “Opening Night,” Loretta’s Last Line, The Crafts Report, April 2005
Fontaine, Loretta “Magic Words,” Loretta’s Last Line, The Crafts Report, March 2005

Fontaine, Loretta “Laura Beamer: Recycling Finds A Fun Haven in The Oregon Cascades,” The Crafts Report, March 2005

Fontaine, Loretta "A Start In A Parking Lot," Loretta's Last Line, The Crafts Report, February 2005

Fontaine, Loretta "Lasagna Tales," Loretta's Last Line, The Crafts Report, January 2005
Fontaine, Loretta “NYC Watershed Grants Benefit Wood-based Craft,” The Crafts Report, May 2004
Fontaine, Loretta “Artisans are at Home in the Handmade Life,” The Times Union, October 27 2002
Fontaine, Loretta “Opening Night at SOFA NY: Craft in the International Art Market,” The Crafts Report, October 2002
Fontaine, Loretta “The Schenectady Museum Makes a Downtown Move,” The Crafts Report, July 2002
Fontaine, Loretta “Three Interventions,” Intersight, vol. 3 p. 55-59