Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Pins & Politics

I recently joined the Womens' Jewelry Association Midwest Chapter at the Indianapolis Museum of Art for a docent tour of Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection. Organized by the Museum of Arts and Design, Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection  highlights over 200 pins from the unique collection of the former Secretary of State. 
Some of the pieces are associated with important world events, others were gifts from international leaders or valued friends. “Breaking Free” was designed by the WJA to benefit Connections for Abused Women and their Children (formerly Chicago Abused Women Coalition), a not-for-profit organization that offers shelter, counseling, advocacy, and a 24-hour hotline for women affected by domestic violence.
Distinctive as it is democratic, Madeline Albright's often whimsical collection spans more than a century of jewelry design and includes pieces from across the globe.  In reference to Bee (Designer Unknown), Albright stated: “Naturally, not every diplomatic encounter demands a sunny attitude. If I wanted to deliver a sharp message, I often wore a bee. Muhammad Ali used to boast that he would ‘float like a butterfly, sting like a bee’; my message was that America would try to resolve every controversy peacefully, but if pushed into a corner, we had both the will and a way to strike back.”



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