Simply Brilliant: A Quick Trip to the 1960’s and 70s

Barbara Anton (American, 1926–2007), Potpourri of Pearls Necklace, circa 1968, gold, pearls, diamonds, Courtesy of the Cincinnati Art Museum, Collection of Kimberly Klosterman, Photography by Tony Walsh

This past weekend I went to the Cincinnati Art Museum to see the Kara Walker: Cut to the Quick exhibit before it closed. Since you can no longer see that exhibit, I wanted to recommend another that you still can see; Simply Brilliant: Artist-Jewelers of the 1960s and 1970s.

Now normally, I would not go out of my way to see a jewelry exhibit. Indeed, on that Friday I had no plans to visit this exhibit. However, as I was standing in the nearby Cincinnati Gallery lost in thought, I became temporarily distracted as The Tokens “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” swept into my gallery and broke me from my internal conversations.

“Who is playing “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” this loudly at the Art Museum?” I followed the music to its origin. “Oh, the jewelry exhibit,” I thought. As I was about to walk away and make my inevitable way towards the exit of the museum, the Beatles’ ever haunting “Yesterday” pulled me physically into the gallery; for no muscle in my body would ever let me walk away from that song.

If the hope is that the music will draw unsuspecting patrons into this fascinating little exhibit, then it did its job. The music keeps you in the exhibit as it moves from classic hit to hit. My compliments to the curator that put this playlist together because it was killer. I’m sure that I entertained someone watching in security as I danced from one display to the next.

Although the music will seduce you in, the jewelry is the main focus. Now admittedly, at first, I just looked at some of the pieces and didn’t think much of them, but then I started to read the history and detailed descriptions and found a whole new world of fascination. Many of these pieces have small subtle details that would never be picked upon by a casual fleeting glance.

Barbara Anton’s “Potpourri of Pearls Necklace” at first glance looks like nothing more than a bunch of pearls with some gold interlaced. You yourself may think the same thing. However, as I learned upon further reading, virtually every pearl is clutched by a small golden snake. After learning this I stopped and could see for myself the tiny, brilliant reptiles holding onto their silky white orbs. If I’ve missed this, what else have I missed?

So many of the pieces contain small details that are so easily overlooked. As a fan of all things prehistoric, I had completely overlooked the entire jewelry ensemble composed of pieces of amber. As you read about the artists behind each exquisite piece and the tiny details that they have woven into these wondrous works you will find yourself truly being transported back to a time of rock ‘n’ roll, free love and a world in the midst of change.

I wish that I had known that photography was permitted in this exhibit, because I would have included some more photos of this amazing jewelry. Simply Brilliant: Artist-Jewelers of the 1960s and 1970s at the Cincinnati Art Museum is a free special exhibit runs through February 6th 2022.