May 2024, Part 1
Art Jewelry Forum is pleased to share the news that members of our community find noteworthy. Is something missing? The success of this compilation of compelling events, news, and items of interest to the jewelry community depends on YOUR participation. If you’re a member of AJF at the Silver level or above, you can add news and ideas to this bi-monthly report by going here. If you aren’t a member, but would like to become one, join AJF here.
Listings gathered with assistance from Carrie Yodanis.
EVENTS
We have a dedicated page for them. Go here to see the list.
FEEL LIKE SEEING A JEWELRY SHOW?
Find these listings and many, many more on our dedicated exhibition page:
- Keith Lewis | The Saddest Aisle, at The Jewelry Library in partnership with Gallery Loupe through May 23
- The Strength It Takes to Be Alone, at Pistachios through May 26
- Bernhard Schobinger, at Galleria Antonella Villanova through May 30
- Flora Curiosa: Hanna Liljenberg, at Platina through June 5
FROM OUR MEMBERS
SEE RE: PLAY AT BALTIMORE JEWELRY CENTER: THROUGH MAY 24, 2024
Re: Play is a solo exhibition of recent jewelry and sculpture by Katie Kameen. In this collection of colorful abstractions made entirely from secondhand and postconsumer plastics, Kameen focuses on the formal qualities of mass-produced items and how they can communicate intimate aspects of our lives. Works in the exhibition contrast two worlds of plastic: the technicolor space of children’s toys, and the neutral sophistication of functional household objects. Combined with a constant theme of playful reinvention, these spaces of childhood and adulthood reveal aspects of how our relationships evolve organically over time. More.
A COLLECTOR’S JOURNEY: SUSAN GRANT LEWIN AND THE ART JEWELRY WORLD OPENS JUNE 21
Preeminent collector Susan Grant Lewin traces her passion for art jewelry back to her work in the 1980s and ’90s as a journalist and communications executive. Lewin has followed the careers of art jewelry practitioners for four decades. At the Lowe Art Museum, Coral Gables, FL, June 21–September 14, 2024. Info.
SEE CONFETTI—A CELEBRATION OF LIFE: THROUGH JUNE 1, 2024
The extraordinary Hungarian artist Ildikó Dánfalvi uses an exceptionally wide range of materials, techniques, and forms. In her wearable artworks, you can read stories about past and present, about tradition and individuality, about beauty and protection. In this festive solo exhibition at Galerie Door, she is showing six series of art jewelry pieces using metals, textiles, wood, and enamel, thus exploring her love for nature, her childhood memories, and the visual play between the flat surface and three-dimensional vision. A feast for the eyes and a surfeit of imagination. More.
SEE SARAH KING: COMPLEMENTARY: THROUGH MAY 18, 2024
The British maker uses precious and non-precious materials, primarily silver, gold, bioresin and wood, to make sensual sculptural jewelry. The differing materials allow for a wide range of visual and tactile experiences. Using mainly carving and casting methods allows her to play with forms and work in a spontaneous way. At Jewelers’Werk. More.
“HOT” OFF THE DIGITAL PRESS: THE CATALOG FOR TENSOR: SVENJA JOHN
“A tensor is a multidimensional data field,” explains John—whose solo exhibition is on view at Galeria Tereza Seabra through May 17, 2024—“comparable to my particle constructions, in which elements are lined up (array), parallel rows (matrices/ matrix) are created and several matrices are stacked on top of each other (a tensor/a multidimensional matrix field).” See the catalog, by Catarina Silva, here.
CRAFT ABROAD OFFERS JEWELRY AND METALSMITHING WORKSHOPS
Craft Abroad brings travelers into the studios of master craftspeople and artisans to learn traditional craft practices. Their inaugural set of workshops this summer—in Chiang Mai, Thailand, a UNESCO Creative City—will focus on filigree, metal-forming, chasing, and repoussé. Throughout the workshops, participants will learn about the history of Buddhist craft in Thailand while eating local food, touring the city, and taking advantage of everything Chiang Mai has to offer. This unique program creates avenues for cross-cultural education experiences that prioritize community engagement, cultural preservation, and global connections. Info.
FREE ZIP-TIE BONANZA EVENT AT GRAVERS LANE GALLERY: MAY 19, 2024
Come to the booth in front of the gallery to create zip-tie art with the guidance of artist Trudy Wang, who has been making objects and jewelry using the simple zip-tie for several years. 8405 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, PA , 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Caption: Picture of Trudy Wang with one of her zip tie necklace creations
AJF MEMBER GALLERIES WERE AT “DESTINATION BIJOU,” MAY 2–5
In The Girl Who Makes Silver Sensuous, Platina exhibited six jewelry artist from Sweden: Annika Pettersson, Catarina Hällzon, Hanna Havdell, Klara Brynge, Sofia Björkman, Åsa Lockner. Björkman gave a talk on Sunday. Galerie Noel Guyomarc’h, meanwhile, presented its artists in the prestigious Carlone room of the Musée-Château Grimaldi, and also offered a joint conference with Stéphane Blackburn, director of the Montreal School of Jewelry. Destination Bijoux was hosted by the city of Cagnes-sur-Mer and curated by Sébastien Carré, Juan Riusech, and Isabelle Busnel.
CORRINA GOUTOS AND SHARON PORTELANCE, RESIDENTS TOGETHER
Goutos, a 2024 Young Artist Award finalist, is currently working on jewelry, objects, and installations during her residency at Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum. She coined the term “Anthrosmithing” to describe her practice, in which pre-industrial handicraft mingles with superfluous mass-produced objects, questioning modern value systems in a time when reassessment is more urgent than ever. Portelance is currently a professor at the Maine College of Art & Design, in Portland. She’s practicing stone-cutting techniques to create a mosaic brooch.
KAIA ANSIP WON THE MARIA CRISTINA BERGESIO AWARD
The award is given for a critical essay that deals with the most current issues in contemporary jewelry. The finalists were Ilaria Ruggiero, Jimena Rios, and Elena Karpilova—who have all written for AJF—and Chiaralice Rizzi. Congratulations to all! See all their abstracts here.
WATCH 30 YEARS OF TEN THOUSAND THINGS
When Ron Anderson and David Rees launched Ten Thousand Things 30 years ago, they captured the zeitgeist of the moment with their ground-breaking minimalist jewels. During NYCJW23, Pratt Institute exhibited a retrospective of the brand. Curated by jewelry historian Marion Fasel, it was accompanied by an insightful conversation with the designers. Watch it here.
OUT OF THE JEWELRY BOX NOW OPEN AT MAD
This exhibition considers the importance of queer perspectives in the world of studio and contemporary art jewelry. On view: 56 newly acquired works from The Porter Price Collection by queer artists and their allies, and 22 pieces by queer artists already represented in MAD’s permanent collection. The jewelry dates from the 1950s to the present. A 44-page, full-color catalog accompanies the show, which closes April 1, 2025. Info.
TERHI TOLVANAN GUEST-STARRED ON THE JEWELRY JOURNEY
Hear about ways jewelry can help us explore the relationship between humankind and nature, why the maker creates her work on a mannequin, and more. Listen to the podcast here.
LEGNICA JEWELLERY FESTIVAL SILVER HOLDS ITS GRAND OPENING MAY 10–11!
BJC LAUNCHES A NEW ANNUAL EXHIBITION
On the eve of its 10th anniversary, the BJC announces the Baltimore Jewelry Center Graduate Show. This exhibition will feature the work of emerging jewelers and metalsmiths as they complete their formal education while also acting as an archive and spotlight for the work being created by recent graduates. Info.
OTHER NEWS
FREE LECTURE BY SIGURD BRONGER
In English. Topic: “Making of Things” and Bronger’s world of inspiration. Venue: X-Depot der Neuen Sammlung // Pinakothek der Moderne. When: May 16, 2024, 6:30 p.m. Be there or be square.
HIP-HOP JEWELRY EXHIBITION OPENS THIS WEEK
Starting May 9, 2024, at the American Museum of Natural History, Ice Cold will highlight hip-hop’s cultural influence through five decades of jewelry sported by popular musicians. More.
LAUREN FENSTERSTOCK FEATURED IN COLOSSAL
The life cycle of stars informs the artist’s most recent works. In her jewelry-adjacent work, she creates dense “mosaics” of fragmented crystals and stones including quartz, obsidian, and tourmaline that glimmer when hit by light. More. Fensterstock teaches part time in the jewelry department at RISD and recently penned an article about Noam Elyashiv for AJF. Read it here.
DOMINIK CUNNINGHAM IS THE FRANÇOISE VAN DEN BOSCH FOUNDATION ARTIST IN RESIDENCE 2024
The American jewelry designer received his BA in jewelry design from Central Saint Martins in London. He won the Swarovski Foundation Scholarship (2022) and the Marzee Graduate Prize (2022). “During the residency I am interested to analyze how my queerness manifests itself and how that relates to my engagement with the world,” said Cunningham. He will work and stay at Studio Rian de Jong from May to July. Meet the artist on May 11 at Amsterdam’s Brouwerij ‘t IJ, starting at 4 p.m. He’ll give a lecture at Gerrit Rietveld Akademie May 14 at 2:30 p.m. More.
BRUSHING UP
Anke Kindle’s jewelry practice pays homage to the invisible labor of street cleaners by turning brushes into jewels. Read about it here.
SEE NO PLACE LIKE HOME, AT THE METAL MUSEUM, MAY 1–JUNE 2, 2024
Andrew Thornton had a piece in We Are Here, at the Metal Museum, in Memphis, TN. The show featured a cross-section of LGBTQIA+ artists working in metal. “While attending the opening reception,” he told AJF, “I had a wonderful conversation with the exhibitions director, Laura Hutchison Bhatti. We both expressed how representation matters and that we both hoped it would continue. Our conversations developed into an opportunity to curate an exhibition.” The group show features a diverse group of queer artists working in metal addressing the idea of “home.” More.
BEYOND BRILLIANCE: JEWELRY HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE COLLECTION OPENS MAY 18
Celebrating the universality of body adornment throughout the ages and across cultures, this newly renovated gallery presents highlights from the MFA Boston’s renowned jewelry collection. From ancient artifacts to fine jewelry to designs made by contemporary artists, the presentation connects objects that span 4,000 years by exploring how jewelry can communicate strong messages about its wearer and exemplify the art and culture of its time. More than 150 objects are on display. More.
CHRISTIE’S AUCTIONS VIVIENNE WESTWOOD’S JEWELRY JUNE 25, 2024
“Vivienne Westwood: The Personal Collection” will offer the late fashion designer’s own wardrobe, including some of the most important iconic looks that she created and wore. The wardrobe, which only contains jewelry, garments, and shoes by Westwood’s fashion house, is recognized as historically and culturally significant. The earliest piece included in the sale comes from the autumn/winter 1983/84 Witches collection. Info.
TIFFANY & CO UNVEILS PHARRELL’S INAUGURAL COLLECTION
“Tiffany Titan,” as the 19 new jewelry pieces are called, was inspired by Poseidon’s trident. You’ll find spiky silhouettes and sharp spear-shaped motifs with gently undulating links. More.
DIAMONDS CAN NOW BE GROWN WITHOUT EXTREME PRESSURE
Synthetic diamonds are usually made in the lab under crushing pressures. A new method works at atmospheric pressures. More.
WHAT A DEAL!
An online shopper in Mexico got Cartier earrings priced at $13,000 for only $13!! More.
COLD JEWELRY—DID YOU KNOW IT’S A PROBLEM?
Kim Kardashian uses a hairdryer on her jewelry because she hates freezing “and when you put on cold jewelry or like anything with a zipper, I just need it warm and then put it on.” More.
OPPORTUNITIES
THE POOL SEEKS A NEW MEMBER
The Pool – Amsterdam Jewelry Collective is an autonomous team of 15 professional makers, ranging from emerging to both mid-career and established artists. They’re looking for a new member. Criteria: based in or around Amsterdam and ready to work two shifts a month. Apply here by May 20, 2024.
CALL FOR ENTRY: ETHICAL METALSMITH STUDENTS
Apply for this year’s So Fresh + So Clean design challenge. How are you sourcing materials? Perhaps they’re recycled, found, or maybe even trash? Responses to material sourcing are truly endless! These decisions are closely related to our planet’s well-being, as well as the individuals who mine, create, refine, package, and ship the material. Deadline: May 30, 2024. More.
OPEN CALL: A-GALERII’S 2025 VAULT and WINDOWS
Estonia’s exhibition space for jewelry and blacksmithing welcomes applications from jewelry artists as well as boldly experimental exhibition projects that combine jewelry and blacksmithing with other art fields. Deadline: May 26, 2024. More.
OPEN CALL: CONTEMPORARY JEWELRY EXHIBITION: FRIDA KAHLO
This exhibition explores the enduring influence of Frida Kahlo on contemporary jewelry design, 70 years after her death. Galleria Carlo Lucidi, in Rome, invites female artists to submit work that reinterprets Kahlo’s vibrant imagery; explores themes of resilience, femininity, life, death, and Mexicanidad (Mexican identity); or reflects on the artist’s personal struggles and triumphs. Deadline: May 30, 2024. Info.
APPLICATIONS OPEN: JEWELER IN RESIDENCE AT PLATTFORM SCHMUCKKUNST
The selected jewelry artist will be able to use the community workshop, in Graz, Austria, for the entire month and show their outcome during the last week of their stay in the form of a solo exhibition, on site and online. In addition, the artist will teach a workshop. The association provides a fully equipped workspace, with workbench and various tools and equipment (casting, welding etc.). The artist will receive 600€ for the workshop and accommodations. Deadline: June 2, 2024. More.
ARTIST RESIDENCY: STOVE WORK, CHATTANOOGA, TN
From February through November of each year, Stove Works’ Artist Residency invites eight artists to live/work for one to three months at a time. Deadline: June 15, 2024. Info.
SUMMER JOB: BUCK’S ROCK CAMP
This Montessori-based creative learning environment seeks artists to spend the summer at camp and teach in the metalsmithing & jewelry shop. They are hiring a Head of Metals Shop and a Metals Counselor. The overnight camp in the Berkshire Mountains in Central Connecticut serves 400+ children ages 11–17. Info.
TAKE A WORKSHOP AT HAYSTACK
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