My family and I visited the Indianapolis Museum of Art yesterday just so we could take a peek at “Read My Pins”—Madeleine Albright’s exhibit of exquisite pin jewelry. I have never been a huge fan of wearing pins…well, maybe back in the late 80s when pins worn at the top of your over-sized blouse was the thing, but not much since then. Don’t get me wrong, I think pins are beautiful and the perfect accessory with the right hat or on a coat lapel but my jewelry “thing” is necklaces—I guess we all have our own jewelry vices. Madeleine’s pin exhibit was much more than I had imagined—it was absolutely amazing! She owns every kind of pin—small and large, expensive and inexpensive, animals, sea life, political, spiritual, heirlooms, new pieces, pins made by exclusive jewelry makers, unknown artists, and even a heart pin made by her daughter when she was a child (Madeleine’s favorite)…anyway, you get my drift. (I think she is the Imelda Marcos of pins! LOL!) Once at the exhibit, I found myself meandering from case to case and reading every single plaque—I didn’t want to miss a thing. It seemed so personal—I actually felt like I had been given an invitation from Madeleine herself to tour her jewelry box and share the secret behind each and every piece. I truly think one of the things that impressed me the most was that many of her pins were just costume pieces—not expensive—and some were made of simple materials such as metal, rhinestones or clay. The idea here is that these pieces mean something to her and are just as important as the expensive diamond and pearl pieces. You have to respect and admire a person like that—someone who can have all the expensive jewelry she wants. As I continued through the exhibit I viewed pictures of past presidents, rulers of other nations, dignitaries, etc. all with Madeleine—always smiling and always sporting a beautiful pin. I’m sure most of those people got the messages she was conveying with her jewelry…but for those who didn’t, I’m sure they are still scratching their heads thinking there was something about that Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, but maybe they just couldn’t PINpoint it. Anyway, kudos to you Madeleine Albright for proudly wearing your jewelry as art and as a way of making a true and bold statement…and for showing the world that jewelry can be cool and meaningful even when if it comes from the most humble of origins.

I take my hat, with its elegant hat pin, off to you.

Advertisement