"Monochrome Noir" recently opened at Velvet Da Vinci and looks like a great show. It's conceptual work built on the color black plus one other color. Besides, the name of the show implies intrigue, kind of like a noirish movie. Here are a few of my favorite pieces.
"Berry Alive Cluster" ring by Michael Dale Bernard (Los Angeles, California)
Bernard is a teacher and designer who likes to work with steel, silver, copper, wood and enamel. He uses a polymer paint process called powder coating to create the brilliant colors that you see in this stunning ring. He creates his own 'jewels' without using 'genuine' stones. Bernard is one of the two artists who curated this show.
"Claim Brooch" by Sarah Brown
Brown likes to work with materials like metal, bone and found objects that are inspired by nature. To me, this brooch seemed like it could be a stylized fish or insect or maybe even something like a pine cone you'd find on a forest floor.
"Black and Blue Dangles" earrings by Kat Cole (Greenville, North Carolina)
Cole's work is in the permanent collection at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City and will be on view in February 2013 as part of a show featuring recent contemporary jewelry acquisitions. The contrast between the bright blue and black works especially well here.
Squiggle Brooch by Leia Zumbro (Greenville, North Carolina)
This brooch is from a collection based on growth patterns found in nature, using hollow forms with repeated patterns. I pinned a gorgeous ring of Zumbro's on my Pinterest page, which was quickly repinned by several people.
Ring by Katie Poterala (Greenville, South Carolina)
Poterala often works with textured gold surfaces that she achieves through oxidation to reflect the process of natural decay. I love how the gold blends seamlessly into the black textured surfaces of this funky ring.
"Heartbreaking" Neckpiece by Tanel Veenre (Tallinn, Estonia)
Veenre is a favorite of mine, whom I've featured on the Wearable Art Blog. He likes to put together different combinations of materials to great effect. The "Heartbreaking" neckpiece, below, is from his latest collection, United Heart Series. The unusual inverted heart shape and the combination of ribbon, wood, garnets, tourmaline and metal caught my eye.
There are many wonderful pieces to see from this show. You should check them out for yourself at Velvet Da Vinci.
Also, I'll be showing works by a few of the artists from this show in coming weeks. Stay tuned!
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