fashion
Byrna Pomp, Iris Apfel and Michele Cohen
Loot: Mad About Jewelry MAD ANNUAL ART AND DESIGN BY R ACH EL VAN CEL ET TE | PHOTO CRED IT: CO URT E SY O F M A D M USE UM
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OOT draws an international jet-set who fly in to adorn themselves with the latest jewelry! This annual spring event at the famous MAD museum has curator Bryna Pomp all the buzz. She has become the influencer, tastemaker and fashion go-to person to find the latest and greatest in jewelry! “The jewelry featured incorporates a wide range of remarkable nontraditional materials, from crocheted textiles, ecologically tie-dyed silk, felt, leather, and resin to 3D-printed nylon, titanium, safety pins, bicycle tires, X-ray film, papier-mâché, and wood” states Pomp. Her curatorial expertise has raised many designers to next level status, and she has been championing contemporary jewelry designers in the field for years. Tastemakers such as Iris Apfel, Kay Uger and more all sit on the benefit host committee and continue to support this
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event each year. A sighting of the well-known adorned Iris Apfel is always a wonderful sight! The event includes artists from fifteen countries, most of whom have never been shown in New York. The international global presence of designers invited ranged from Argentina, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, Romania, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the United States, and Thailand. MAD is the only American museum with a gallery dedicated to the display of both temporary jewelry exhibits, and its own collection of contemporary and modern studio art jewelry. “My goal for the last years as the curator of LOOT is to have the Museum of Arts and Design exhibit and sell the most interesting, inventive studio and
art jewelry being created worldwide. My decision on each year’s artist selection represents a carefully strategized plan to have represented the greatest breadth of materials I view in my daily research, all executed in the most highly aesthetic designs, combined with the most superb craftsmanship. The accomplishment of the synthesis of these three elements--- the materials, the design, and the workmanship-- is present in the work of each of LOOT artists.” stated Pomp. Previous recipients of the LOOT Award include fashion icon Iris Apfel, collector Barbara Berger, jewelry designer Joan Hornig, fashion designer Kay Unger, and artists Joyce Scott and Axel Russmeyer. Keep an eye out for curator Ms. Pomp, maybe you can grab her latest jewelry fashion tip when visiting the MAD museum galleries!