A few weeks ago, I discovered the wonderful work of Jennifer Crupi while visiting the San Francisco Museum of Craft and Design.
Part prosthesis, part fine jewelery, the collection hits a sweet-spot between art, craftsmanship, and critical design.
Ornamental Hands: Figure One (shown worn). Photo: Christian Luis
The Ornamental Hands series treats the hands themselves as jewels, set in sterling silver in delicate, lady-like positions. The wearer is trained to daintily bend her thumb or raise her pinky finger – a wonderful juxtaposition between the lady-like gestures and the rigid, surgical qualities of the jewelery.
Ornamental Hands: Figure Three (shown worn). Photo: Christian Luis
Already an established artist, Jennifer Crupi’s work is well-researched and thoughtfully presented in the exhibition. Figure Three of the Ornamental Hands series is shown above below being worn. The photo below is the display stand for the same piece with historical illustrations showing examples of the gesture. The contrast between the delicate gesture and the hard metal instrument is emphasized and reminds us of the strict social norms that frequently dictate body language.
Ornamental Hands: Figure Three. Photo: Jennifer Crupi
The whole series examines all kinds of body language, not just hand gestures. The collection includes full body-jewelery aids and instruments, e.g., the Posture Gauge – Chin which mechanically measures the wearer’s position on a scale between introvert and extrovert.
Posture Gauge Chin: Introverted/Extroverted scale (shown worn). Photo: Anibal Pella
Head on over to Jennifer’s website, www.jennifercrupi.com to see the whole range of work. Or if you’re in San Francisco before the end of the exhibition on 5 October 2014, be sure to catch Jennifer Crupi: A Display of Gestures at the SF Museum of Craft and Design.
