Lark Crafts

I’ve definitely come down with World Cup Fever. Side effects include a sudden and profound interest in all things South African. Occasional glimpses of the landscape make me want to book the very next flight to Capetown. Ocean + mountains + a large cosmopolitan city in between = I am so there! Stunning football stadiums provide an inspirational bonus to the whole sporting affair. Now if there was only a thriving community of jewelry makers…

Guess what? There is! And a superb sampling of South African jewelry is coming to the United States this year. “Dichotomies in Objects: Contemporary South African Studio Jewelry from the Stellenbosch Area” is an exhibition co-curated by Lauren Kalman and Carine Terreblanche and includes several artists featured in this post. There are more than 100 pieces in the exhibition by 20 South African jewelers, each of whom is  affiliated with Stellenbosch University. The exhibition begins at Velvet da Vinci in San Francisco, where it will be exhibited for the entire month of July 2010. Afterwards, it travels to the Ohio Craft Museum in Columbus, from September 12 through October 31, 2010.

South Africa’s motto translates to English as “Unity In Diversity.” This slogan seems apt to describe the country’s vibrant craft scene as well. Africa Nove Gallery and Tinsel are two galleries that promote handcrafted jewelry and local artists. This month, millions of eyes (mine included) will be turning to South Africa for sport. The time has come to begin discovering its abundant creative talent as well.

Thanks to Eric Loubser for being my cyberguide to South African jewelry. Please visit his website as well as other featured artists:

Jan Bekker

Thérèse de Villiers

Geraldine Fenn

Philippa Green

Liz Loubser

Karin Rae Matthee

Happy Youth Day South Africa!