Treat yourself to a fabulous exhibit at the Albuquerque Museum, "A New Light on Tiffany: Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Girls," through August 21, 2011. The museum's description follows, but you have to see these beautiful works in person to appreciate the exquisite design and glowing colors.
I learned a lot not only about the Tiffany girls but also about stained glass and how it's created. The flat pattern is called a "cartoon," and several of those are included in the exhibit as well as letters and diaries from several of the Tiffany girls. I can only imagine receiving a letter from an artist that also contains an intricately drawn sketch or watercolor.
Louis Comfort Tiffany was one of the most recognized designers of his time in decorative arts, especially in stained glass. However, some lamps, windows and other decorative objects which were originally thought to be designed by Tiffany himself, are now recognized as designed and executed by a special group of women who worked for Tiffany at the turn of the 20th century.
The “Tiffany Girls”, as they were called, worked for Louis Comfort Tiffany in the Women’s Glass Cutting Department of Tiffany Studios along with their department head, Ohio-born designer Clara Driscoll (1861-1944).
This ground-breaking exhibition explores the turn of the 20th century New York women who created many of Tiffany Studios' celebrated decorative objects. Included are approximately 70 Tiffany lamps, windows, mosaics, enamels and ceramics, as well as pages of newly discovered documents written by designer Clara Driscoll.
Albuquerque Museum
2011 Mountain Road NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104
hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday
admission: children (4-12) $1; teens (13-18) $3; adults (19-64) $4; seniors (65+) $2
(New Mexico adult residents $3; free admission the first Wednesday of each month; free on Sundays until 1:00 p.m.)
lamp: Peacock shade, probably designed by Clara Driscoll pre-1906, model 1472, 18 1/2 in. diam.; Peacock base designed pre-1906, model 224. New-York Historical Society
photo: The Tiffany Girls on the Roof of Tiffany Studios, c. 1904-05, Reproduction courtesy the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, Winter Park, Florida
I’m having fun--come on along!
Kathy
Bottger Mansion of Old Town
historic bed & breakfast
110 San Felipe Street NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104
www.bottger.com
follow us on Facebook
