If modern art was a man, contemporary jewelry would be his wife. Eccentric, bright, generous, with unrealistic expectations from life. A type of woman that others would discuss: “How she only manages to have such a full life without any normal occupation?!” And, yet, she does.
I love contemporary jewelry! I love its unreasonable scales and forms, its colors and ideas. It is the case when you need to go deep and to inquire, what is behind it, why? It is the embodyment of dreaming without limit and allowing yourself to play. It is a statement which you can put on in the morning and go out into the world. Actually, after this inspirational passage I want to tell you about an annual paradise for art jewelry lovers, LOOT: MAD about Jewelry in New York (April 4-8, 2017). Those, who have not been there, I will be your eyes!
New York met me with rain and fog, as if saying: “Don’t lose time gazing around, simply go to MAD”.
MAD is the Museum of Art and Design which is the only American museum to possess a gallery dedicated to the display of both temporary jewelry exhibits and its own collection of contemporary and modern studio and art jewelry.
Annually it organizes an exhibition and sale featuring designs from emerging and acclaimed international jewelry artists. Now in its 17th edition, LOOT has become known as the ultimate pop-up shop for contemporary artist-made jewelry, where collectors and jewelry enthusiasts have the rare opportunity to meet and acquire pieces from some of the most innovative creators in the field.
The curator Bryna Pomp did a great job and brought up to the LOOT scene 54 designers from 21 countries.
I am not featuring all the designers, just want to give a glimpse into the event for those who have not been there.
Inni Pärnänen, Finland.
Aino Favén, Finland. Aino creates pieces of translucent plastic bags to make a jewelry comment on the large trash islands floating in oceans and endangering nature and wildlife.
Gerda and Nicolai Monies, Denmark.
I am proud to see a Montrealer, Aurélie Guillaume, among the participants! You, probably, already know my feelings for what she does. Her enamels are simply a dream!
Beaded portraits by Marianne Batlle, France.
One of my favourites, zen minimalistic enamelism by Kaori Juzu, Japan – Denmark.
Hlín Reykdal, Iceland.
Ana Hagopian, Argentina – Spain. I could not believe it’s paper.
Tara Locklear, USA. Tara creates these colourful pieces of broken, recycled skateboards. That’s fun!
Silke Lazarević, Germany. This artist also attracts me very much. Silke uses parchemin, fair-trade silver and gold. She showed me how she works with parchemin. Basically, you let the wet pieces dry over something to give it a form. You can also pierce them and, when dry, the holes take unimaginary forms – birds, stars, …. Letting the light sparkle through them on the metal surfaces.
Helga Mogenson, Iceland. Helga uses driftwood, threads, silver. It is interesting, on one of the pieces she has the names of family members written on different parts, alltogether connected into a necklace.
Guðbjörg Ingvarsdóttir, Iceland.
Iradj Moini, USA. Spectacular pieces by a former jewelry designer for Oscar de la Renta, exhibited at the Louvre, the MOMA and other galleries worldwide.
Michelle Cangiano, Australia. How? How did she manage to ship these beautiful paper pieces, undamaged, from Melbourne?
Fragile porcelain beauty by Raluca Buzura, Romania.
Katrin Zimmerman, Germany – USA. A line of silver and acrylic art jewelry.
Hebe Argentieri, Argentina. What you see, is recycled plastic.
Saerom Kong, South Korea – Germany. Guess, what is it? I also could not believe that these colourful pieces, resembling rather the underwater kingdom, are made of rice and silver.
Jeong Ju Lee, South Korea – United States.
Åse-Marit Thorbjørnsrud, Norway. Beautiful jewelry, inspired by origami.
Sunyoung Kim, Korea.
Sowon Joo, Korea.
Julie Decubber, France. Julie repurposes antique porcelain and earthenware plates to tell through jewelry people’s stories and explore the theme of memory.
Ferràn Iglesias Barón, Spain.
Of course, that’s not all! I simply can’t tell you all the stories and feature all of the beautiful artists. There are also ceramic bow ties by Cor Sine Labe Doli (Italy), pieces created with only the instruments of the Stone Age by Jo McAllister (UK), wearable antiquities by Anna Porcu (Italy), endangered spieces in silver by Rie Taniguchi (UK) and many others. Check them out on the site of LOOT: MAD about Jewelry!
On the cover: logo of the event by R. Toledo