The Halstead Grant: Top 5 Finalist Emily Shaffer

In the fifth episode of Perceived Value host Sarah Rachel Brown sits down with contemporary jeweler Emily Shaffer. This past August Emily applied for the Halstead Grant and placed as a Top Five Finalist. Halstead is a full service jewelry supply firm that was launched in 1973 and is still family owned and operated. As a company Halstead strives to support small business and emerging artists; most notably through their annual Halstead Grant.  Each year one artist is selected as the winner and ten other artists are announced as either Top Five Finalists or Top Ten Finalists. Sarah sits down with Emily to discuss what the Halstead Grant is, what the application entails, and what one can gain beyond the monetary awards.  Originally from Pennsylvania, Emily received her B.F.A and B.S. from Kutztown University in 2014. Going to school within short distances of New York City and Philadelphia exposed her to contemporary art and fashion. Post graduation, she moved to Maine for a one year internship with practicing studio jeweler, Cara Romano. She since has made a home in Maine to begin her career creating wearable, contemporary jewelry. Living in rural Maine inspires her sense of resourcefulness and independence, and a constant drive to create. Her current focus is to create jewelry line that is clean, modern and versatile, while seeking compositions of line and negative space. emilyshafferstudio.com Instagram: @emilyshafferstudio