New York Exhibit Shows Great Artists as Jewelers

06 October 2011

A pendant by Pablo Picasso, who often created jewelry for his lovers

HOST: Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC in VOA Special English.

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I’m Doug Johnson. Today we listen to new music from singer Tony Bennett and some of his friends. We also tell you about some of the issues that will come before the Supreme Court this term. But, first, we take you to a museum exhibit of jewelry that was made by famous artists including Picasso.

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Jewelry by Great Artists

DOUG JOHNSON: Not many people would think of the artist Pablo Picasso as a creator of art you can wear. But a necklace by Picasso currently can be seen in New York City. It is one of about two hundred pieces of jewelry at the Museum of Arts and Design. Shirley Griffith has more about this unusual exhibit.

SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: The exhibit is called “Picasso to Koons: Artist as Jeweler.” You probably will recognize the names of many of the more than one hundred artists represented at the show. Names like Georges Braque, Max Ernst, Alexander Calder and Salvador Dali, Robert Rauschenberg and Louise Nevelson.

One hundred thirty of the rings, necklaces and brooches are from the collection of art expert Diane Venet. She helped to set up the exhibit.

Ms. Venet met French sculptor Bernar Venet about twenty-six years ago. A short time later, he gave her a piece of silver designed as a ring. The ring celebrated the fact that they would soon be married. Ms. Venet said it was the first piece of an artist’s jewelry she had ever had.