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Archived Exhibition

The Art of Gold

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Gold is an extraordinarily seductive material. Known since prehistoric times, it has figured in almost every stage of civilization as a symbol of wealth and power. Its magnetic draw on the popular imagination is unrivaled by that of any other metal.

Several notable exhibitions in recent decades have featured gold—primarily ancient gold. Yet for all that exposure, contemporary American goldsmithing has been largely overlooked. The Art of Gold is an exhibition of objects and jewelry by studio goldsmiths that displays some of today's finest work. It is the first major exhibition of its kind in 25 years.

Studio goldsmithing in North America—designing and fabricating objects by hand in a small studio setting—is a recent phenomenon. At the end of World War II, there were only a handful of educational programs in goldsmithing; they now number more than 500. Goldsmithing has developed into a richly diverse artistic field, showing influences from Pop Art, Minimalism, Neo-Expressionism, and even Conceptual Art. Even so, contemporary goldsmithing maintains its own sense of craft and unique historical lineage.

The exhibition is composed of 79 objects, 12 of which are hollowware, vessels, small sculptures, and other nonjewelry items. Although some pieces include stones and precious gems in their designs, gold is never merely a backdrop or frame for those elements, it is the focus. The Art of Gold is a celebration of the inventiveness of contemporary goldsmiths and the beauty of traditional materials and processes.

Subsidized rental fee:
$8,800 for 7-week display

Regional rental fee:
$6,600 for 7-week display

Exhibition content:
79 works: 67 pieces of jewelry and 12 other objects (gold and mixed media)

Checklist (pdf)

Curator:
Michael Monroe, independent curator, Reston, Virginia

Essayists:
Michael Monroe and Bruce Metcalf, Exhibitions Chair, Society of North American Goldsmiths, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania

Organized by:
Society of North American Goldsmiths

Security:
High

Shipping:
Fine art (fixed-rate)

Running feet:
100

Minimum square feet:
1,000

Fee includes:

Catalogs

Educational materials:

Text panels

Narrative identification labels

Programming guide

Video

Reproducible gallery guide

Publicity packet

Press release

Registrar's packet

Full insurance

Installation instructions

Custom designed and built crates

Exhibition Schedule:

January 24, 2003–May 19, 2003, Crocker Art Museum; Sacramento, California

September 1, 2003–October 20, 2003, University of Richmond Museums; Richmond, Virginia

November 8, 2003–January 4, 2004, Spencer Museum of Art; Lawrence, Kansas

January 28, 2004–March 16, 2004, The Arkansas Arts Center; Little Rock, Arkansas

April 3, 2004–August 8, 2004, The Mint Museum of Craft and Design; Charlotte, North Carolina

August 19, 2004–October 17, 2004, J Wayne Stark University Ctr Galleries; College Station, Texas

November 10, 2004–January 7, 2005, Anchorage Museum of History and Art; Anchorage, Alaska

April 6, 2005–May 25, 2005, Perspective Gallery;
Blacksburg, Virginia

June 16, 2005–August 11, 2005, Museum of Fine Arts; Springfield, Massachusetts

September 1, 2005–October 20, 2005, Midland Center for the Arts; Midland, Michigan

November 10, 2005–January 8, 2006, Joe & Emily Lowe Art Gallery; Syracuse, New York

For more information:
E-mail Molly Alspaugh at molly@maaa.org or Rachel Saalweachter at rachel@maaa.org or call 1-800-473-3872.