Asheville Art Museum "Flourish" Jewelry Exhibit

April 18 - August 16 at The Asheville Art Museum, 2 S. Pack Square in downtown Asheville NC: Flourish: Selected Jewelry From the Daphne Farago Collection. Opening reception on Saturday, April 18, 3:00-5:00 PM.

Flourish showcases a selection of jewelry carefully curated over many years by the keen-eyed collector Daphne Farago and reveals the breadth of studio jewelry as the movement evolved. A self-conscious practice, studio jewelry emerged following WWII as a response to commercially available adornment and as a marriage of fine craft and art.

photo courtesy of Asheville Art Museum: Art Smith, 
"Half & Half" Necklace, 1948, brass, 7 x 8 x 1.25 inches. Museum
of Fine Arts, Boston - The Daphne Farago Collection. 2006.536.

The exhibition is grouped thematically to reflect the varying disciplines of studio jewelry, beginning with the Studio Craft Movement of the mid-20th century. The Studio Craft Movement derived directly from the Arts and Crafts Movements of Europe and the United States, using handmade techniques and aesthetics as a means of reflecting the changing world. Much of the work in the exhibition mirrors the stylistic shifts in the art world from the 1940s to today, including constructivism, mid-century modernism, pop-art, narrative and funk.The works, like the artists, are varied and have been selected to reflect a broad range of ideas, with nuances that show the possibilities of the practice. They are united by the vision of the collector. Featured artists include Ed Wiener, Louis Mueller, Art Smith, Robert W. Ebendorf, John Prip, Roy Lichtenstein, Mary Lee Hu, Arline M. Fisch and Gijs Bakker, among others.

This exhibition is organized by the Asheville Art Museum, with special thanks to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.


Programs held in conjunction with this exhibition include: 

OPENING RECEPTION -  April 18 Saturday, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. 

DISCUSSION BOUND -  May 2 Tuesday, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Jewels: A Secret History by Victoria Finlay

LUNCHTIME ART BREAK  - Jine 19 Friday, 12:00 p.m. Candace Reilly, Adult Programs Manager 

FILM SCREENING  - June 20 + 21 Saturday + Sunday, 2:00 p.m. Tale of the Three Jewels 

PANEL DISCUSSION -  July 11 Saturday, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. Form and Function: Panel Discussion on Studio Craft Jewelry 

POP-UP STUDIO CRAFT MARKETPLACE  - July 16-18 Thursday, Friday + Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. A celebration of studio craft! The Museum is hosting a three-day pop-up marketplace, curated by Asheville's own Constance Esner, featuring the work of some of our region's most talented craft artists. While visitors are at the Museum purchasing beautiful craft art pieces, they can take the opportunity to view Flourish: Selected Jewelry From the Daphne Farago Collection. 

WORKSHOP -  August 1 Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Textile & Metal Jewelry with Joanna Gollberg. 

All programs are free with membership or Museum admission except for the workshop which is $95 for members, $105 for non-members.