The Apple Computer prodigy who developed the pull-down menu and much of the original software for the Macintosh user interface made a guest appearance at GIA Sept. 22 for the fourth lecture in the Museum’s 2004 series, “Gems and Jewelry Brought to Light.” Bill Atkinson, also an innovative photographer and digital printmaker, presented unique macro photographs of polished gem and mineral specimens featured in his book, Within the Stone; he later signed copies for attendees. In addition, Atkinson has gifted 30 images seen in the book to the Institute. They were displayed during the lecture and remain on exhibit at GIA.

Atkinson told the sold-out, invitation-only crowd that his real passion has always been to inspire and nurture people with the beauty of nature. He always wanted to be a painter. In 1999, while photographing the Arizona landscape in the Petrified Forest National Park, he became intrigued with the colors and shapes on the surfaces of some rocks.

Since then, Atkinson has frequented many of the trade’s gem shows, where he would spend an entire day setting up a portable studio in his motel room. After meeting a few dealers, he quickly became known and trusted, and eventually worked with about 100 gem dealers from around the world. “After a few years of this, I would come up to booths, and dealers would have some of their personal gems ready for me to photograph. And, they would always just let me take their finest pieces. I would thank them by giving them beautiful prints of their stones, as promised,” he said.

Atkinson said he is thrilled that he had finally become the artist he has always dreamed of becoming and that he has something like this to give back to the world. “They are like landscape photography, but really more like photos of dreams of landscapes,” he said of his work, adding that he wants the world to see rocks and gems as the art that they truly are.

“Bill is an extraordinary artist, and his breakthroughs in the digital photography and printing fields point the way for the future of this art form,” said GIA Museum Director Elise Misiorowski, “His work is on the vanguard of a technology that is still evolving, and we are so appreciative that he has gifted these beautiful images to GIA.”

Within the Stone features 72 of Atkinson’s best images, chosen by the artist himself from thousands of photographs of specimens. For more information, or to order the book, visit GIA Gem Instruments & Books.

The 2004 lecture series entry fee is $10 per lecture, and is open to the public on a space-available basis. At the next lecture, master goldsmith and award-winning jewelry designer Alan Revere will present “The Art of the American Jewelry Design Council,” Nov. 16, in conjunction with the opening of GIA’s AJDC Signature Collection exhibit. To RSVP for the upcoming lecture, or to add your name to the lecture series mailing list, call 800-421-7250, ext. 4169.

Sept. 27, 2004