Metalsmith BenchTalk with Leonid Surpin

On the May 6th program, my guest is master goldsmith Leonid Surpin, of Studio Arete. For more information on Leonid, http://www.studioarete.com/newstudioarete.html or one of his blogs here: http://leonidsurpin.ganoksin.com/blogs/ Leonid Sturpin is a regular contributor to Orchid and represents the following on the Studio Arete website: '2009 was a pivotal year for Studio Arete. Economic headwinds, combined with my inability to find competent goldsmiths for my type of work, and other considerations made the decision to close down the company, simply unavoidable. All the things that needed to be done in business and bench work on top of that, was just too much for one man. But it does not mean that our acquaintance should end. Frankly, the new me, liberated from the business yoke, together we still could have great time pursuing our shared interest in goldsmithing, gemstones, and fine jewellery. I want for this website to become a conduit for disseminating knowledge of hand-fabrication techniques. My new venture is to produce instructional DVDs on the subject of hand-fabrication. I believe that there is a great need for quality material, and I mean real quality. I am positive that I can satisfy that need. I have studied what is available on the market in this respect, and in many cases the material was bellow par. There are some reasonably well made DVDs, but they do not go beyond elementary stuff. Neither do schools, or even college programs for that matter. You would not believe how many graduates of such programs I had interviewed and rejected, in my past life as a business owner. I have to admit that it was the interviews that gave me this idea of instructional DVDs. So, after all, the time wasn't wasted. For complete description, see: http://www.studioarete.com/newstudioarete.html Please join us for what should be a fun and stimulating conversation.