Bill Smith: Jewelry's Maverick

May 25, 2024 - August 04, 2024

Fort Wayne Museum of Art

Fort Wayne, IN​

I have a passion for telling local, often uncelebrated local stories. Of the 40 exhibitions I coordinated and supervised interpretive text for, 18 centered on local Indiana artists. I am most proud of organizing an exhibition on the Hoosier native Bill Smith, who was one of the most successful Black jewelers in history. Sadly, in the 30 years since his death, Smith’s important contributions to fashion and design have been largely forgotten.

Featuring loans from Jefferson County Historical Society (JCHS) and the private collection of JoAnne Spiller, this exhibition brought over 100 pieces together in the most comprehensive showing of his work to date. I led its curation, exhibition design, interpretation, and installation.​