jewelry

In the newly renovated jewelry gallery at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, delicate tiaras float in glass cases next to ornate brooches and avant-garde necklaces. Viewers are drawn to the shiny metals and bright colors, but underneath each piece, an intricate structure of metal, wood, paint and plexiglass keeps those precious artworks posed in a seemingly effortless manner.

Dressing up is steeped both in fantasy and reality. Children dress up as cops and queens and bring their fantasy selves to life with badges and tiaras. In adulthood, sartorial choices tend to be less about play and become more pragmatic.

This is the eighth in a weekly series presenting highlights of conversations between leading Black visual artists in New England. In this week’s podcast, Larry Pierce interviews sculptor Susie Smith.

More than 70 artists are reimagining classic accessories in the “CraftBoston: Pins + Needles” exhibition running online March 4–April 17.

Boston’s Society of Arts + Crafts (SA+C) has launched an online gallery and a dynamic series of free programming throughout the month of May. After closing its Seaport retail location in early 2020 and later cancelling the CraftBoston spring event due to COVID-19, the online exhibitions represent a rebirth of this beloved arts organization.