[1] The organization has supported the creation of Modernist jewelry in the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as contemporary, and sculptural works.
[2] The Metal Arts Guild of San Francisco was founded in July 1951 by a group of dedicated metal artists and jewelers led by Margaret De Patta,[3] and included Merry Renk,[4] Irena Brynner, Florence Resnikoff, Byron August Wilson, Peter Macchiarini, Virginia Macchiarini, Vera Allison, Francis Sperisen, and Bob Winston.
[7] The organization host educational lectures, art exhibitions, and classes.
[7][9] Benefits for members of MAG include a mutual exchange of information on techniques and exhibition opportunities, and large cooperative purchases of materials in order to offer a lessened prices.
[2][7] In 2002, the exhibition Fifty Years in the Making: The Bay Area Metal Arts Guild 1951-2001, was held at Velvet Da Vinci gallery in San Francisco.