Reena Ahluwalia Receives Fellow Award, Delivers Keynote Address At The George Brown College Convocation 2017

Full Keynote Speech by Reena Ahluwalia. Drawing from some of the pivotal lessons from her life, Reena Ahluwalia urged students to nurture and value their unbounded mind, their unique inner compass and passion to persevere.

After an extensive vetting process, Toronto’s George Brown College chose jewelry designer Reena Ahluwalia to serve as their keynote speaker at Convocation 2017. According to Dean Luigi Ferrara, “Reena’s influential work in the global diamond and jewelry industry, her achievements in the world of Fashion and Visual Art and service as Faculty and mentor to so many of our students, made her the ideal choice for inspiring our graduates and sending them off into this exciting new phase of their lives.” 

Drawing from some of the pivotal lessons from her life, Reena Ahluwalia, jewelry designer, painter, professor and community builder, urged students to nurture and value their unbounded mind, their unique inner compass and the passion to persevere. During the ceremony Reena received an honorary degree in International Fashion Management and an Institute without Boundaries (IwB) Fellow Award for leaving an indelible mark on industry, country, community and for her contributions to the areas of study offered at George Brown for being an exceptional role model for the students. Reena’s full Keynote Speech can be seen here: https://youtu.be/jnuiYuxtLtI

Anne Sado, President of the George Brown College, said, “Our Academic Management Committee made up of all college Deans, were unanimous in recommending Reena Ahluwalia. Our criteria for granting an honorary degree is for people who have made an exceptional contribution to the country, world, with relevance to the College. As a person worthy of this recognition, Reena Ahluwalia exemplifies the qualities that George Brown College staff and students strive for – perseverance, passion and excellence.”

The George Brown College convocation ceremony for the Centre of Arts, Design & Information Technology was held on June 12th, 2017 at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto, Canada.

Passionate Heart - A Pink Heart-Shaped Diamond Painting By Reena Ahluwalia

Life is short. If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.

Celebrating a heart full of passion, 'Passionate Heart' is my pink heart-shaped diamond painting, one of three heart-shaped diamond painting from the 'Diamond Portrait Series'. Pink diamonds are extremely rare diamonds and are the hot favorite of collectors and connoisseurs. The most romantic of all diamonds, heart-shaped diamonds are often referred to as an extremely popular fancy cut and the ultimate representation of love. I love working with heart-shaped diamonds for my jewelry creations. So much so that I wrote about the most Famous Heart-Shaped Diamonds in history. 

Here are a few images of the painting and process...

Live with passion, follow your heart!

'Passionate Heart' - Portrait of a Pink Heart-Shaped Diamond
36 x 36 inches. Acrylic on Canvas. ©Reena Ahluwalia

Close up detail. 'Passionate Heart' - Portrait of a Pink Heart-Shaped Diamond. 36 x 36 inches. Acrylic on Canvas. ©Reena Ahluwalia

Preparing color palette for my pink 'Passionate Heart' diamond painting. Coloration within a pink diamond is highly nuanced. ©Reena Ahluwalia

Life full of passion is a beautiful one! Reena Ahluwalia in her studio working on the 'Passionate Heart' - Portrait of a Pink Heart-Shaped Diamond. 36 x 36 inches. Acrylic on Canvas. ©Reena Ahluwalia

Do it with passion or not at all! In progress, 'Passionate Heart' - Portrait of a Pink Heart-Shaped Diamond. 36 x 36 inches. Acrylic on Canvas. ©Reena Ahluwalia

Diamond facets are so beautiful and detailed, don't you think? Just like a heart ... you look into its depths, you find so much more to love. Facet details of 'Passionate Heart' - Portrait of a Pink Heart-Shaped Diamond. 36 x 36 inches. Acrylic on Canvas. ©Reena Ahluwalia

Reena Ahluwalia at her studio working on the 'Passionate Heart' - Portrait of a Pink Heart-Shaped Diamond. 36 x 36 inches. Acrylic on Canvas. ©Reena Ahluwalia

Reena Ahluwalia at her studio working on the 'Passionate Heart' - Portrait of a Pink Heart-Shaped Diamond. 36 x 36 inches. Acrylic on Canvas. ©Reena Ahluwalia

Completed and signed! 'Passionate Heart' - Portrait of a Pink Heart-Shaped Diamond. 36 x 36 inches. Acrylic on Canvas. ©Reena Ahluwalia

Connect with Reena

In the Name of Halloween - "Sorceress Diabolic"

All in the spirit of Halloween! I present to you...

"Sorceress Diabolic" - is a jewelry design concept by Reena Ahluwalia. 

"On a fatal night, at the witching time, the starless sky laments black and unmoving. The shadowy moon floats above. In this forbidden depths of darkness, prowls a diabolic sorceress with magic spells and dangerous enchantments. In her mask-macabre, glimmering like countess diamonds are trapped hopeless enchanted souls."

"Sorceress Diabolic" - a contemporary face-mask, designed to exaggerate and intensify the dark Sorceress’s legend. Concept drawing by Reena Ahluwalia.

Mask components are angular and pointed, recalling the sharp teeth of howling wolves and outstretched wings of ravens. Like a visual warning, a separate mouthpiece mimics teeth and fangs. Concept drawing by Reena Ahluwalia.

Profile: Reena Ahluwalia - featured in Rapaport

Rapaport discusses jewelry design and relevant diamond industry topics with designer Reena Ahluwalia. The profile can be seen at the news section. 

Diamonds.net at http://www.diamonds.net/News/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=46253

Reena Ahluwalia recognized as Top 25 "Masters of Jewellery Design in Canada"

"It's a great privilege to be recognized as a Master Canadian Jewellery Designer. I am delighted at this recognition of my ongoing journey of creating meaningful jewelry with narratives that promote socially-conscious values."

-- Reena Ahluwalia

November, 2013. Toronto — The first-ever books about fine jewellery in Canada highlight a talented group of designers who have won every major international award, and have earned prestigious jewellery commissions from people ranging from Pope John II to Uma Thurman. The two-volume, 50-year retrospective on jewellery in Canada was written and produced by Cora Golden, who also co-authored the award-winning book, Design in Canada. Produced in collaboration with Birks, Masters of Jewellery Design in Canada (Volume 1 and 2) include over 450 photographs of rarely seen Canadian-designed jewellery. Together, they provide a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the makers of the most beautiful objects in the world.

Volume 1: Post-War Pioneers profiles 25 early designers and ateliers.

Volume 2: Contemporary Artists features 25 current designers; many of whom were trained or influenced by the previous generation. Worldly and peripatetic, John de Jong caters to upscale clients across Europe and North America; while Reena Ahluwalia, also of Toronto, often uses Canadian diamonds in her extravagant creations. 

Masters of Jewellery Design in Canada (Volume 1 and Volume 2) are now available on Apple iTunes for purchase. Don't forget to get your copy!

https://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/masters-jewellery-design-in/id727835668?mt=11

https://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/masters-jewellery-design-in/id621630295?mt=11

Author Cora Golden: http://www.goldene-books.com/

Designer Reena Ahluwalia. Excerpt from Masters of Jewellery Design in Canada. Vol. 2.