
David Damkoehler
Over the Shoulder Brooch, ca. 1995
Stainless steel and wire cable
23 1/2 x 1 3/4 x 1/16 inches
Racine Art Museum, Gift of Drs. Judith and Martin Bloomfield
Photography: Jon Bolton
Open Close Front Back: Exploring Contemporary Art Jewelry Design
March 1 – September 16, 2023
at Racine Art Museum
Unless faced with something particularly unusual or difficult to maneuver, many people likely put on or take off a piece of jewelry without thinking about the mechanics of its design. Contemporary art jewelers—those constructing jewelry by hand as they undertake conceptual explorations—necessarily consider composition, materials, closures, and the relationship between the object and the wearer.
This exhibition, drawn entirely from RAM’s growing collection, celebrates contemporary jewelry while emphasizing the consideration of it from new angles—sometimes literally. For example, some brooches are displayed in a way that focuses attention on the back rather than the front. While the back may be invisible when a piece is worn, an artist might still take advantage of the fact that it is the side that the wearer interacts with—continuing elements from the front, adding an inscription, or, at a minimum, thoughtfully incorporating it into the overall composition.
Similarly, jewelers carefully consider how a neckpiece opens and closes—is it an element they want to draw attention to, something they want to hide, or something they avoid altogether through alternative design choices? All of these factors impact the overall visual effect of the work as well as its wearability.
More About the Exhibition
Artists in the Exhibition
Jessica Calderwood, Betty Cooke, Kathleen Dustin, Arline Fisch, Lisa Gralnick, Esther Knobel, Jee Hye Kwon, Harold O’Connor, Yukihiro Shibata, Linda Threadgill, Pier Voulkos, J. Fred Woell, and Nancy Worden
Open Close Front Back: Exploring Contemporary Art Jewelry Design
March 1 – September 16, 2023
at Racine Art Museum

David Damkoehler
Over the Shoulder Brooch, ca. 1995
Stainless steel and wire cable
23 1/2 x 1 3/4 x 1/16 inches
Racine Art Museum, Gift of Drs. Judith and Martin Bloomfield
Photography: Jon Bolton
Unless faced with something particularly unusual or difficult to maneuver, many people likely put on or take off a piece of jewelry without thinking about the mechanics of its design. Contemporary art jewelers—those constructing jewelry by hand as they undertake conceptual explorations—necessarily consider composition, materials, closures, and the relationship between the object and the wearer.
This exhibition, drawn entirely from RAM’s growing collection, celebrates contemporary jewelry while emphasizing the consideration of it from new angles—sometimes literally. For example, some brooches are displayed in a way that focuses attention on the back rather than the front. While the back may be invisible when a piece is worn, an artist might still take advantage of the fact that it is the side that the wearer interacts with—continuing elements from the front, adding an inscription, or, at a minimum, thoughtfully incorporating it into the overall composition.
Similarly, jewelers carefully consider how a neckpiece opens and closes—is it an element they want to draw attention to, something they want to hide, or something they avoid altogether through alternative design choices? All of these factors impact the overall visual effect of the work as well as its wearability.
More About the Exhibition
Artists in the Exhibition
Jessica Calderwood, Betty Cooke, Kathleen Dustin, Arline Fisch, Lisa Gralnick, Esther Knobel, Jee Hye Kwon, Harold O’Connor, Yukihiro Shibata, Linda Threadgill, Pier Voulkos, J. Fred Woell, and Nancy Worden
Sample of Work in the Exhibition
Click/tap an image for more information
Installation View
Exhibitions at RAM are made possible by:
Platinum Partners
The Estate of Karen Johnson Boyd
David Charak
Judith and David Flegel Fund
Ron and Judith Isaacs
Windgate Foundation
Diamond Partners
Ruffo Family Foundation
Ruth Foundation for the Arts
Diane Zebell
Gold Partners
Anonymous
A.C. Buhler Family
Robert E. Kohler Jr. Fund
Osborne and Scekic Family Foundation
Reliance Controls
Trio Foundation of St. Louis
W.T. Walker Group, Inc.
Silver Partners
Anonymous
Sandy and Gus Antonneau
Baird
Lucy G. Feller
Ben and Dawn Flegel
Sharon and Tom Harty
Dave and Judy Hecker
Paula Kalke
Horizon Retail Construction, Inc.
Johnson Financial Group
Lang Family Foundation
Dorothy MacVicar
Jan Serr & John Shannon
Sandra Shove
Willard and Mary Walker
Bronze Partners
Carol Baylon
Rose and Peter Christensen
Dave’s Wine Garage
Educators Credit Union
Patricia and Richard Ehlert
Express Employment Professionals
Deborah Ganaway
Carol Griseto
Hitter’s Baseball
SC Johnson
Bill and Debbie Keland
Nancy and Nick Kurten
Susan Manalli
Norbell Foundation
JoAnna Poehlmann
Rasmussen Diamonds
Harold and Lois Solberg
Kathy Stranghellini
Tito’s
Twin Disc
Janna Waldeck
Barbara Waldman