Object Details
- Artist
- Joan Parcher, born Pittsburgh, PA 1956
- Exhibition Label
- Parcher's neckpiece invites us to reconsider the relationship between jewelry and the body we often take for granted. The minimalist pendant features a single piece of lathe-turned graphite, rather than precious stones. Its understated elegance masks the artist's subversive intent. When worn, the wearer's movements cause the graphite to swing gently, leaving its mark.
- Connections: Contemporary Craft at the Renwick Gallery, 2019
- Luce Center Label
- In Graphite Pendulum-Pendant, Joan Parcher reminds the viewer that one person’s trash is another’s treasure. Instead of traditional gemstones or precious metals, the artist uses materials gathered from a dump. Her works challenge the notion of preciousness and the tradition of jewelry as ornament. The pendant sways on the wearer’s body, smearing a dark stain across the chest and making the wearer a part of the artwork. The piece continually disintegrates as the material scrapes the surface of the clothing, shattering our idea of jewelry as a precious heirloom.
- Credit Line
- Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Renwick Acquisitions Fund
- 1994
- Object number
- 1995.12
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- Decorative Arts-Jewelry
- Crafts
- Medium
- graphite, sterling silver, and stainless steel
- Dimensions
- 13 1/2 x 8 1/2 x 1 1/2 in. (34.3 x 21.6 x 3.8 cm.)
- See more items in
- Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection
- Department
- Renwick Gallery
- Smithsonian American Art Museum
- Topic
- Dress\accessory\jewelry
- Record ID
- saam_1995.12
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk7332083b3-c26e-4fb4-881b-3888dfbc932a
