Museums, large and small, offer an abundance of inspiration through their special exhibits, and offer us rare glimpses into our past cultures and ancient civilizations.  I intend to make a point to spend more time in the presence of some of the greatest treasures from our world.  Sometimes I feel like the opportunities to visit our many great museums are taken for granted - there is so much to offer in terms of creativity as not just artists but also as individuals – a proverbial food for the soul.

I have been wanting to return to the Met ever since I learned the Jewels by JAR exhibit was coming last Fall. Sunday was the JAR exhibit closing day, so I hopped on a plane to New York City to take it in before the show closed.  “JAR” stands for the initials of a famously reclusive Paris based jewelry designer, Joel Arthur Rosenthal.  He is renowned for designing highly artistic, three dimensional pieces, that are granted only to those who he personally chooses to own and wear his masterpieces.  David Bennet, the chairman of Sotheby's Geneva, has said "in terms of creativity - JAR is without peers."

Thousands of people have flocked to the Met this winter to see JAR’s first American exhibition, which was filled with 395 spectacularly unique jeweled masterpieces.  Unfortunately, the show was met with mixed emotions.  I read the underwhelmed reviews before I saw for my own eyes what JAR himself might have wanted to say about his creations and singularly specific point of view.  

If you weren't able to experience the JAR exhibition for yourself, picture an almost pitch black room with only enough light to shine down on the glass cases lined in various shades of rouge velvet, shedding small amounts of light on the incredibly imaginative and fantastic creations he created for this exhibit.  Experiencing jewelry is an emotional experience, and in my opinion, the mood was meant to strike an emotion of desire - not bring out the critics in everyone. You might have seen the dust, finger prints, inclusions, and the imperfections of yourself or in the whispers of the huddling strangers all within the darkness of the exhibit.  You may also have seen, as I did, the raw talent of a reclusive, talented and fearless creator. I think his genius lies not only in his artistry – but in his withdrawn, yet controlling, public image.  He doesn’t let just anyone get too close to him … or his work.

Visit our instagram page to see more of images from my day-trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Did you get the chance to visit the Jewels by JAR exhibit?  I'd love to know what your favorite piece was.