One of the highlights of my trip to New York City Jewelry Week was the opportunity to see Jewelry: The Body Transformed, the blockbuster jewelry exhibition at the Met. (Ok, technically, I saw it twice while I was on the trip. And once more last weekend, since a friend and I had to go to New York anyway to coach a cross country meet in the Bronx.) But can you blame me? The Met is my favorite museum in the world, and to see my chosen profession given top billing in such a prominent exhibition just makes me incredibly happy.
Just seeing the introductory text is a thrilling testament to the power of jewelry:
As a jewelry designer and metalsmith, it can sometimes feel like what I do is frivolous at best, and certainly not “real art.” But this exhibition is an incredible reminder of the power of jewelry as an art form and it’s ability to impact humans across time and cultures. I couldn’t help but feel incredibly validated and seen as I took in this show.
Plus, it’s filled with some incredible eye candy. Here are a few of my favorite pieces:
I absolutely loved the pattern in these armor shin guards. Not to mention the mechanisms. And the shadows. (There were some incredible shadows in the show.) But also that the exhibition included works like armor to push the boundaries of what defines jewelry.
I love the settings in these bracelets:
And this Art Smith collar, which is just so incredible in it’s simplicity and form!
If I had one critique of this exhibition, I do wish there was a little more acknowledgement of the body. Especially since the sub-title is The Body Transformed. But I love that they included this sculpture from India of a Hindu goddess dripping with jewelry. (And if you take a stroll through the Asian galleries in the Met, you’ll find lots more sculptures wearing incredible jewelry.)
Overall, this exhibition is a must see. Partly because the work in it is incredible, but also because attendance matters, and the more people who see the show, the more the Met (and other museums) will see that jewelry is a valuable area of curatorial focus worthy of many more blockbuster exhibitions.
And if you really can’t make the show, I’d recommend grabbing the exhibition catalog. It dives even deeper into the meaning and value behind jewelry!
Thanks for sharing! I appreciate your observations about the inclusion of armor and the lack of models to help display the jewelry. Though, I guess some of those shadows were worth it.
For the many ancient societies we don’t have direct written records explaining their beliefs and culture, but we do have their jewelry and it can reveal a great deal. My background is archaeology and jewelry always featured in assessing class, trade relationships, culturally important imagery, etc. in reports and our understanding of these past societies. I also remember reading that some ancient groups held metal smiths in high regard, perhaps even revered them for their ability to transform metal. I imagine it did especially seem a bit magical back then.
A few of my favorite works from those research days include the glass beads from East Hallstatt (roughly, modern Czech Republic), the spectacular gold torque necklace imported from the Mediterranean found in the Lady Vix grave (the Pegasus on each end are amazing), and the ear adornments from Pre-Colombian Meso America.
Glad you’ve joined this old line of artisans and craftsmen. Also thankful for all the support and education you continue to put out into the world.