New York, NY (January 18, 2011) A Bit of Clay on the
Skin: New Ceramic Jewelry, on view at the Museum of Arts and Design from
March 15 through September 4, 2011, explores the manifold appeal of ceramics,
especially porcelain, in jewelry. Organized by the Fondation d'Entreprise
Bernardaud and curated by the renowned German-born goldsmith and jewelry artist
Monika Brugger, the exhibition showcases the versatility and allure of the
medium, which can be modeled or cast, used alone or with metal, wood, and stone,
and vary in color and texture. Best known as the stuff of the luxurious and the
mundane, of fine tableware and technical equipment, when used in jewelry,
porcelain sparks the visual and physical sensations to become an object of
desire.
Visitors will be captivated by the scope and ingenuity of
the more than one hundred works on view. While some make reference to
traditional jewelry in materials and symbolism, others altogether redefine it in
substance, form, and matter. The work of 18 cutting-edge jewelry artists will be
featured, including creations by such notables as Peter Hoogeboom, Evert
Nijland, Ted Noten (The Netherlands), Gésine Hackenberg (Germany), Marie
Pendariès (Spain), and Shu-Lin Wu
(Taiwan).
"Even though the Egyptians produced seal rings in faience, and the Greeks and
Romans gilded terracotta to imitate gold, the use of ceramics in the fabrication
of jewelry was abandoned centuries ago," says curator Monika Brugger. "Today
many artists, like those assembled in this show, are popularizing porcelain as a
compelling material for jewelry."
"Ceramic jewelry embodies the creative transformation of a humble Earth
material by art and industry into a wearable object of great refinement and
sensuality," notes MAD's Jewelry Curator Ursula Ilse-Neuman. "Exploring new
currents in art jewelry is a vital part of the Museum's mission," she continues.
"We are delighted to present these visually and intellectually engaging works to
a New York
audience."
THE FONDATION D'ENTREPRISE BERNARDAUD
Established in 2003 by Michel Bernardaud, the
family-run company's Chairman and CEO, the mission of the Fondation d'Entreprise
Bernardaud is to promote a deeper public awareness of porcelain's fascinating
history and extraordinary qualities. The Fondation, located in Limoges, France,
welcomes an international array of artists and designers who are invited to
invent unexpected usages for porcelain. Through these innovative and technically
challenging projects, the Fondation aims to give new value to a craft that
favors the "wisdom of the hand."
The Fondation annually hosts a summer exhibition in Limoges that showcases
seminal projects by prolific contemporary ceramists. The exposition has become
a fixture on the calendars of ceramic enthusiasts.
BERNARDAUD
A family
owned-and-operated company founded in 1863, Bernardaud is the premier
manufacturer of Limoges porcelain. Deeply rooted in the history and activity of
that region, the company is highly regarded for its artistic, technical and
innovative prowess. Among French luxury brands it is a considered a trendsetter
for objects that are characterized by original forms and stunning decorative
embellishments, while globally the company is renowned for its commitment to the
French traditions of impeccable craftsmanship, refinement, and creativity in the
fabrication of porcelain objects. The vast range of its collections-tableware,
jewelry and decorative interior objects-elegantly fuse design, art, and
lifestyle.
ABOUT THE MUSEUM OF ARTS AND
DESIGN
The Museum of Arts and Design explores what Chief Curator David R. McFadden
calls "the blur zone between art, design, and craft today." It focuses on
contemporary creativity and the ways in which artists and designers from around
the world transform materials through processes ranging from the artisanal to
the digital. The Museum's exhibition program examines and illuminates issues and
ideas, highlights invention and craftsmanship, and celebrates the limitless
potential of materials and techniques when used by gifted and innovative
artists. MAD's permanent collection is global in scope and focuses on art,
craft, and design from 1950 to the present day. Central to the Museum's mission
is education. The Museum's dynamic new facility features classrooms and studios
for master classes, seminars, and workshops for students, families, and adults.
Its Open Studios enable visitors to engage artists at work and further enhance
exhibition programs. Lectures, films, performances, and symposia related to the
Museum's collection and topical subjects affecting the world of contemporary
art, craft, and design are held in the building's historic 144-seat
auditorium.