Clockwise from top left: Deborah Vivas’s statement cuff, Elizabeth Garvin’s swingy earrings, Liaung-Chung Yen’s Just Like Spring pin and Hannah Long’s cityscape earrings.
By Janet Kelly
WITH ALL due deference to Tiffany, Cartier, et al., grown-up girls who covet quirky, one-of-kind pieces of jewelry should head to this weekend’s Smithsonian’s Craft2Wear show.
For fall 2022’s in-person event, more than 15 newcomers will join veteran artisans for this premier juried show. Among the show newbies:
Danielle Gori-Montanelli makes her colorful necklaces from felt, while Elaine Robinett Moore, who sources her beads from around the world, uses rubber to make single, double or triple strands to wrap around the neck. Shana Kroiz blends metals and enamel for her sculptural neck adornments.
Earrings get a playful treatment from artists Hannah Long, Elizabeth Garvin and Estelle Vernon. Long makes her 3-D Cityscape earrings from 18 karat gold, oxidized sterling and diamonds; Garvin’s Harlequin-inspired Stripe #6 will please those who like a mix of precious metals and pave diamonds with swishy fringe; and Vernon’s gold geranium earrings come with freshwater pearl accents.
Look to bracelets for a statement of strength from this year’s new artists. Deborah Vivas and Melissa J. Smith’s cuff bracelets project fearlessness in oxidized steel and size. Colorado couple Kristin DeSantis and Marc Kriewaldt like pushing the limit in life and in art with their bold aluminum and colorful resin Mod Square bracelets. Made from freshwater pearls found in mussels near a lake in Kyoto, Carol Workinger’s triple-wrap bracelets make a wrist adornment a statement.
As the first female US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright proved how effective her collection of pins were for sending messages to the likes of Saddam Hussein. Artisan Liaung-Chung Yen may not have a political objective, but he creates images in his work to tell stories and express emotions as in his “Feels Just Like Spring” brooch in a frothy but sturdy combination of gold, mother of pearl and diamonds. From miniature shells to fossilized sharks teeth, Gabrielle Gould’s work is an artistic reflection of the southeast’s varied wetland habitats. This MyLittleBird editor couldn’t resist her flock of one-of-a-kind, handcrafted dappled black nester, midnight lorikeet and harlequin duck pin/lockets.
Danielle Gori-Montanelli’s Peter Pan collar felt necklace.
It’s a multi-strand wrap from Elizabeth Robinett Moore.
Enamel and metal necklace from Shana Kroiz.
Estelle Vernon’s gold geranium earrings.
Fringe-y earrings from Elizabeth Garvin.
3-D Cityscape earrings by Hannah Long.
Deborah Vivas’s statement-making cuff.
Wrist geometry from Kristin DeSantis.
No ordinary pearl bracelet by Carol Workinger.
A fanciful pin that says spring by Liaung-Chung Yen.
Gabrielle Gould’s flock of enchanting pins.
Smithsonian Craft2Wear, October 20-22, 2022. National Building Museum, 401 F Street NW, Washington DC.
Hours: 10:30am to 5:30pm, Friday, October 21, and Saturday, October 22.
Preview benefit: Thursday, October 20, 6pm to 9pm: Drinks, hors d’oeuvre, meet and mingle with the artists.
Admission: Preview tickets are $100 per person. General admission is $20 at the door or online after October 17. Advance online tickets are $17 each. All at Smithsonian Craft2Wear.
