Salon 94 (Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn), Black Swan Projects (Andrea Schwan), and R Gallery (Zesty Meyers and Evan Snyderman) are pleased to announce the launch of The Crown Jewels, a new joint venture that will exhibit and sell fantastic jewelry and other extraordinary objects of intimate scale created by artists, via public exhibitions, private events, art fair appearances and a variety of activities both scheduled and spontaneous.

The Crown Jewels will host its first exhibition and sale beginning next week on Wednesday December 12, 2007, at Salon 94 Freemans on the Lower East Side – an invitation and a few images are attached – and will include new one-of-a-kind, signed works by:

• Iris Bodemer (necklaces, brooches and rings in surrealist compositions)
• Christine Brandt (hand-carved rare wood rings collaged with minerals)
• James Brown (neckpieces constructed from seashells and rare beads from Vienna circa 1910 and 19th century Africa)
• Peter Dayton (small, luminous surfboard paintings)
• Hugo França (hand-sculpted monumental rings in Brazilian woods the complement this Rio-based cult figure’s furniture)
• Karl Fritsch (jeweled assemblage rings and cast animal rings by the Berlin-based artist)
• Martino Gamper (a neo-surrealist vanity table)
• Kara Hamilton (ceremonial crown suite, necklaces and pins in precious metals)
• Paula Hayes (“Living Necklaces” of micro-crocheted silk and metal fibers with air ferns nestled in pockets)
• Daniel McDonald (chains and charms in dark assemblages)
• Duro Olowu (new patterned dresses by the London-based designer) * Kiki Smith (“bling” translated into sterling and terrestrial symbols)
• Francis Upritchard (hand-sewn leather and textile animals with precious rings)
• Costa Vece (new lamps by the installation artist)
• Manuela Zanvettori (the young fourth-generation Murano glassblower’s mystical rings) ...PLUS important vintage jewelry by legendary artists Alexander Calder and Louise Nevelson.

and handpainted fake nails of Warhol, Matisse and Picasso by Katia Bassanini AND since it’s holiday time, The Crown Jewels will have a Christmas Tree Stand in Freeman Alley to sell limited edition Marilyn Minter “Merry Merry” Christmas trees — of the non-organic, non-wilting sort, complete with ornaments! — for the duration of the show. First come, first served til they run out.