John Sinkankas; Quartz egg with faceted corundum. Photo courtesy of Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.
February 3 – May 6, 2018; Lightcatcher
This exhibition features rarely seen items from the vaults of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. Each piece in this exhibit demonstrates the skill and ingenuity of various artists in transforming simple materials into striking treasures. Originally curated by Cynthia Duval, who was then Chief Curator of the Florida International Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida, this exhibit creates a sense of awe at the vision required to take the rough to polished, the mundane to exceptional, and the simple to complex.
Whether it is a faceted quartz crystal egg, a gold sardine can, a gold and pearl-studded corn cob, or a gold yoyo, each of these creations irresistibly attracts our attention and appeals to our imagination, encouraging us to think about why and how each piece was made. Let these rarely seen objects inspire as you explore this exhibit. Learn more about featured artist Sidney Mobell in this Smithsonian article.
Jeweled Objects of Desire is sponsored by Smith & Vallee Gallery, Mary Summerfield & Mike O’Neal, the Whatcom Museum Advocates, the Whatcom Museum Foundation, and the City of Bellingham.
PARTY > Members see it first at our member reception, Friday, February 2, 5 – 7 PM at the Lightcatcher Building
DOCENT TOURS (In conjunction with Rooted, Revived, Reinvented) > Thursday, Saturdays, and Sundays, 1:30 PM, beginning February 10
Unknown; Lazurite Figurine; Lazurite. Photo courtesy of Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.
Sidney Mobell; Sardine Can; 14K gold sardine can
with Russian diamonds. Photo courtesy of Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.
Sidney Mobell; Cell Phone; Jewel encrusted gold cell phone with corundum. Photo courtesy of Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.
Sidney Mobell; Mouse Trap; 14K gold mouse trap with diamond encrusted cheese wedge. Photo courtesy of Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.
https://www.whatcommuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/assets-navbar-logo-300x101.png00Christina Claassenhttps://www.whatcommuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/assets-navbar-logo-300x101.pngChristina Claassen2017-09-15 09:00:232022-02-28 10:39:20Jeweled Objects of Desire: From Ordinary to Extraordinary
By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and use of cookies and similar technologies. We use cookies to provide you with a great experience and help our website run effectively.