The very exciting “Translations: Art into Jewellery” is re-launching at In Toto Gallery on the 12^th of April 2012 at 6PM.

This beautiful show will feature artworks by top South African artists displayed alongside custom made jewellery, by the Schwartz Jewellers, directly inspired by the artists’ pieces.

The idea for this exhibition, which explores the crossover of art into jewellery, came about during a conversation between Isa and Gail Schwartz. Together they conceived the idea of asking top South African artists to collaborate with the Schwartz Jewellers to create a range of artist-designed jewellery pieces.

The Schwartz’s put their thoughts into action and the impressive project began to transpire, including prominent artists Norman Catherine, Marco Cianfanelli, Michael Frampton, Faiza Galdhari, Diana Hyslop, Loren Kaplan, Dylan Lewis, Senzeni Marasela, Karel Nel and Walter Oltmann. This group of extraordinary artists collaborated with the very experienced and creative Schwartz Jewellers to create an incredible exhibition of artworks and unique artist-designed jewellery.

Schwartz Jewellers was founded in 1924 by Ike Schwartz, the South African lightweight boxing champion. The business is still owned and managed by the Schwartz family, Isa, Gail and Robert Schwartz, and is a specialist luxury jeweller providing local and international elite clientele with handmade jewellery of the highest quality and craftsmanship.

Robyn Sassen (2010) articulates the soul of the exhibition beautifully in her foreword for the catalogue by saying: “The dialogues that are so clearly a part of each of the final pieces in this exhibition echo with art history:…they are the product of artists and jewellers bending their heads together over a workbench and sharing passions and expert knowledge…this exhibition is about the marriage of true minds in the face of beauty.”