Andrew Edlin Gallery presents Big Ringer, a celebration of artists and artisans from many fields reimagining the engagement ring, organized by Andrew Guenther.
Prior to our modern understanding of the circulatory system, many believed a vein ran directly from the fourth finger of the left hand to the heart. The vena amoris, or vein of love, was seen as the conduit to a loved one's heart. Placing a wedding band or engagement ring on this finger was meant to be a supernatural link to the wearer's partner, a symbol of unity. Over time, rings have grown in size and opulence, carrying heavier cultural expectations.
We asked over 100 artists to create “rings” of any material, no larger than 5 inches in any direction. Given the task of re-envisioning such a weighty and symbolic object, the artists in Big Ringer have created rings from diverse perspectives including honesty, apprehension, optimism and cynicism.