Phenomenon in Gems Remarkable Optical Illusions of Colored Gemstones

Calendar of Events Winter 2018

Special Exhibit LIZZADRO MUSEUM OF LAPIDARY ART “Smithsonian Gems” Through March 31, 2018 February 24 January 6 Newsletter & Calendar of Events “Phenomenon In Gems” “Dino Activity Day” Explore the remarkable optical illusions of Drop-in at the Museum and learn more colored gems. Sakina Bharani, Gemologist Winter 2018 about fossils with hands-on activities! See & Museum Docent discusses the different and touch real fossils, put together 3-D light effects in gems that create beautiful puzzles of dinosaur bones, and make your and rare phenomena such as stars, cats very own fossil imprint to take home! eyes, adularescence, aventurescence and Activities - Ages 5 to Adult many more. After the lecture join a guided 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. - On-going activities tour of the Smithsonian Gems exhibit to $5.00 per person, Museum Members Free see phenomenal gems! Drop-in - No Reservations Required Lecture - Youth to Adult - 2:00 p.m. - 60 minutes “Southern Charm” Regular Museum admission, Pearl earrings by Brenda Smith January 13 Museum Members Free American jewelry designers and “Say Bones! Dinosaur BINGO” Reservations Recommended Come play a fossil-filled version of the phenomenal gemstones are featured classic Bingo! Led by Ron Solberg, you’ll March 10 in this exclusive exhibit from the learn about million-year old fossils such as “The Art of Jewelry Design” trilobites and crinoids while playing the gem vaults of the Smithsonian Professional, award winning jewelry classic game. Geared for grades 3-5, adults National Museum of Natural History. designer, Brenda Smith presents her are welcome to play too! Rock and fossil motivation to create wearable art. Her Regular Museum hours & admission. prizes will be awarded! creative process includes noble metals Activity - 2:00 p.m. - 45 minutes and gemstones to adorn others. Discover Ages - 7 yrs. to adult her inspiration and choice of materials Fee: $5.00 per person, Museum Members: $3.00 for expression. See two of Brenda Smith’s “Rock & Mineral Identification” Reservations Required (630) 833-1616 Geologist Sara Kurth presents an pieces in the Smithsonian Gems exhibit. Lecture - Youth to Adult -2:00 p.m. - 60 minutes introduction to rocks and minerals. January 27 Learn to identify minerals through $10.00 per person, Museum Members Free basic hands-on identification including “Dinosaur Discoveries” Reservations Recommended Museum Hours Group Tours observation skills and hardness tests. Children become dinosaur detectives with Tuesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tours can be arranged for groups with Great for rockhounds and scouts, adult “Paleontologist Illinois Bones” to learn Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. special interests or needs. Reservations supervision required. about the world of dinosaurs. Fossils and Christmas Eve 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. are necessary for guided tours. Email: [email protected]. props are used to create an awareness of New Years Eve 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Classes: Jan. 20, Feb. 17, Mar. 3 dinosaur characteristics. See live animals Closed Mondays, 10:30 a.m. - 75 minutes and how they are related to dinosaurs. Christmas Day, and New Years Day. The Museum has facilities Ages 8 yrs. to Adult Interactive Lecture - Ages 4 yrs. to Adult to provide access for physically Fee: $5.00 per person, Museum Members: $3.00 2:00 p.m. - 50 minutes Admission disabled visitors. Reservations Required: (630) 833-1616 $5.00 per person, Museum Members Free $5.00 Adults, $4.00 Senior Citizens Reservations Recommended (630) 833-1616 $3.00 Students & Teenagers Visit us and Shop online at: “Rockin’ Jewelry for Kids” $2.00 Children 7 to 12 yrs. lizzadromuseum.org Free for children under 7 yrs. Children can make their own gemstone February 10 March 24 Friday is a Free day. jewelry to keep. Choose two different “Olympic Rocks” Members of the Lizzadro Museum and types of jewelry to make with stones from Geared for middle and high school “Mazon Creek active members of the Armed Forces are the Museum Shop and learn how to work students competing in Science Olympiad Fossil Collecting Field Trip” admitted free of charge on any day the with jeweler’s tools. Completes Girl Scout tournaments, this class delves into rocks Join us on a trip to Braidwood, Illinois Museum is open to the public. Volunteer forms are available. Jewelers badge. and minerals. Hands on samples cover to collect Mazon Creek fossils at selected sites within the historic coal strip mining B2: Two-Line Lock-up Email: [email protected]. most of the S.O. specimen list. Topics 1/3 Classes: Jan. 20, Feb. 17, Mar. 3 include quick ID tips, Bowen’s Reaction area (conditions permitting). Learn what 1/3 to look for when collecting these special 1/3 Smithsonian Institution 1:30 p.m. - 75 minutes Series, and general rock information. 1/3 Ages 8 to 16 years fossils and how to open them. Travel by Affiliations Program Students can sign up as a team or as an 1/3 Fee: $10.00 per person individual. Bring your questions to this motor coach, bring a sack lunch and get 1/3 1/3 1/3 Reservations Required: (630) 833-1616 informal practice session! ready to collect. Make reservations early, Activity - 75 minutes - 10:30 a.m. this field trip fills up fast! Ages 10 to 18 yrs. Field Trip - 8 yrs. to Adult Fee: $5.00 per person, Museum Members $3.00 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. LIZZADRO MUSEUM Reservations Required: (630) 833-1616 $35.00 per person, Museum Members $30.00 OF LAPIDARY ART Reservations Required: (630) 833-1616 220 Cottage Hill Ave. Elmhurst, IL 60126 ExploreElmhurst.com 630-833-1616 We would like to hear from you. Please direct questions or comments to: [email protected] “The Art of Jewelry Design” with Brenda Smith Adularescence is named after Play of Color: Iridescence Phenomenon in Gems “adularia”, (Historical name in precious opal is called Brenda Smith is an artist, metal smith for Moonstone). The effect “Play of Color”. Opals are and award-winning designer currently Remarkable optical illusions is due to light interference generally divided into residing in Atlanta, Georgia. Her work caused by layered atomic precious and common, has been exhibited in many galleries of colored gemstones structures within the stone. Opal based on whether they and jewelry stores, including the Forbes The gem displays a billowy have Play of Color or not respectively. Play of Color is seen as Gallery and Faber Gallery in NYC, the Moonstone By Sakina Bharani floating light which appear to shifting patches of spectral colors on a gem’s surface and/or in Carnegie Museum of Natural History come from below the surface. The term Shiller or Schiller its interior. This phenomenon is actually caused by a unique and the Smithsonian. is sometimes used to describe this effect. As in other optical ultra structure of the Opal. The Opal is made of spheres of A former creative director with more Phenomenon in gems displays unusual optical properties. phenomenon, the size and distance from layer to layer silica, which are arranged in closely stacked layers and have air than 25 years of advertising, design These gems are rare. The optical phenomenon depends on Brenda Smith influences the colors we see. The colors can be white, blue or or rarely liquid between them. These spaces with air or liquid and design teaching experience, she different ways the light beam behaves when passing through rainbow hues. Adularescence appears in other gemstones as cause diffraction and split light into various colors. Thus we easily transitioned from graphic arts to innovative jewelry a gemstone. The light beam can take the form of scattering, well notably, Opal, Rose Quartz and Chalcedony. get a shifting group of colors that flicker and move as we move design. “Jewelry design is simply another form of art and design reflecting, refracting, diffracting, absorbing or transmitting the stone. The colors we see depend on the size and regularity utilizing metals and gemstones as the medium.” “I also enjoy light. There are many examples of gemstone phenomenon. of arrangements of the spheres. With larger spheres more red teaching jewelry design since it is a win-win situation,” she says. Some, simple and subtle and others quite striking. Many of owes its (more value) and with smaller spheres more blue is seen (less “It keeps me thinking creatively in a communicative way, be it these phenomenal effects can be seen in the special exhibit Aventurescence beauty to structural features value). As with any gemstone, color preferences are subject to verbally or visually.” Smithsonian Gems. Other phenomenal gems can be seen that diffract or scatter individual tastes. Brenda’s work is influenced by a myriad of thoughts, symbols around the Museum. Next time you visit the Museum take light; aventurescence is a and unique materials. She strives to create jewelry that fuses a look to see if you can identify the various optical effects consequence of reflection. sculptural design with powerful symbols and inspirational mes- described in this article. Listed below are some of the popular When disk or plate like Some gemstones sages. “I’m not interested in creating a variation of something phenomena seen in gemstones. Sunstone Color Change: inclusions of another mineral appear very different in daylight that is done everyday. What’s the point? They are sculptural, are present which are highly reflective, they act as tiny (natural light) and incandescent and have movement and concept. My designs are inside just mirrors. The gem sparkles and glitters. This glitter effect is light. This phenomenon of “color waiting to emerge as wearable art with a story.” Asterism is observed in opaque called aventurescence. The term Shiller is also used for this change” is typically observed in a Awards and recognitions include AGTA Spectrum, Inter- gemstones where inclusions glowing effect. The most common reflectors are copper, gem called Alexandrite and this national Pearl Design Competition sponsored by the Cultured are naturally oriented in a star- hematite and mica. The term Aventurescence is derived from Alexandrite effect is also called “Alexandrite Pearl Association of America, five times; Royal Asscher’s Rebel like pattern with the rays of the the word “a ventura” meaning “by chance”. This effect is seen Effect”. The Alexandrite appears green in daylight and Chique Diamond Design Competition; Palladium Alliance star intersecting in the middle. in Aventurine Quartz, Sunstone Feldspar and a man-made reddish purple in incandescent light. Other gems that International Design Competition, two times, the Smithsonian There are four to six rays and stone called Gold Stone. display color change phenomenon occasionally are Sapphire, Museum of Natural History acquisitions, Red Carpet for the rarely twelve. The inclusions are Spinel, Garnet and Tourmaline. Emmys, and Oscars. called Rutile Needles (Titanium Oxide). To appreciate the star She earned her BFA in design and her BA from Kent State Star Sapphire is derived from the References: effect properly the gem has to be Iridescence University and her EMBA from Kennesaw State University. Greek word “iris” meaning cut as cabochon. Popularly called star-gems, this effect is Gemstones of the World, Schumann, W., She is currently a member of AGTA, CPAA, GIA, SNAG, rainbow. It is caused by commonly observed in Corundum (Sapphire and Ruby) and Sterling Publishing Co., 2013. WJA, Georgia Goldsmith Group, The Southeastern Federa- diffraction of white light tion of Mineralogical Societies, Inc., is on the Advisory Board occasionally in Quartz and Diopside. Gemstones Symbols of Beauty & Power, Gubelin, E., Erni, F., as it is passing through for the School of Visual Arts, Kennesaw State University, the small openings such as Geoscience Press, Inc. 1999. Board of Directors for the Acworth Cultural Arts Center and pores and slits or when Gemological Institute of America (GIA) resources. on the board of Healing for the Nations. Chatoyancy: Popularly known light passes through thin as cat’s eye gem, (chat in French layers of different minerals International Gem Society (IGS) resources. Artist Statement means cat). Chatoyancy refers Iris Agate with different refractory Photos courtesy of the Smithsonian Geogallery. Brenda Smith’s jewelry is a culmination of her life experiences to a phenomenon akin to indices. A prism effect causes light to separate into various to date. Travel, education and experiences have all contrib- opening and shutting of cat’s spectral colors. Iridescence is the most common optical uted in molding the thought and creative processes, revealing eye. These gems have a single phenomenon and the most mesmerizing one. It can be easily Sakina Bharani is a gemologist and Museum docent. themselves in the positive, conceptual, miniature sculptures sharp band (sometimes two or appreciated in nature such as on the neck of the pigeon, soap She has presented several lectures on gemstones. that she creates in noble metals and gemstones to adorn others three bands) running across the bubble, wings of a butterfly or iridescent beetle. Gems with who connect with her esthetic. These timeless treasures may domed cabochon surface. The Her lecture on Phenomenal Gems will be held on February 24, Chrysoberyl Cats Eye remarkable iridescence are thinly sliced Iris Agate, Fire Agate originate with a thought, word, experience, gemstone, shape, Chrysoberyl cat’s eye gem is very at 2 p.m. at the Museum. After the lecture join a guided tour of and Ammolite. Coating the surface of an ordinary gem with the Smithsonian Gems exhibit. Reservations are recommended. or a doodle. “Designing jewelry, for me, is a release of beautiful specifically cut as cabochon to highlight chatoyancy. The a chemical and heating can produce man-made iridescence. concepts and shapes that can be captured forever in this timeless rutile silk is aligned perpendicular to the crystal. So when medium. It is my passion. I can’t imagine doing anything else.” light falls on it, the sharp band can be seen. In the best stones, the chatoyant Chrysoberyl cat’s eye visually separates The exhibit Smithsonian Gems was made possible through the surface into two halves creating milk and honey effect the City of Elmhurst’s Explore Elmhurst Community Brenda Smith has two pieces on display in the Smithsonian as the stone is moved under light. Other gems that can Grant Program. Explore Elmhurst is a marketing campaign Gems exhibit and will present “The Art of Jewelry Design” at the show cat’s eye phenomenon are Tourmaline, Moonstone developed to further promote community events and Museum on March 10, at 2 p.m. Reservations are recommended. as well as Quartz. activities in Elmhurst to the public. ExploreElmhurst.com “The Art of Jewelry Design” with Brenda Smith Adularescence is named after Play of Color: Iridescence Phenomenon in Gems “adularia”, (Historical name in precious opal is called Brenda Smith is an artist, metal smith for Moonstone). The effect “Play of Color”. Opals are and award-winning designer currently Remarkable optical illusions is due to light interference generally divided into residing in Atlanta, Georgia. Her work caused by layered atomic precious and common, has been exhibited in many galleries of colored gemstones structures within the stone. Opal based on whether they and jewelry stores, including the Forbes The gem displays a billowy have Play of Color or not respectively. Play of Color is seen as Gallery and Faber Gallery in NYC, the Moonstone By Sakina Bharani floating light which appear to shifting patches of spectral colors on a gem’s surface and/or in Carnegie Museum of Natural History come from below the surface. The term Shiller or Schiller its interior. This phenomenon is actually caused by a unique and the Smithsonian. is sometimes used to describe this effect. As in other optical ultra structure of the Opal. The Opal is made of spheres of A former creative director with more Phenomenon in gems displays unusual optical properties. phenomenon, the size and distance from layer to layer silica, which are arranged in closely stacked layers and have air than 25 years of advertising, design These gems are rare. The optical phenomenon depends on Brenda Smith influences the colors we see. The colors can be white, blue or or rarely liquid between them. These spaces with air or liquid and design teaching experience, she different ways the light beam behaves when passing through rainbow hues. Adularescence appears in other gemstones as cause diffraction and split light into various colors. Thus we easily transitioned from graphic arts to innovative jewelry a gemstone. The light beam can take the form of scattering, well notably, Opal, Rose Quartz and Chalcedony. get a shifting group of colors that flicker and move as we move design. “Jewelry design is simply another form of art and design reflecting, refracting, diffracting, absorbing or transmitting the stone. The colors we see depend on the size and regularity utilizing metals and gemstones as the medium.” “I also enjoy light. There are many examples of gemstone phenomenon. of arrangements of the spheres. With larger spheres more red teaching jewelry design since it is a win-win situation,” she says. Some, simple and subtle and others quite striking. Many of owes its (more value) and with smaller spheres more blue is seen (less “It keeps me thinking creatively in a communicative way, be it these phenomenal effects can be seen in the special exhibit Aventurescence beauty to structural features value). As with any gemstone, color preferences are subject to verbally or visually.” Smithsonian Gems. Other phenomenal gems can be seen that diffract or scatter individual tastes. Brenda’s work is influenced by a myriad of thoughts, symbols around the Museum. Next time you visit the Museum take light; aventurescence is a and unique materials. She strives to create jewelry that fuses a look to see if you can identify the various optical effects consequence of reflection. sculptural design with powerful symbols and inspirational mes- described in this article. Listed below are some of the popular When disk or plate like Some gemstones sages. “I’m not interested in creating a variation of something phenomena seen in gemstones. Sunstone Color Change: inclusions of another mineral appear very different in daylight that is done everyday. What’s the point? They are sculptural, are present which are highly reflective, they act as tiny (natural light) and incandescent and have movement and concept. My designs are inside just mirrors. The gem sparkles and glitters. This glitter effect is light. This phenomenon of “color waiting to emerge as wearable art with a story.” Asterism is observed in opaque called aventurescence. The term Shiller is also used for this change” is typically observed in a Awards and recognitions include AGTA Spectrum, Inter- gemstones where inclusions glowing effect. The most common reflectors are copper, gem called Alexandrite and this national Pearl Design Competition sponsored by the Cultured are naturally oriented in a star- hematite and mica. The term Aventurescence is derived from Alexandrite effect is also called “Alexandrite Pearl Association of America, five times; Royal Asscher’s Rebel like pattern with the rays of the the word “a ventura” meaning “by chance”. This effect is seen Effect”. The Alexandrite appears green in daylight and Chique Diamond Design Competition; Palladium Alliance star intersecting in the middle. in Aventurine Quartz, Sunstone Feldspar and a man-made reddish purple in incandescent light. Other gems that International Design Competition, two times, the Smithsonian There are four to six rays and stone called Gold Stone. display color change phenomenon occasionally are Sapphire, Museum of Natural History acquisitions, Red Carpet for the rarely twelve. The inclusions are Spinel, Garnet and Tourmaline. Emmys, and Oscars. called Rutile Needles (Titanium Oxide). To appreciate the star She earned her BFA in design and her BA from Kent State Star Sapphire is derived from the References: effect properly the gem has to be Iridescence University and her EMBA from Kennesaw State University. Greek word “iris” meaning cut as cabochon. Popularly called star-gems, this effect is Gemstones of the World, Schumann, W., She is currently a member of AGTA, CPAA, GIA, SNAG, rainbow. It is caused by commonly observed in Corundum (Sapphire and Ruby) and Sterling Publishing Co., 2013. WJA, Georgia Goldsmith Group, The Southeastern Federa- diffraction of white light tion of Mineralogical Societies, Inc., is on the Advisory Board occasionally in Quartz and Diopside. Gemstones Symbols of Beauty & Power, Gubelin, E., Erni, F., as it is passing through for the School of Visual Arts, Kennesaw State University, the small openings such as Geoscience Press, Inc. 1999. Board of Directors for the Acworth Cultural Arts Center and pores and slits or when Gemological Institute of America (GIA) resources. on the board of Healing for the Nations. Chatoyancy: Popularly known light passes through thin as cat’s eye gem, (chat in French layers of different minerals International Gem Society (IGS) resources. Artist Statement means cat). Chatoyancy refers Iris Agate with different refractory Photos courtesy of the Smithsonian Geogallery. Brenda Smith’s jewelry is a culmination of her life experiences to a phenomenon akin to indices. A prism effect causes light to separate into various to date. Travel, education and experiences have all contrib- opening and shutting of cat’s spectral colors. Iridescence is the most common optical uted in molding the thought and creative processes, revealing eye. These gems have a single phenomenon and the most mesmerizing one. It can be easily Sakina Bharani is a gemologist and Museum docent. themselves in the positive, conceptual, miniature sculptures sharp band (sometimes two or appreciated in nature such as on the neck of the pigeon, soap She has presented several lectures on gemstones. that she creates in noble metals and gemstones to adorn others three bands) running across the bubble, wings of a butterfly or iridescent beetle. Gems with who connect with her esthetic. These timeless treasures may domed cabochon surface. The Her lecture on Phenomenal Gems will be held on February 24, Chrysoberyl Cats Eye remarkable iridescence are thinly sliced Iris Agate, Fire Agate originate with a thought, word, experience, gemstone, shape, Chrysoberyl cat’s eye gem is very at 2 p.m. at the Museum. After the lecture join a guided tour of and Ammolite. Coating the surface of an ordinary gem with the Smithsonian Gems exhibit. Reservations are recommended. or a doodle. “Designing jewelry, for me, is a release of beautiful specifically cut as cabochon to highlight chatoyancy. The a chemical and heating can produce man-made iridescence. concepts and shapes that can be captured forever in this timeless rutile silk is aligned perpendicular to the crystal. So when medium. It is my passion. I can’t imagine doing anything else.” light falls on it, the sharp band can be seen. In the best stones, the chatoyant Chrysoberyl cat’s eye visually separates The exhibit Smithsonian Gems was made possible through the surface into two halves creating milk and honey effect the City of Elmhurst’s Explore Elmhurst Community Brenda Smith has two pieces on display in the Smithsonian as the stone is moved under light. Other gems that can Grant Program. Explore Elmhurst is a marketing campaign Gems exhibit and will present “The Art of Jewelry Design” at the show cat’s eye phenomenon are Tourmaline, Moonstone developed to further promote community events and Museum on March 10, at 2 p.m. Reservations are recommended. as well as Quartz. activities in Elmhurst to the public. ExploreElmhurst.com Calendar of Events Winter 2018