As a child growing up on her family’s farm in Hong Kong, Mindy Lam escaped into an imaginary secret garden hidden in the verdant grasses and abundant wildflowers growing near the creek where she played. Her friends were the woodland creatures: the birds, frogs, ants, spiders and owls. Her imagination flourished in this natural yet magical setting, the inspiration for her Berkshire Botanical Garden exhibition, for which she has created a special series of her signature jewelry.
Like a spider spinning a web, Mindy spins 14k gold, copper, or stainless steel wire around tiny bits of bejeweled and vintage flowers, animals, bugs and birds with accents of sparkling crystals and semi-precious stones. Each unique piece in the exhibition looks freshly plucked from a fairytale garden. The unique Homme line of lapel pins for men are sought after and collected by men and women alike.
A hallmark of Mindy’s style is her technical ability to sculpt and visually transform hard materials like metal into illusions of fragility and softness, creating metal lace by repetitive braiding and weaving of wire that appears from afar as diaphanous as thread. Mindy’s metal lace dresses, cuffs and choker necklaces are surprisingly soft to touch and evoke contemporary haute couture fashion as well as the splendor of the Renaissance.
Lam’s imagination has brought her a long way from her family’s farm; her jewelry was a favorite at famed luxury clothier Henri Bendel in Manhattan and has been featured in the Museum of Fine Arts Houston; in Vogue, Elle and Glamour magazines; and on the fashion runway.
For this very special exhibit, the Leonhardt Galleries will be transformed into a magical fairyland, with Lam’s dazzling adornments staged throughout. Located in the original C 1700s section of the Garden’s renovated Center House, the intimate galleries lend themselves to this unique exhibition, where three distinctive “gallery rooms” create a backdrop of wonder and intrigue. One room will feature the Homme Couture Collection in a fairy tale setting: within each one-of-a-kind brooch lies bejeweled creatures and floral elements made with precious metals, crystal, stones and vintage brooches. A smaller gallery room features an installation of a manmade ornamented garden containing nearly 500 Mindy Lam Classic original brooches, earrings and a lariat coming to life. The Wedding Room features Lam’s signature metal lace gown, a wearable sculpture originating with a single, delicate thread of wire. This gallery will also showcase her couture collection designed especially for once-in-a-lifetime events. All pieces will be available for purchase.
During the exhibit, the artist has generously extended sales on her website, https://mindylamcouture.com/, to support the Garden’s horticulture and education programs, dedicated to providing information and inspiration on gardening and the environment, a mission established with the founding of the Garden in 1934.
Berkshire Botanical Garden is a COVID compliant facility. Masks are mandatory while on on the grounds, and timed ticketing is required. Reserve tickets here!
