“Ornament as Art: Avant-Garde Jewelry from the Helen Williams Drutt Collection”

“Ornament as Art: Avant-Garde Jewelry from the Helen Williams Drutt Collection” isn’t meant to inspire accessory ideas for the latest fall fashions. “This exhibition challenges viewers to look beyond traditional definitions of jewelry — namely, as decorative, societal status symbols — and view these objects as art in their own right,” says Museum of Fine Arts, Houston director Peter C. Marzio in a press release. The exhibit is set up to show the evolution of jewelry making and explore innovations in tools, materials and concepts. But we’re guessing some viewers won’t be able to help thinking about how at least one of the more than 720 pieces and 84 works on paper by more than 175 artists from all over the world would go perfectly with that dress, blouse or pair of shoes that’s been sitting in the closet.

The collection offers jewelry in a wide array of sizes, styles, colors and materials, including paper, metal, elastic, amber, silver, gold, wood, glass and numerous types of precious gems. Some pieces will have you questioning where on the body they should be worn.
Tuesdays-Sundays. Starts: Sept. 30. Continues through Jan. 21, 2007