The Artful Life: 5 Things Galerie Editors Love This Week

1. Van Cleef & Arpels Launches Dazzling Green Stone Exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History

In the world of jewelry, green stones are some of the most mesmerizing, often symbolizing the power of nature, new beginnings, fortune, and good luck. On June 10, a stunning array of treasures featuring dazzling green stones such as emerald, peridot, jade, and malachite will go on display at the Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals at the American Museum of Natural History. The New York exhibition includes 44 pieces—32 of which will be on display for the first time in the U.S.—from the collections of renowned French high-jewelry maison Van Cleef & Arpels, which since its founding in 1906 has designed jewelry and watches inspired by all aspects of nature. Highlights include a pair of oversized malachite and gold pendants from the 1970s; some show-stopping Mughal inspired necklaces featuring candy-like emerald cabochon jewels; one of the very earliest dancer brooches featuring a tulle skirt dotted with shimmering emeralds; a jade-encrusted handbag from the 1920s; and an assortment of whimsical animals carved in an apple-green chalcedony called chrysoprase. Once visitors are finished with admiring the artful creations, they are invited to further understand the physical properties of gems and minerals in the vitrines of the gem hall outside.

“While the most well-known green gems are emerald and peridot, ‘Garden of Green’ brings additional green stones, with their beautiful, diverse shades, into the spotlight,” said George Harlow, curator emeritus of the Halls of Gems and Minerals. “Each specimen in this exhibition is a beautiful example of the amazing products of natural Earth processes.” —Lucy Rees

2. Artist JR Unveils Les Enfants d’Ouranos Installation at The Parrish Art Museum

Following a successful solo show at Perrotin New York earlier this year, artist JR has unveiled an expansive installation on the facade of the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill, New York. Visible from the Montauk Highway, the 200-foot-long mural depicts children from refugee camps playing along the museum’s stretching field. Based on his photographs taken in camps from Rwanda to Ukraine, the 2019 Galerie Creative Mind spotlights themes of innocence and humanity through his photographic works. This large-scale project serves as a continuation of the artist’s Déplacé.e.s series, where he photographed children from the refugee camps named above, and transferred their images onto banners carried by volunteers measuring over 100 feet. The installation is on view through May 2024, and the artist will be holding a talk and book signing at the museum on June 9. Register here. —Shelby Black

3. Paolo Moschino and Philip Vergeylen Release New Tome That Opens the Doors to their Homes in Both City and Country

Partners in business and life for decades, Paolo Moschino and Philip Vergeylen have built a dream existence with artfully appointed homes in London and Sussex, and clients who have relied on their spirited vision to create inspired residences around the world. Out this month, An Entertaining Life (Vendome) by Moschino and Vergeylen rolls out the proverbial welcome mat for a week-long grand tour of properties in the UK, Sicily, Portofino, and the Dominican Republic with delightful stories about how the designs came to be, or favored houseguests who have come to visit. “Entertaining is a big part of our lives—entertaining friends is our pleasure, while entertaining clients is part of our job to understand their needs and to translate their dreams into reality when we create the homes they desire,” they write in the book’s introduction, which has a foreward by equally astute host Bunny Williams. “We love the theatricality of entertaining, and always hope the decorations bring a smile to our guests’ faces.” Complete with a selection of cherished recipes, and breathtaking photos of enchanting tablescapes, bedroom suites, and bucolic gardens, the tome is like receiving a eagerly awaited invitation to the chicest gathering with truly the most wonderful hosts around. —Jill Sieracki

4. Interior Designer Cortney Bishop Debuts Rock ‘n’ Roll-Inspired Capsule Collection

Fashion collections tend to appear in seasons while furniture pieces make their debut around major design fairs. However, Charleston, South Carolina, interior designer Cortney Bishop is breaking the mold with curated offerings of furniture, art, and home accents presented in limited-edition capsules inspired by the latest rock releases, appropriately dubbed Album. Available now through June 20, Album 03 takes its influence from the Dolly Parton-Miley Cyrus collaboration, “Rainbowland,” mixing midcentury modern Scandinavian furnishings with playful accessories like an exotic rattan light fixture, vibrant artworks by Andrew Radcliffe, and even an electric green Givenchy handbag.

“We made album 03 to personify summer, bold color, and artisanal craft,” says Bishop, whose studio composes imaginative residential and hospitality interiors, like The Ryder in Charleston. “I wanted to do something creative with light and transparency, and in thinking of that, ‘Rainbowland’ immediately came to mind. The tempo, energy, and message of positivity are perfectly aligned with the ethos of the artists and artisans we included. Andrew Radcliffe’s transcendent color-scapes, Susie Taylor’s woven tonal gradients, and Mollie Howie, who painted our life-size plaid mural, find empowerment through color. This level of freedom and expressivity is what fueled Album 03 and ‘Rainbowland’ brings it to life through music.” —J.S.

5. Artist Janet Echelman Transforms the Columbus Skyline with Ethereal Installation

Acclaimed American artist Janet Echelman, who earlier this year wowed Milan Design Week attendees with a site-specific work for Kohler, has installed a 229-foot-long sculpture dubbed Current in Columbus, Ohio. The state capital’s longest public artwork to date, the floating installation is comprised of some 78 miles of red and blue twine embellished with over half a million knots. To create the cloudlike textile, Echelman took inspiration from the city’s history as a hub for electrical innovation. “I became absorbed in Columbus’s historical narrative and quickly fell in love with the city,” she explains. Set to be a permanent addition to the city’s skyline, the ethereal work stretches 126 feet tall at its highest point and hovers above the intersection of Gay and High Streets, where city officials are in the midst of revitalizing as an arts and culture district. Be sure to catch a glimpse of the graceful piece when night falls to witness a striking interplay of light and movement. —Geoffrey Montes