
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 23, 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 23, 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
Exhibitions at RAM are made possible by:
Platinum Sponsors
Judith and David Flegel Fund
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Ron and Judith Isaacs
Nicholas and Nancy Kurten
Windgate Foundation
Diamond Sponsors
Osborne and Scekic Family Foundation
Ruffo Family Foundation
Gold Sponsors
David Charak
Silver Sponsors
A.C. Buhler Family
Baird
Lucy G. Feller
Ben and Dawn Flegel
Annette Hirsh Family
J. Jeffers & Co.
Dorothy MacVicar
Bronze Sponsors
Anonymous
Susan Boland
Virginia Buhler
Butcher & Barrel/Amos Los Tacos
Educators Credit Union
Express Employment Professionals
Get Behind the Arts Studio Tour
William A. Guenther
Tom and Sharon Harty
Tony and Andrea Hauser
David and Judy Hecker
Bradley Lynch
Carlotta Miller
Larry and Barbara Newman
The Norbell Foundation
The Prairie School
Georgiana Treivush
Twin Disc, Inc.
Deb and Will Walker