2020 WINNERS: LINDA MACNEIL

"Primavera" necklace detail

Photo by Michael Tropea

LINDA MACNEIL - 1ST PLACE, CATEGORY: METALS / ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS

To say the least, Linda MacNeil’s winning necklace, “Primavera”, as well as her entire body of work, is breath-taking. What makes her designs so special is that she focuses on a material most people don’t pay attention to… glass! She creates one-of-a-kind pieces in her New Hampshire gallery alongside her husband, renowned glass artist, Dan Dailey. Linda’s necklace is a perfect example of her fine craftsmanship and exceptional vision.

— http://www.saulbellaward.com/linda-macneil

Linda MacNeil

Photo by Mercy Street Studio

Excerpt from the Artist Interview

By Marlene Richey

Q. How did you come up with the title? I created the piece, then found the title that was appropriate in the Oxford English Dictionary.

Q. What/who was your inspiration? The inspiration for the floral necklace comes from observing the fantastic ways of nature. I believe plant life and the natural world contain the ultimate perfection of design and function.

Q. How long did it take to make the piece? I lost track of time with this design. Because of indecision and difficulties solving the mechanism structure, I put the parts away until I was strongly urged to complete the necklace for a retrospective solo exhibition at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington, in 2016.

Primavera Necklace, “Floral” series, no. 98, 2008–16 Plate glass, mirror, diamonds, and 18k yellow gold. 18 x 3 1/4 x 7/16 inches (45.7 x 8.3 x 1.1 cm) (open)

Photo by Michael Tropea

Q. What challenges did you overcome while you were making it? In addition to the linkage problems I had to hire a stone setter with the skill to follow my sketch and take on the responsibility of understanding my design and communicating with me directly to achieve my vision.

www.lindamacneil.com