Lowe Art Gallery to present ‘The Art of Gold’ beginning Nov. 10

Lowe Art Gallery to present ‘The Art of Gold’ beginning Nov. 10November 01, 2005Jaime Winne Alvarez jlwinne@syr.edu

The Joe and Emily Lowe Art Gallery at Syracuse University will present “The Art of Gold,” Nov. 10, 2005-Jan. 8, 2006. The gallery will host an opening reception Nov. 11 at 6 p.m., in the Shaffer Galleria. The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.

There have been several notable exhibitions in recent decades where gold, primarily ancient gold, has figured prominently. Yet, for all the exposure this material has received, contemporary American goldsmithing has been largely overlooked. “The Art of Gold” is an exhibition of jewelry and objects by studio goldsmiths that puts on display some of the finest work being made in the field today. It is the first major exhibition of its kind in 25 years.

Studio goldsmithing-designing and fabricating objects by hand in a small studio setting-is a fairly recent phenomenon. While contemporary goldsmithing has developed into a richly diverse artistic field, showing influences from pop art, minimalism, neo-expressionism and even conceptual art, it maintains its own sense of craft and unique historical lineage.

The exhibition is composed of 80 objects, including jewelry, hollowware, vessels, small sculptures and other nonjewelry items. While some pieces include stones and precious gems in their designs, they are not objects in which gold is merely a backdrop or frame for other elements. In all pieces, gold is the essential focus. “The Art of Gold” is a celebration of the inventiveness of contemporary goldsmiths and the beauty of traditional materials and processes.

The Joe and Emily Lowe Art Gallery is located in the Shaffer Art Building and is handicapped-accessible. Exhibitions are open to the public Tuesday-Sunday, noon-5 p.m., and Wednesday, noon-8 p.m. The gallery is closed on Monday and holidays. If visiting during SU’s winter break, Dec. 9-Jan. 8, call ahead for hours of operation. For more information, call (315) 443-3127.

“The Art of Gold” is curated by Michael W. Monroe, an independent curator and former curator-in-charge of the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The exhibition is organized by the Society of North American Goldsmiths and toured by ExhibitsUSA. The purpose of ExhibitsUSA is to create access to an array of arts and humanities exhibitions, nurture the development and understanding of diverse art forms and cultures and encourage the expanding depth and breadth of cultural life in local communities. ExhibitsUSA is a national division of Mid-America Arts Alliance, a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1972.