San Diego County Fair – "A Fair Fair to Remember"

A Fair to Remember:
A celebration of Balboa Park and World's Fairs

 

THE THEME OF THE 2015 FAIR was a celebration of Balboa Park and Fairs past.  The nostalgiac homage inspired some marvelous artistic creations entered in the Fair Theme Jewelry category.  Minerals of Mexico were featured as the Mineral of the Year and Marine-Life Fossils were the Fossil of the Year.

This year, the Fair saw its second best ever attendance record, with more than 1.5 million visitors attending the Del Mar Fairgrounds during the event's six-week run.  SDMG's very own Anne Schafer, who took over from Greg Anderson as the Mineral, Gems and Jewelry Department Coordinator, spent months preparing for a deluge of visitors.  After planning, installing, running and deinstalling the exhibit hall over the past 36 years under Greg's direction, the transition was seamless.  The logistics were no less daunting, however, with over 300 exhibitors and more than 75 display cases this year, including an entry by the SDMG Junior Division.  Everything was in place and ready for showtime when the Fair opened on June 6th.  The wall cases were re-formatted this year, and they showed off the jewelry displays to best effect.

This year included a fluorescent mineral room, where the specimens literally "lit up" under the glow of black lights.  Demonstrators showed their skills at chain-making, gem faceting, and sphere-making.  Free gem identification was provided by the Gemological Society of San Diego.  Knowledgeable staff provided daily docent tours of the exhibits and kids were invited to sift for gems and mineral treasures buried in the sandbox.

Lots of SDMG members entered the Fair competition this year.  There were full cases of spheres, lots of jewelry, carvings, cabs, faceted gemstones, a display from the Juniors, an exhibit from the faceting classes and another award-winning exhibit from the casting classes.  Featured below are a list of exhibitors and a sampling of exhibits showing off the talent of some SDMG members – many were award-winners this year.  Congratulations to one and all!  See the complete list of winning entries (by name).

 

GEMS, MINERALS & JEWELRY DEPARTMENT
reported by Anne Schafer, Coordinator

WHAT A GREAT YEAR!  Do you remember:  Irv Brown's fine mineral specimens – Carl Shugart's two giant thunderegg halves that filled a whole exhibit case – beautiful Mexican agates from the Al & Mary Rose collection – GIA's huge Liddicoatite slices – Paul Kloppenborg's chrysanthemum carved from quartz and set in silver – David Lipson's luscious rhodochrosite sphere – B.J. Cheathem's World's Fair souvenir jewelry – all the beautiful repoussé jewelry from the SDMG classes – the whole Rock Feast, presented by the El Cajon Valley Gem & Mineral Society and lit by a chandelier?  It was indeed A Fair to Remember!

Thanks go to the many people who made the exhibit possible again this year.  Greg Anderson contacted award donors and encouraged past exhibitors to enter again.  The staff – Rich Yarbrough, Mike Harlow, Wayne Moorhead, Doug Peeler, Wayne and Peggy and Ian and Cameron Leibitzke – made sure everything was set up, exhibits installed, glass cleaned, and volunteers and the public greeted.  Judges Irv Brown (Minerals and Educational), Jim Parrish (Fossils and Mixed Display), Mark Kaufman (Faceting), Ray Pearce and Fred Wilson (Lapidary), and J.C. Dumas (Jewelry) impartially applied their considerable knowledge to place the winners.  Bonni Zeranski and Sue Minnock filled in as assistant jewelry judges at the last minute.

Paul Williams arranged for sphere making demos, while Bob Hancock lined up faceting demonstrators to provide continuous coverage every weekday.  Working in shifts, they devoted time, energy and talent to show the public how faceted gemstones are produced.  They also provided much information to fairgoers about SDMG and other gem and mineral clubs in the area.  A heartfelt "Thank You and Well Done" for the contributions made by Elbert McCune, Chris Farmer, Donna Beers, Dave Smith, Shiang-Shin (Kevin) Yeh, John Kruzel, Letty Evans, Lu Ann Benton, Taylor Muecke, and Lucia Barckly.

Cathy Davis and Jim Porter scheduled Gemological Society Gem I.D. volunteers for every weekend.  Local rock club contacts – Ray Pearce of Vista, Chris Toft of Palomar, Brian Turner of Southwest Prospectors, Virginia Dickerson of Imperial Valley, Linda Hutsell of San Diego Lapidary, Mary Ness of El Cajon, Lois Lukasky for the SDMG Juniors – signed up smiling workers to help kids screen for rock treasures in the sand pile.

And most important of all, the Gems & Minerals Dept. would be nothing without our exhibitors.  To everyone who entered their best minerals, favorite fossils, hand-crafted jewelry, sparkling gems and shiny cabs: Thank you!  YOU wowed everyone – staff, judges and fairgoers – with your beautiful and educational displays.

Results may still be viewed online (see below a list of SDMG award winners):
http://goo.gl/1rNhGs (short url)

 

SDMG Members – Competitive Exhibit Winners

 

• Rocio Bergum. Second Place. Class 060: Fair Theme Jewelry, single piece.
• Bill Brisebois. First Place. Class 034: One faceted stone, natural material, 25 cts. and up.
• Bill Brisebois. First Place. Class 035: One faceted Birthstone gem, natural material.
• Bill Brisebois. First Place. Class 038: One faceted stone, natural material. Advanced. Amateur.
• Angela Cannon. Third Place. Class 032: Mixed display, a variety of minerals.
• Angela Cannon. Award of Merit. Class 071: Educational Exhibit. One full case.
• Garry Cannon. Second Place. Class 022: Petrified wood, worldwide. Full case.
• Debra Clough. Third Place. Class 052: Constructed jewelry, all metal. Amateur.
• Debra Clough. Third Place. Class 037: One faceted stone, natural material. Beginner. Amateur.
• Jane Coursin. First Place. Class 067: Bead jewelry purchased and strung by exhibitor.
• Pamela Frankel. Second Place. Class 037: One faceted stone, natural material. Beginner. Amateur.
• Diane Hall. Second Place. Class 064: Chasing and/or repousse, single piece.
• Bob Hancock and the Faceting Class. Award of Merit. Class 071: Educational Exhibit. One full case.
• Sheryl Haupt. Third Place. Class 051: Constructed jewelry, w/ stones. Amateur.
• Sheryl Haupt. First Place. Class 063: Enamel, plique-à-jour or cloisonne jewelry.
• Sandra Heath. First Place. Class 052: Constructed jewelry, all metal. Amateur.
• Sandra Heath. Second Place. Class 052: Constructed jewelry, all metal. Amateur.
• Sandra Heath. Third Place. Class 064: Chasing and/or repoussé, single piece.
• Arnim Huber. First Place. Class 047: Carving, mineral or rock. Beginner. Amateur.
• Paul Kloppenborg. First Place. Class 050: Open Lapidary, mineral or rock. No cabs, spheres, carvings.
• Paul Kloppenborg. Second Place. Class 044: One cab, worldwide, with rough.
• Paul Kloppenborg. Award of Merit. Class 071: Educational Exhibit. One full case.
• John Kruzel. First Place. Class 045: Polished spheres, worldwide, any size. Full case.
• Jan Kunsa. First Place. Class 048: Carving, mineral or rock. Advanced. Amateur.
• Jan Kunsa. First Place. Class 051: Constructed jewelry, w/ stones. Amateur.
• Hugh Lawrence. First Place. Class 023: One specimen petrified wood, worldwide.
• Hugh Lawrence. First Place. Class 024: Three specimens petrified wood, single genus.
• Hugh Lawrence. Second Place. Class 024: Three specimens petrified wood, single genus.

 

The following SDMG members also entered exhibits in competition:  Lee Bennett, Donna Casey, Steven Drenning, Rhonda Epstein, Pamela McLean, Julie Monroe, Mariette Pan, Ellen Riceman, Dee Smith, Ed White and Jill Williamson.