AdornAxis exhibition for NYCJW

Hello, my blog readers; I hope all of you are doing well. Lately, I have been concentrating on tying up loose ends of various projects and commitments. Hence blogging has taken a backseat. One such area where I have been focussing my efforts is research – specifically jewellery research. In the last 18 months, I have been researching art jewellery and contemporary art jewellery via making. My “Jewelry in Narratives” project, exhibited at NYCJW21, was one such endeavour. This year too, I applied to NYCJW on two fronts and got selected. I am excited to tell you about it and show it all. However, as I have to wait for the organisers to reveal it completely, I will do my reveal in parts. Of my two research publication applications, one was to AdornAxis exhibition.

AdornAxis

AdornAxis is a partnership between jewellers Ayala Naphtali and Debra Adelson. They curate art jewellery exhibitions in New York City, Palm Beach, and other places apart from virtual shows. Their recent exhibition themes include In bloom, Black & white in colour, remote viewing, and Off the grid – their NYCJW21 exhibit.

AdornAxis exhibition for NYCJW22

AdornAxis exhibition for NYCJW in 2022 works in the hybrid format. There will be both an in-person and an online exhibition. It will be held from November 16th to 20th for NYCJW22. the reception for the in-person exhibition will happen at 80 W. Broadway, New York, NY 10007 on November 17th, from 4-8 pm. On Saturday, November 19, 2022 there will be an Artist Talk with Shirley Leung on using AI to enhance human creativity. On Sunday, November 20, 2022 there will be a fun ‘Supply Chain’ Meetup/ Tool Swap. If you are in New York city, don’t miss it. You might see my work on the screens or in their print catalogue.

Invited Artists

Exhibition theme – Here & Now

The theme for the exhibition is “Here & Now.” It focuses on the present – state of mind and period in history. Participants were asked to submit jewellery representing a visual time capsule. It could be something that depicted where we are now, either mentally or physically, and what inspires us during this particular period in history. We were asked to highlight what we saw as a sign of the times. We could focus on the issues we are passionate about or represent the society we are currently living in. The exhibition call read, “We are living through a tumultuous period in history, yet we believe this can lead to a vibrant moment of creative expression. While many people may feel overwhelmed by global or domestic current events, these pressing issues present an opportunity to forge human connections.”

Contemporary art jewellery research and publications

I applied for AdornAxis exhibitions twice in the past and was not selected. It is extremely competitive, with an emphasis on both creative ideas and workmanship. My experience with contemporary art jewellery is limited. Apart from seeing visuals of contemporary art jewellery in books or on the screen, I have listened to talks of a few artists. I have tried the genre several times based on my rudimentary understanding. Whenever such pieces have been published, I feel they happened for other reasons – not just because of the jewellery. The “Museum piece” was a multimedia presentation in which jewellery played a role. The “gift of time gallery” pieces were about the Covid-19 pandemic. Finally, “Jewelry in Narratives” was about craft, storytelling, and the create-with-me framework. However, the pieces that I submitted for this exhibition are jewellery first and everything else later.

AdornAxis exhibition X Divya N

I choose the topic of war for my pieces.  Through my jewellery, I chose to explore ideas of nationhood, freedom, ideas of power, and the refugee crisis that I have seen in the world from the 1990’s till now. Stay tuned for my upcoming post to learn more about my war-themed jewellery. See the teaser image above.

I hope that you find it interesting.
Cheers