Mokume.com

bio

Wedding Ring Designer and Artist Steve Midgett. Since 1989 Steve has devoted all of his professional energy towards the exploration and mastery of the process of mokume gane.

Steve has authored two books on the subject "Mokume Gane in the Small Shop" and "Mokume Gane A Comprehensive Study".  He has shown his work extensively and teaches workshops on the mokume process to other metalworkers throughout the world.

In an effort to better meet the demand for patterned metal wedding rings, Steve has pioneered a new patented process that enables a significant reduction in production time along with new metal combinations.  The new product line, Stratabands, is available online at Stratabands.com.

"I was greatly honored to be invited to Japan to share my knowledge of mokume with the professors and students of theTokyo University of Fine Art and Music.  What a thrill it was to work with Japanese artists in their homeland, where the mystery of mokume began, hundreds of years ago."

Steve was one of the first western artists to unravel the complexities of mokume, gaining understanding of this ancient metalworking method through extensive exploration and research.  His work with mokume first began in the 70's, while apprenticed to a master goldsmith and he continues to pioneer innovative improvements to the process.

• 1995 Steve established Earthshine Press, which publishes his first Mokume Gane book and video, "Mokume Gane in the Small Shop"
• 1998 selected by Jewelers Circular Keystone magazine as one of 7 international Rising Star designers
• 1999 Steve's Terra Diamond Wedding Band was selected as a NIche Award winner for jewelry
• 2000 Niche Award finalist.  Publication of his second book, "Mokume Gane A Comprehensive Study"
• 2001 Steve teaches numerous workshops for metalsmith professionals including annual conference of the Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG) and the Florida Society of Goldsmiths and Colorado Metalsmiths Association
• 2002 Steve is invited to teach  at the Tokyo University of Fine Art and Music
• 2005 Steve receives a first place American Vision Award
• 2006 Steve’s “Orbit Brooch” receives a first place American Vision Award in two categories.
• 2006 Steve launches Extrusion Patterned Metals Corporation (XPM) with partner and mokume gane artist James Binnion to develop and manufacture a new patterned metal material they call XPMs.
  
• 2007 Steve is invited to jury the American Vision Awards
• 2008 Steve again juries the American Vision Awards
  
• 2008 Stratabands enters final stage of production and launches it's website stratabands.com
• 2008 Steve and XPM Corp. partner Jim Binnion launch stratabands.com
• 2009 Steve and Jim win MJSA Innovation Award for XPM patterned metal process.
• 2009 Stratabands awarded JCK Jewelers Choice Award.
  

Steve Midgett is an artist who has designed everything from amphitheaters to zucchini.  In addition to mokume gane wedding and engagement rings, Steve explores the art of metal through one of a kind jewelry pieces and works of sculpture.

"Germination by Steve Midgett in collaboration with Betty Helen Longhi

stratabands.com is Live!

" This technique continues to hold my fascination as I discover its' multiple applications and infinite design possibilities."

stratabands now available

As many of you already know, high demand for traditional Mokume-Gane wedding bands means it can take months to fill and order. In an effort to better meet this demand, Steve and his business partner James Binnion are introducing a new line of patterned metal wedding rings available exclusively though their online retail store at stratabands.com stratabands.com.
Stratabands are created with Steve's proprietary process which he has spent the last 7 years developing. In addition to spectacular Damascus Steel type rings, Stratabands also offers exotic metal combinations like Titanium and Black Zirconium.

Accepting Commissions

I will be accepting a limited number of commissions based on the original line of Steve Midgett Mokume wedding bands.   Please contact me via email or phone to discuss commissioning a custom made ring or other piece of fine mokume jewelry.