Description: Explore the wearable modern art of Art Smith, one of the world's most celebrated 20th-century jewelers
This striking jewelry coffee table book features 160 photos of more than 60 jewelry pieces Mid-century modernist jeweler Art Smith (1917-1982) considered the human body to be as integral to his jewelry as the metals, wire, and semiprecious stones he used to make it, calling his necklaces "neck pieces" and his rings "hand decorations." Bodyworks: The Jewelry of Art Smith presents 160 images, including previously unpublished design sketches and historic photographs alongside newly commissioned photography. Together, they offer a comprehensive visual record of Smith's bold, fluid, and creative designs, including:- "Lava" bracelet which evokes volcanic movement through its layers of long, curving, and patinated sheet metal
- "Lil's Wire" pendant, inspired by the atom, representing Smith's interest in mid-century scientific discoveries and the space age
- "Minetta" necklace with a carnelian stone, whose name alludes to the historical Little Africa neighborhood in New York City
Art Smith was influenced by jazz, dance, visual art, pan-African regalia, and relationships he formed with New York's African American arts community. In his Greenwich village studio, he created custom pieces for many high-profile clients, including First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and jazz pianist Duke Ellington, and had work featured in Vogue. Art Smith was a luminary to his contemporaries and remains one to today's artists. With stunning photography and essays that reflect on his life, influences, and legacy, Bodyworks is the magnificent retrospective Smith's pioneering career deserves.
Review Quotes: LIBRARY JOURNAL, STARRED REVIEW
"...lavish illustrations of Smith's body-conscious pieces accompany text discussing his education and partnerships and encounters with artists from different genres and how the Harlem Renaissance and jazz music influenced his work...Readers will be moved by Smith's pursuit of art education, saddened and enraged by the racism and violence he endured, and inspired by his jewelry, each a piece of art. VERDICT This exploration of history through the life of an artist is superb."
"The real stars here are the more than 90 color plates and many previously unpublished sketches of the designs for some of his signature pieces. Greenbaum notes that Smith regarded the body as an important design element and photographs of models wearing his dramatic, kinetic necklaces and bracelets underscore the close relationship between the jewelry and the wearer that inspired the book's title. Supplementary material, including a chronology of events from Smith's life and career and a bibliography of primary and secondary sources, encourage further research. A visually stunning introduction to an artist whose work deserves wider recognition." FOREWORD REVIEWS
"The stark page layouts serve as virtual museum cases, while the copper background on incidental pages is apt for the metal art...The dynamic art book Bodyworks spotlights Art Smith's statement jewelry and quiet countercultural life."