The San Francisco Museum of Craft+Design presents the U.S. debut of Designers on Jewelry: 12 Years of Jewelry Production by Chi ha paura…? January 15 – May 16, 2010. The collection features more than 70 pieces of jewelry that offers an imaginative, thought-provoking, often conceptual, and sometimes humorous vision of contemporary jewelry. The exhibit surveys twelve years of extraordinary jewelry designed and created by 51 internationally-renowned and forward-thinking designers under the auspices of the Netherlands-based Chi ha Paura? Foundation. Reflecting the diverse and global exchange of concepts, forms and influences, Designers on Jewelry is transnational in scope, including work by designers from across Europe, Asia and elsewhere.

Launched in 1996 by jewelry and product designer Gijs Bakker, the Chi ha paura…? Foundation encourages respected artists working in all fields of contemporary design to create bold and imaginative jewelry – with the ultimate goal of making intelligently-designed jewelry accessible to audiences throughout the world. With each new cycle of artists, Chi ha paura…? asks designers to create a piece of jewelry in response to a certain theme, with focus on the concept behind the jewelry, rather than its monetary value.

Designers on Jewelry draws from the last 12 years of the Foundation’s work, and includes pieces from several themed collections. Jewelry from the “Sense of Wonder” (2002) collection is designed with a vision or new technology to evoke surprise or amazement. The “What’s Luxury” (2005) collection offers modern takes on our desire for luxuries, which are not necessarily expensive or rare. For example, furniture/lighting designer Marko Makura’s “Echo,” a necklace made of soft silicone earplugs, provides the wearer with the luxury of a respite from the surrounding noise. Chi ha paura…?’s “Rituals” theme (2007) focuses on the personal and societal meanings of jewelry. Contemporary jewelry designer Katja Prins’ “Bound by Blood” is comprised of several strands of red prayer necklaces from different religions, symbolizing our mutual bond and the blood shed in the name of religion.

“Chi ha paura…? Foundation’s highly inventive work consistently pushes the boundaries in the contemporary jewelry field, and we are delighted to be the first to offer American audiences the opportunity to experience Designers on Jewelry,” said JoAnn Edwards, executive director of the San Francisco Museum of Craft+Design.

Gijs Bakker will supervise the installation of Designers on Jewelry at the San Francisco Museum of Craft+Design. Inventive forms of installation hardware and display material will accompany the exhibition. Designers on Jewelry is organized by the Stedelijk Museum’s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.

Photos courtesy of Adam Willis.

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