New Jewelry in a New Medium | Mingei International Museum

IMPORTANT UPDATE! Our galleries are partially closed while we install our next fall show -- Inside the Design Center! In the meantime, enjoy discounted admission prices. Visit us to see Layered Narratives and Fashioning an Icon (closes on Sept 7th).

Necklace(detail), Cynthia Toops,  1997, Seattle, Washington, U.S.A, Glass and polymer clay. Collection Mingei International Museum. The Bead Museum, gift of Lois Dubin. Photo by Tim Siegert. 2011-69-00005
Image: Necklace(detail), Cynthia Toops, 1997, Seattle, Washington, U.S.A, Glass and polymer clay. Collection Mingei International Museum. The Bead Museum, gift of Lois Dubin. Photo by Tim Siegert. 2011-69-00005
On View

Dec 17, 2011 - Jun 17, 2012

Curated By

Christine Knoke

A synthetic modeling compound, polymer clay has come into its own as an art material. One of the most adaptable art mediums available, it mixes like pigment and has properties that allow it to imitate natural materials or create millefiori-type patterns as in glass. Among other things, polymer can be modeled like clay, printed like fabric and replicate numerous jewelry techniques. For many, its range seems limitless. Today, polymer is used to create beads, jewelry, sculpture, dolls, books, mosaics, vessels and wall art.
This exhibition will include individual beads and beaded objects of adornment such as necklaces and bracelets. It will also include polymer beads from the collection of The Bead Museum, formerly in Glendale, Arizona.