I didn't mention this in my last post but Axel Russmeyer will be awarded the first ever LOOT Award for Contemporary Art Jewelry. "This annual prize is in keeping with the long-standing commitment of the Museum of Arts and Design to presenting jewelry as an art form. MAD 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, which it began assembling soon after its founding in 1956."
Last but not least, proceeds from the selling show will benefit the Museum’s exhibition and education programs.
Luisa Bruni
Of her Plink collection of rings, Bruni has said, "'With
inspiration taken from the world of photography Plink seizes the
day, stopping the water at the time, hit by a drop, gushes the surface.” Now, who wouldn't want to wear a ring that says "seize the day" !?
Rachel Carren
Carren is an art historian who has been writing about the use of polymer clay in jewelry. Therefore it is only appropriate that when she goes in the studio to maker her own jewelry, this material is on her mind and in her hands. Carren's bold necklaces, brooches, and bracelets are inspired by the palettes of William Morris, Hokusai, and Winslow Hommer.
Eiymar Conyard
This is the first time that timepieces will be featured at LOOT. Conyard is the manager of the Crafts Council of Ireland’s course in jewelry and goldsmithing skills and design and she studied design at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin and the Glasgow School of Art. While she also makes jewelry, her designs for timepieces are original and beautiful, especially the pocket watches with exotic woods and waist watches that attached to a silver wire that resemble necklaces for your waist!
Mirta Carrolli
The celebrated sculptor Mirta Carroli has started to make jewelry which incorporates pieces of Faenza maiolica, beautiful tin-glazed earthenware produced in Faenza, Italy from the 11th to 17th centuries. Carroli does not alter the maiolica in any way, instead creating a simple setting which simply acts as a frame for the found fragments.
Lucia Corral (and Teresa de la Pisa)
Fashion industry insiders Lucia Corral and Teresa de la Pisa have joined forces to launch the ASTA accessory collection, inspired by "nature, strength, elegance, and individuality." The line features jewelry made of horn and bone. The designers feel that "the versatility and durability of these materials make ASTA jewelry compatible with almost any apparel in any season."
Jacqueline Cullen
Cullen describes her work as "sumptuous and dramatic hand crafted contemporary Whitby jet jewelry." Whitby jet is a prehistoric black fossil ca. 180 million years old and most commonly associated with Victorian mourning jewelry. The trend for wearing jet jewelry was started by Queen Victoria when she went into mourning for Prince Albert. Mined during its heyday, Whitby jet is now rare. Jacqueline's supplier abseils down the cliffs on a rope collecting raw samples from the disused mines and ancient caves.
Elena Estaun
Using silver as her primarily metal, Estaun mixes materials such as bone, coconut shell, and rubber to create "natural, organic, and extravagant designs." The artist has bent antique keys into rings and used nuts and bolts as clasps on bracelets. Each piece is hand-made and completely unique.
Danielle Gori-Montanelli
Gori-Montanelli's colorful felt jewelry made its appearance at last years LOOT and wowed us all so much that the committee invited her back for round two. After enjoying a successful career as a metalsmith, Gori-Montanelli went from working with hard materials to working with soft materials, now working exclusively with felt. The artist creates brooches and necklaces in a myriad of colors and patterns.
Sheva Fruitman
These sleek red lacquered and stainless steel cuffs perfectly illustrate New York City-based artist Fruitman’s minimalist aesthetic.
Jed Green
I absolutely love Green's work. Her's was also the only piece of jewelry that I purchased at last year's show. Green paints on the inside of the glass in different colors and bends the glass into various shapes to create unusual combinations. Since the artist was such a hit last year, the committee invited her back for the upcoming show.
