From Wave to Shining Wave: a Celebration of Phil Baldwin and Shining Wave Metals

Exhibition Dates: June 20- July 20, 2025

Opening Reception: June 22, Sunday 1-3pm, RSVP HERE

Location: Danaca Design, 5625 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105 

See website for updated hours: https://danacadesigngallery.myshopify.com/pages/hours

About the Exhibition:

“From Wave to Shining Wave” is a showcase of both material and legacy. It is deeply rooted in mokume-gane, a unique layering of metals first developed in Japan to create dynamic, organic patterns. Pacific Northwest metalsmith Phillip Baldwin significantly contributed to the revival and technical advancement of mokume-gane in the United States and made it commercially available through his company, Shining Wave Metals. The technique is now part of the creative vocabulary of metalsmiths throughout the country.

This exhibition, hosted by Danaca Design Gallery in Seattle, is curated by — and features work by members of — the Seattle Metals Guild. The show brings together more than 30 artists, each contributing one-of-a-kind pieces in honor of Baldwin and Shining Wave Metals.

Mokume-gane, developed in early 17th-century Japan, translates to “wood grain metal” or “wood eye metal” but the patterning can be as diverse as its maker. Many of the works in this exhibition are made from the patterned mokume Baldwin himself produced. These works serve not only as artistic expressions but also as living links to Baldwin’s hands, knowledge, and generosity. This may be the last exhibition in which so many artists work with mokume-gane produced by Phil — making it a rare and resonant moment. They carry forward a material history shaped by one maker’s persistent curiosity, reminding us of the lasting power of community in shaping artistic legacy.

About Phillip Baldwin 

Phillip Baldwin (1953–2023) was a master metalsmith renowned for revitalizing the ancient Japanese technique of mokume-gane. The centuries-old Japanese method bonds multiple layers of precious and non-precious metals to create intricate, organic patterns. Originally developed by sword makers, the technique had nearly vanished by the 20th century. 

Baldwin helped bring mokume-gane into the modern jewelry studio. As a graduate student at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, he played a pivotal role in the Mokume Research Project, experimenting with fusion-bonding techniques and non-traditional metal combinations. His process innovations and material research earned him a reputation as a technical pioneer in the American metals community. 

In 1983, Baldwin founded Shining Wave Metals in Snohomish, Washington, where he supplied high-quality mokume-gane billets to artists across the country. His materials made the once-obscure technique more accessible and his influence continues to shape the practices of contemporary metalsmiths. His writings and process documentation remain important references today. 

Participating Artists:

Amy Hsieh, Andrew Fallat, Andy Cooperman, Anne Wolf, Bill Dawson, Carolina Andersson, Chapin Dimond, Cheryl De Groot, Christen Coomer, Claire Ramsey, Cynthia Toops, Dana Cassara, David Gackenbach, Dorthea E. King, Dustin Wylie, Francesca Urciuoli, Jane Drucker, Jane Martin, Jay McAleer, Jennifer Stenhouse, Joan Hammond, Julia Lowther, Lisa Geertsen, Marcia Geving, Marianne Willumsen, Micki Lippe, Rachel Morris, Stephanie Benson, Victoria Lansford, Virginia Causey, Yoko Rover, Yuko Tanaka, Yu-Ya Su.