Jan. 28, 2015

Romantic poet John Keats might have been looking at an exquisite necklace on a beautiful woman (or maybe a man) when he wrote: “A thing of beauty is a joy for ever: Its loveliness increases.”

Mary Ellen O’Connor silver cuffs with colorful, resin inlays can be custom-made to fit any wrist.

During this month of valentines and sweethearts, Rob Schouten Gallery’s gets in the romantic mood with its February show, “Adornment,” featuring the work of its four jewelry artists, Morgan Bell, Barb Mundell, Mary Ellen O’Connor and Tammi Sloan. The show opens Friday, Feb. 6 and runs through March 2.

Adornment with jewels is a 7,000 year-old practice that has developed through all the greatest civilizations. From the great queens of Egypt and the Roman Empire to today’s contemporary European houses of fashion, jewelry has played its part in a woman’s ability to express herself in a visual way. Whidbey Island artists are creating beautiful pieces of jewelry that continue to burst with new ideas of form, color and design.

Barb Mundell’s green drusy necklace with jade beads.

Some of the great woman of history have made adornment with jewelry interesting and fun. Cleopatra was fabulously adorned, and they say Queen Mary, married to King George V in the 20s and 30s, had an extraordinary collection of gems. Apparently, she delighted in her jewels and was a splendiferous woman partly because of this delight.

Remember those great close-ups of Paloma Picasso in the 80s with her exquisite designs draped around her beautiful neck above which beamed that wonderful face? Jewelry has always  been an ever-changing and great expression of art and design.

Handmade earrings with black beads show exquisite attention to detail by Tammi Sloan of My Brown Wren jewelry design.

Come in and see what these contemporary women artists are creating for other women and take a clue from Queen Mary’s delight: Adorn yourself!

Please join us for light refreshments and a chance to meet the artists of “Adornment” from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8 during Greenbank Farm’s “Second Sunday at the Farm” event, when the Farm’s  galleries, shops, cafe and market welcome visitors to enjoy a relaxed afternoon of fine art, good food, lively conversation, and the exquisite natural beauty of this special place.

The fabulous Paloma Picasso at Tiffany’s in New York City, 1980. / Photo by Roxanne Lowit.

Rob Schouten Gallery, a premier showcase for Whidbey Island and Northwest artists, is located at historic Greenbank Farm on scenic Whidbey Island. January gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends. Tuesdays and Wednesdays by appointment only. For further information, call 360.222.3070 or visit www.robschoutengallery.com.

(Pictured at top: Barb Mundell of Bella Terra created this beautiful garnets and silver leaf-work bracelet.)