Events

Sunday Evening Program 2004

For the first time in history, the legends of mineral collecting gathered together in one room to serve as our panel for the 2004 Sunday Evening Program. The Golden Age of Minerals was the topic of discussion and each panel member took their turn at sharing their thoughts and stories on what they consider to be the finest period of mineral collecting.

This will be a standing-room only event, as these six mineral pioneers will have us laughing and reminiscing about The Golden Age of Minerals.

Join us at 6:30 PM for cocktails and snacks, followed by the main event at 7:30 PM.

Event Details

Program: The Golden Age of Minerals
Special Guests: Steve Smale, David Wilber, Peter Bancroft,
Charlie Key, Bill Larson and Edward Swoboda
When: Sunday, February 8, 2004
Time: 6:30 PM – Social Hour | 7:30 PM – Presentation
Where: Westward Look Resort, Sonoran Ballroom

 

A sneak peek at The Golden Age of Minerals – a DVD of the Sunday Evening Event at the Westward Look Mineral Show. Steve Smale, David Wilber, Pete Bancroft, Charlie Key, Bill Larson and Edward Swoboda all talk about the past of mineral collecting. Available for purchase now on www.bluecapproductions.com

 

Golden Age of Minerals

Filmed on location by BlueCap Productions, the complete video of this evening event is available for purchase on the BlueCap Productions website.

Sunday Evening Program 2008

At one time considered predominantly a men’s-only hobby, mineral collecting has evolved over the years to become an exciting hobby for men, children and, especially, women.

Tonight’s program will feature a special panel of distinguished women collectors as they share their perspectives and experiences in this universal hobby.

Join us at 6:30 PM for cocktails and snacks, followed by the main event at 7:30 PM.

Event Details

Program: Perspectives of the Woman Collector
Special Guests: Gail Spann, Ann Frazier, Dawn Minette,
Carolyn Manchester, Kerith Graeber and Diane Brownlee
When: Sunday, February 10, 2008
Time: 6:30 PM – Social Hour | 7:30 PM – Presentation
Where: Westward Look Resort, Sonoran Ballroom

 

Perspectives of the Woman Collector

Filmed on location by BlueCap Productions, the complete video of this evening event is available for purchase on the BlueCap Productions website.

Sunday Evening Program 2009

Pick up a mineral magazine and one of the first things that will impress you is the fine quality of outstanding photography that chronicles this hobby we love so much.

Tonight’s program will feature a special panel of distinguished mineral photographers who will share their talent for photographing minerals and making us drool.

Join us at 6:30 PM for cocktails and snacks, followed by the main event at 7:30 PM.

Event Details

Program: My Favorite Specimens
Special Guests: Jeff Scovil, Michael Bainbridge and Joe Budd
When: Sunday, February 8, 2009
Time: 6:30 PM – Social Hour | 7:30 PM – Presentation
Where: Westward Look Resort, Sonoran Ballroom

 

Westward Look Show

This entire program was filmed on location by BlueCap Productions.

High-resolution scans of each photo presented were provided to BlueCap Productions for this DVD by each of the three photographers.

Click here to order your copy of this DVD today!

Sunday Evening Program 2010

Mineral Artists Show

We are extremely excited to be a part of this major event in Tucson in 2010. For the first time in the history of the Tucson show, a spotlight is being placed on the incredibly talented mineral artists of our hobby. These people work diligently in artistically reproducing these minerals we all love so much and it’s about time they got their recognition.

For the 2010 Sunday Evening Program, four of the Grand Masters of mineral art will make up our Special Panel of Guests – Eberhard Equit,Hildegard KönighoferWendell Wilson and Susan Robinson.

And during the cocktail hour prior to the Presentation, we’ll be setting up a special Mineral Artists’ Gallery in the Ballroom that will be featuring the works of many other mineral artists.

Artists currently scheduled to present at the Gallery include:

  • Chris Hughes
  • Steve Sorrel
  • Gail Spann
  • Brandy Naugle

This program is also tied into a special Mineral Artists Show that will be held at the TGMS’ Main Show at the Tucson Convention Center.

Organized by Daniel Trinchillo from Fine Minerals International and Bryan Swoboda from BlueCap Productions, this is sure to be a standing-room-only crowd.

Join us at 6:30 PM for cocktails and snacks, followed by the main event at 7:30 PM.

Event Details

Program: Mineral Artists
Special Guests: Eberhard Equit, Hildegard Könighofer, Wendell Wilson and Susan Robinsona
When: Sunday, February 7, 2010
Time: 6:30 PM – Social Hour | 7:30 PM – Presentation
Where: Westward Look Resort, Sonoran Ballroom

Click here to download the Mineral Artists Show brochure.

Sunday Evening Program 2011

Dr. Federico Pezzotta is the Curator of Mineralogy at the Museum of Natural History in Milan, Italy and one of the most knowledgeable people in the world on the mineralogy of Madagascar.

In his years of work on this island nation, located off the southeastern coast of Africa, Dr. Pezzotta has experienced high adventures enough for three lifetimes. From shady dealings to outrageous characters to muggings and robberies – Dr. Pezzotta’s life is right out of a storybook encapsulating all the adventure and excitement of international mineral collecting.

Join us on Sunday Evening as Dr. Pezzotta shares with us, in words and pictures, some of these exciting stories that most people only dream of.

Join us at 6:00 PM for cocktails and snacks, followed by the main event at 7:30 PM.

Event Details

Program: Mineral Adventures from Madagascar
Special Guests: Dr. Federico Pezzotta
When: Sunday, February 6, 2011
Time: 6:30 PM – Social Hour | 7:30 PM – Presentation
Where: Westward Look Resort, Sonoran Ballroom

 

Dr Federico Pezzotta

Sunday Evening Program 2012

Ed Swoboda’s love for minerals started when he was a little kid and, at 94 years, he’s still going strong.

Throughout his years of collecting, Swoboda lived in Brazil from 1939 to 1948 before returning to the US where he set up home base in Southern California. From there, he spent years traveling around the world in search of minerals in places like Mexico, French Equatorial Africa, Rhodesia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Kenya, South Africa, Australia, Bolivia, Burma, Chile, Colombia, Japan, Peru, Turkey, Uruguay and Venezuela.

He also was the owner of the Pala Chief Mine, Stewart Lithia Mine and the world-famous Tourmaline Queen Mine – which he still owns. In 1971 he, and partner Bill Larson, uncovered the blue cap tourmaline pocket at the Queen Mine which made, and continues to make, mineral history.

Notoriously shy, this pioneer and legend of the mineral collecting world has graciously accepted our invitation to come and present a brief overview of his experience and life in, “A Life of Gems & Minerals.”

This is sure to be a completely packed presentation so come early and stay late.

Join us at 6:00 PM for cocktails and snacks, followed by the main event at 7:30 PM.

Event Details

Program: Edward Swoboda: “A Life of Gems & Minerals”
Special Guests: Wendell Wilson, Bill Larson, Gene Meieran
When: Sunday, February 5, 2012
Time: 6:30 PM – Social Hour | 7:30 PM – Presentation
Where: Westward Look Resort, Sonoran Ballroom

 

Edward Swoboda

Sunday Evening Program 2013

The Sunday Evening Program is one of the best opportunities for people to learn, first-hand, some of the real-life stories and perspectives behind these incredible minerals. Each year, we assemble a special panel of seasoned experts to share their thoughts, stories and experiences in their pursuit of minerals.

Mineral-collecting pioneers, such as Edward Swoboda, Peter Bancroft, Bill Larson, David Wilber, Charlie Key, and many more have graced our stage. After the presentation, we open up the floor to questions and answers and always get lively discussions going. This quickly becomes a standing-room-only event, so get here early!

Join us at 6:00 PM for cocktails and snacks, followed by the main event at 7:30 PM.

Event Details

Program: What’s Digging – Recent Activity at the Adelaide, Rogerly and OceanView Mines
Special Guests: Adam Wright, Cal Graeber, Jeff Swanger
When: Sunday, February 10, 2013
Time: 6:00 PM – Social Hour | 7:30 PM – Presentation
Where: Westward Look Resort, Sonoran Ballroom

Sunday Evening Program 2014

The Sunday Evening Program is one of the best opportunities for people to learn, first-hand, some of the real-life stories and perspectives behind these incredible minerals. Each year, we assemble a special panel of seasoned experts to share their thoughts, stories and experiences in their pursuit of minerals.

This Sunday’s event features the Pederneira Mine. Just the mention of it gets mineral collectors around the world salivating… especially tourmaline-lovers. Some of the finest, most delicate tourmalines the world has ever seen have come out of this legendary mine, deep in the heart of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Daniel Trinchillo, the President of Fine Minerals International, is one of the partner/owners of the Pederneira, and he will captivate the audience with his stories, photos, and videos of the mine.

This is a must-attend event, as many of these photos and videos have never before been seen in public! Come early, enjoy a little socializing, and prepare to travel to the magic that is Pederneira – no passport required!

Join us at 6:00 PM for cocktails and snacks, followed by the main event at 7:30 PM.

Event Details

Program: The Pederneira Mine – A Rainbow of Colors
Special Guest: Daniel Trinchillo
When: Sunday, February 9, 2014
Time: 6:00 PM – Social Hour | 7:30 PM – Presentation
Where: Westward Look Resort, Sonoran Ballroom

 

Daniel Trinchillo Pederneira

Sunday Evening Program 2015

The Sunday Evening Program is one of the best opportunities for people to learn, first-hand, some of the real-life stories and perspectives behind these incredible minerals. Each year, we assemble a special panel of seasoned experts to share their thoughts, stories and experiences in their pursuit of minerals.

Mineral-collecting pioneers, such as Edward Swoboda, Peter Bancroft, Bill Larson, David Wilber, Charlie Key, and many more have graced our stage. After the presentation, we open up the floor to questions and answers and always get lively discussions going. This quickly becomes a standing-room-only event, so get here early!

This Sunday, the Second Generation is coming out front to share their stories, experiences, and thoughts on the changing mineral world, as they’ve seen it throughout the years.

This is a perspective that is truly unique, as each of these presenters has at least two generations of experience under their belts.

Join us at 6:00 PM for cocktails and snacks, followed by the main event at 7:30 PM.

Event Details

Program: Fine Mineral Collecting and the Second Generation

Special Guests: Will Larson, Evan Jones, Christophe Kielmann, Krystle Dorris and Brian Kosnar

When: Sunday, February 8, 2015

Time: 6:00 PM – Social Hour | 7:30 PM – Presentation

Where: Westward Look Resort, Sonoran Ballroom

Sunday Evening Program 2016

The Sunday Evening Program is one of the best opportunities for people to learn, first-hand, some of the real-life stories and perspectives behind these incredible minerals. Each year, we assemble a special panel of seasoned experts to share their thoughts, stories and experiences in their pursuit of minerals.

Mineral-collecting pioneers, such as Edward Swoboda, Peter Bancroft, Bill Larson, David Wilber, Charlie Key, and many more have graced our stage. After the presentation, we open up the floor to questions and answers and always get lively discussions going. This quickly becomes a standing-room-only event, so get here early!

Event Details

Program: Capturing the Minerals
Special Guests: Joaquim Callen, Mark Mauthner, and Tom Spann
When: Sunday, February 7, 2016
Time: 6:30 PM – Social Hour | 7:30 PM – Presentation
Where: Westward Look Resort, Sonoran Ballroom