The Jewelry of Ken Cory: Play Disguised

Ken Cory was an iconoclast, punster, collector, and extraordinary jewelrymaker and metalsmith. Participating in the California funk art scene of the 1960s, then teaching more than 20 years in Washington State, Cory (1943-1994) was one of the artistic forces who propelled the Pacific Northwest to the forefront of contemporary jewelry. Ken Jewelry from a Modern Alchemist is a comprehensive overview of Cory’s work, which is considered in the context of trends in contemporary art as well as developments in the field of metal-smithing and jewelry. The book, which includes a glossary of metalworking terms, is a substantial contribution to a field of art and craft with few resources to date.