Edge of the Sublime presents a first-ever retrospective of works by Jamie Bennett, one of the most important enamelists working today. This exhibition explores the artist’s creative use and development of a variety of enameling and metalworking techniques to produce highly color-saturated imagery on signature brooches, necklaces and pendants. Included are more than 80 ornaments, in addition to paintings and a selection of wall reliefs, sketches and notebooks. Drawings and accompanying texts shed light on the artist’s practices, revealing both working processes and conceptual developments.
Over the past 30 years, Bennett’s painterly innovations have greatly expanded the field of fired enamel into a medium for contemporary expression. Enameling is an ancient method of decorating metal by sifting or painting enamel powder (finely ground glass) onto a metal surface and then heating the piece with a torch or in a kiln to melt and fuse the glass to the metal. Certain influences are clearly visible in Bennett’s work, including his fascination with words and symbols, and his mother’s work as a fashion designer/dressmaker.
About the Artist
Jamie Bennett divided his time growing up between a Pennsylvania suburb and New York City. After a brief period at New York University, he transferred to and graduated from the University of Georgia, Athens with an undergraduate degree in business in 1971. After receiving his BBA, Bennett followed his passion for the arts to the State University of New York (SUNY) at New Paltz, where he devoted himself to becoming a metalsmith. He completed his MFA in 1975, and went on to several teaching positions including a faculty position for the Program in Artisanry at Boston University. He is now a Professor of Art in the Metal Program at his alma mater, SUNY at New Paltz. His work is included in the collections of over 20 museums around the world, including: the Victoria & Albert Museum, London; the Philadelphia Museum of Art; Musée de Arts décoratifs, Paris; Museum of Arts & Design, New York; and the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.
Softcover and hardcover exhibition catalogues are available for purchase in the Museum Store.
Edge of the Sublime: Enamels by Jamie Bennett was organized by Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, Massachusetts; Jeannine Falino, Curator. This exhibition has been partially underwritten by the Windgate Charitable Foundation, Rotasa Foundation, Art Jewelry Forum, Mr. and Mrs. Ronald D. Abramson, Ms. Barbara N. McFayden and Ms. Susan Beech. Bellevue Arts Museum’s presentation has been curated by Nora Atkinson and is made possible by ArtsFund and the City of Bellevue.
