Necklace c. 20th century

This necklace at the Minneapolis Institute of Art is made from little bits of turquoise and shell, strung together by an anonymous artist. I like to imagine the artist sorting through these little chunks, deciding where each one should go. Look at how the blues and greens of the turquoise are punctuated by the warm oranges and whites of the shells. Each bead is a little world of color and texture, and together they create a lively rhythm. There is a dangling pendant that adds another layer of visual interest, a little cascade of turquoise beads. It reminds me a bit of the work of Liza Lou, another artist who works with beads to create these elaborate, immersive installations. Both artists share a similar sensibility, a love of color, and a willingness to embrace repetition as a way of creating something new and unexpected. It’s all about the magic that happens when simple materials are put together in unexpected ways.