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Norton Museum of Art’s Bijoux Exhibit and Sale
March 2, 2017 @ 12:00 pm - March 5, 2017 @ 5:00 pm
A popular highlight of the social season, the Norton Museum of Art’s Bijoux exhibit and sale showcases creative works of contemporary jewelry. The sixth annual iteration will take place March 2-5, with proceeds benefiting the museum. Donna Schneier, Bijoux’s founder and chairwoman, made her name in the New York art scene as a dealer and collector of contemporary jewelry. In 1994, she cofounded Manhattan-based fair Loot, which became the blueprint for Bijoux. Here, she shares her passion for baubles and what to expect from Bijoux.
PBI: What are the characteristics of contemporary jewelry?
Schneier: Artists of contemporary jewelry provide new twists on the form. Although some may use traditional metals and gems, they will handle them in less traditional ways, leaving some metals unpolished or placing gems in unexpected settings. Others will work with rubber, plastic, porcelain, terracotta, industrial materials, found objects, or even plant materials. This year, we’ll see jewelry made of paper, nylon mesh, glass, and polymer, among others.
Where do you find the artists?
One of the world’s biggest contemporary jewelry shows, Schmuck, takes place annually in Munich, Germany, where major avant-garde figures and emerging artists of contemporary jewelry showcase their work. Heads of university jewelry-making departments are visionaries and spotters of emerging artists. … Bijoux has gathered 40 artists [and] 18 are repeats. They’re an international group from about a dozen countries, including the U.K, Italy, the Netherlands, Israel, Sweden, Turkey, and the U.S.
What’s new at Bijoux this year?
Happily, during the construction at the Norton Museum we’re still able to hold the event there and are fortunate to have a larger space at this year’s show. Independent curator Davina Taragin will lead tours of the show each day at 3 p.m. We will also have an artist presentation on March 2 at 6 p.m. There will be much to choose from for women who want to own a piece of original and unique wearable art.