I hadn’t planned on watching the inauguration, but I did. Frankly, because I thought Justin Timberlake would be there. Seems superficial, but the pendulum swing from Obama’s second inauguration to Trump’s first was vomit inducing and I wanted JT to bring the beat back.


As my mind and body relaxed more from the grip of national dread, I remembered I had been cataloguing pearl jewelry on my travels.
At the National Galleries Scotland in Edinburgh, I was inspired by the necklaces in portraits of Stuart family women from 1605...
..and portraits of merchant's wives in the Amsterdam Museum.
Then the emotional/art historical flood gates opened and I remembered the (wish list) mosaic of Theodora in the Basilica di San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy...
..and Bodhisattva in the Ajanta Caves in India.
Pearls are ancient, universal, and magical. I made the most simple pieces, to ease myself back into the dreamy world of creativity and am eager to design new pieces (especially with the baroque pearls).
Seeing Madam VP and Gaga and JLo and Amanda Gorman was an immense relief. They were a reminder of hope. Looking at photos of far away lands doesn’t make me long for what was, but remind me there is still a beautiful world of strength, poetry, music and art waiting for us.
For now, we can enjoy it by ourselves. Someday, we will enjoy it together. And when that day comes, maybe Justin Timberlake will go on tour.