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Artifactual Remakes

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BmoreArt’s Picks: October 11-17

A generative function of public historical collections is to influence new generations of artists, often in unpredictable ways. At the Walters Art Museum, a vast array of historical jewelry serves to inspire Baltimore’s growing contemporary jewelry community, and this year the Baltimore Jewelry Center (BJC) worked directly with the Walters collection and curatorial staff.

The result was a new series of art jewelry featured in an exhibition titled Artifactual Remakes (December 3, 2021– Feburary 5, 2022), part of BJC’s annual symposium series featuring free workshops, demonstrations, and speaker series, all related the history of jewelry, the designated theme.

Since the historical items come from a wide variety of cultures and time periods, contemporary jewelry artists were free to engage with them formally and conceptually, with particular deference to material culture, an opportunity to employ specific types of materials, craftsmanship, and skills.

After viewing the exhibition in the BJC gallery, we wanted to further activate the jewelry through its intended purpose: to be worn. Selected artists graciously allowed us to borrow their work for models Micah A. Russell and Safra Tadesse to wear in the Clipper Mill photography studio of E. Brady Robinson. The resulting images reflect the power of the contemporary pieces and allude to the historic items that inspired them, realized in new works of art: photos that recognize the value of both in collaboration.

Participating artists include Jackie Andrews, Mara Colecchia, Nicole Dest-Forrester, Caitlin Duckwall, Luci Jockel, Andy Lowrie, Kerianne Quick, Sarah Parker, Risa Reyes, and Ashlee Wetta.

 

Micah wearing Buzzard's Wings by Sarah Parker (necklace) and Clan McDonalds (brooch) by Keriane Quick and Safra wearing Kingfisher Cosmos Necklace by Ashlee Wetta and Mega Medieval Earrings by Caitlin Duckwall
Micah wearing Buzzard's Wings by Sarah Parker
If It Ain't Baroque (necklace) by Jackie Andrews
Safra wearing Leaf Demon by Andy Lowrie
Micah wearing Bird Head Piece by Risa Reyes
Rhodon Ring by Luci Jockel and Naked Frogs: Hear no evil, See a little bit, Speak on nothing (rings) by Nicole Dest-Forrester
Safra wearing Kingfisher Cosmos Necklace by Ashlee Wetta
Buzzard's Wings by Sarah Parker (necklace) and Clan McDonalds (brooch) by Keriane Quick
Micah wearing Buzzard's Wings by Sarah Parker (necklace) and Clan McDonalds (brooch) by Keriane Quick
Safra wearing Leaf Demon by Andy Lowrie
Micah wearing Cross (necklace) by Maria Colecchia and Mega Medieval Earrings by Caitlin Duckwall

This photo essay was originally featured in BmoreArt's Issue 13: Collect. If you want to view it in print, head to our online shop.

This story is from Issue 13: Collect, available here.

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