The creation and wearing of jewelry is a timeless, global phenomenon.  Contemporary art jewelry, most of all, expresses a global aesthetic because contemporary artists are tuned into what is going on all around the world today.  However, modern studio jewelers are inevitably influenced by their own, local experiences.  Women's Tales: Four Leading Israeli Jewelers, is an eye-opening look at how four Israeli women, each a leading figure in the studio jewelry movement, translate their lives and experiences into powerful and beautiful works of art.

The exhibition, which debuted at the Racine Art Museum in Racine, Wisconsin, is the first comprehensive study of Israeli contemporary jewelry to come to the United States.  It focuses on the careers of four of its leading women artists: Bianca Eshel–Gershuni, Vered Kaminski, Esther Knobel, and Deganit Stern Schocken.  Each of these artists has played a critical role in forging an Israeli identity in the contemporary jewelry movement, one that is distinctive from Europe and America.  While they have all looked for inspiration and participated in the world of European contemporary jewelry, their work is uniquely autobiographical, reflecting that all are women, wives, and mothers living in Israel and that they have been strongly influenced by its culture.

Accompanying the show is a 128-page fully illustrated book, produced in both soft and hard cover, published in conjunction with Hudson Hills Press.

The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, and the Racine Art Museum are grateful for the following sponsors: Association of Israel's Decorative Arts (AIDA), founded by Dale and Doug Anderson and Andrea and Charles Bronfman to foster the development of contemporary decorative artists from Israel by connecting them to an international audience of galleries, institutions and collectors; International Partnership Among Museums (IPAM), which is administered by the American Association of Museums (AAM) and funded by the Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA); SC Johnson; Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin; Racine United Arts Fund; Racine Community Foundation; Karen and William Boyd; Elwood Corporation; Doron and Marianne Livnat, Holland; Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago; Knight-Barry Title, Bruce and Ann Bachmann; Bank of Elmwood; Sonny and Diane Fixler; Design Partners; Members of the RAM Society and other donors to the Racine Art Museum.

Women's Tales: Four Leading Israeli Jewelers and the accompanying publication are dedicated to the memory of Andrea Bronfman, whose devotion to Israel and the advancement of Israeli contemporary art and craft lies at the heart of this collaboration.

Presentation at The Newark Museum is made possible by The Karma Foundation.
    

Images:

Banner (detail): Esther Knobel, Daisy Wire, 1993.  Silver and 18k gold.  Courtesy of the artist.

Above (left to right):

Vered Kaminski, Necklace, 1991.  18k gold and stones.  Courtesy of the artist.

Deganit Stern Schocken, Body Piece (City), 1993.  Nickel silver, stainless steel, paper, silver and shell.  Courtesy of the artist.

Bianca Eshel–Gershuni, Brooch, 1991.  Mirror, shell, silver, paint, photograph, 24k gold, found objects and pearls.  Courtesy of the artist.

All photography: Michael Tropea, Chicago