A View by Two

The work in this show isn 't about gigantic gemstones; it's about a kind of creative, playful relationship with an idea and materials that brings forth something unique and beautiful. -- Louis Mueller

A View By Two is the result of a collaboration between The RISD Museum and Rhode Island School of Design faculty members Louis Mueller and Barbara Seidenath. The exhibition presents works by fourteen internationally known and collected jewelers from Austria, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United States, chosen by Mueller and Seidenath for their innovative approach. Many of the participants also teach, thereby directly influencing the next generation of jewelers. The Museum has acquired several works from A View By Two to bring RISD's holdings into the 21st century.

Each of these objects is unique, and many are on view publicly for the first time. Earlier pieces, drawings, and photographs illuminate the artists' creative processes. Also included is a short visual "resume" representing the work of guest co-curators Mueller, who heads the Department of Jewelry and Light Metals, and Seidenath, adjunct faculty in that department. A selection from the Museum's collection of jewelry from ancient to modern times provides context, augmented by a loan from the Daphne Farago Collection: groundbreaking work by some of the earliest figures in studio jewelry, including Art Smith, Margaret de Patta, and Sam Kramer.