This exhibition has been a labor of love for me many years in the making. I am simply amazed on how this has all come together. I wanted to make an opportunity not only to highlight these three great designers, but to speak upon their rivalry, their influence, society at the turn of the 20th century and the lessons we can still learn today. I cannot believe how quickly the weeks have gone by.

There are so many to thank for this exhibition. Countless staff and volunteers at CMA, friends and colleagues around the globe, the generosity of the lenders and sponsors…the list can go on and on. But I am very grateful to all of you who have shown personal interest in Artistic Luxury. Thank you for visiting the exhibition, reading my blog and sharing your experience with others. I am honored and humbled by the many of you who thoroughly enjoyed this experience and journey.

Until next time…

Stephen

 NOTE:

Please join CMA as we transition from the Artistic Luxury blog to CMA’s Curator of African Art, Costa Petridis’ blog, Art and Power in the Cental African Savanna.  A  special CMA blog with insight to all of the great programming taking place is also in the works and the link will be posted to the Art & Power blog when up and running.

With Artistic Luxury, the Cleveland Museum of Art has brought together three of Tiffany’s most acclaimed winows in one city. Artistic Luxury represents the American debut of one of Tiffany’s most highly-regarded works in stained glass, the Magnolia Window.

Magnolia Window, c. 1900, Tiffany Studios, The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg

This remarkable window was taken to the 1900′s World Fair in Paris by Tiffany and later sold in 1901 to the Stieglitz Academy of Art and Design in St. Petersburg. During the Russian Revolution, the Stieglitz collections went to the State Hermitage Museum for safe keeping. There the Magnolia Window sat all throughout the Soviet era. It was only recently that it was put on display. I stumbled across it while looking for Fabergé works for Artistic Luxury.

Adding to the Magnolia Window debut is two of Cleveland’s own Tiffany treasures. On display in Artistic Luxury is a window originally created for the now demolished Howell Hinds house (located at the present site of the First Church of Christ Scientist). About a mile or so down the road, can be found Tiffany’s Flight of Souls Window, located in Lakeview Cemetery’s Wade Chapel, which Tiffany also included among his offerings at the 1900 World’s Fair in Paris.

When life closes a door, it opens a window or in this case three. And if that isn’t a once in a lifetime opportunity, I don’t know what is.

Stephen

FYI:

• Check out my vlogs on WKYC.com.
• Get tickets to CMA’s Cabaret Artistique on January 16, featuring Daniel Isengart and Baby Dee, price includes ticket to Artistic Luxury.

Surprise them all by suggesting a nice (and warm) trip to see the Cleveland Museum of Art’s exhibition, Artistic Luxury: Fabergé, Tiffany, Lalique, because really who wants to ring in the New Year with a cold brought on by the Cleveland sub-zero weather, when they could ring it in with memories of beautiful luxury goods and jewelry – that everyone can enjoy!

There certainly are a lot of ways to celebrate the holidays in this wonderful city, but why not try something new: somethat that has not been here forever, and will not be here for long! Begin a new tradition and visit the Cleveland Museum of Art around the holidays. The permanent collection is always free and it’s the final weeks to see Artistic Luxury – something you do not want to miss.

Have a safe and happy holiday season and wonderful New Year.

Stephen

You should try to join me on stage in our Recital Hall to experience another in our highly popular artist dialogues tonight, Wednesday, December 17, at 6:30 p.m. at the Cleveland Museum of Art with local jewelry designing legend and educator, John Paul Miller.

John Paul Miller

John Paul Miller, born in Pennsylvania Dutch Country in 1918, took art classes at the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Cleveland Institute of Art as a child. His talents and passion for art and design led him to attend CIA where he simultaneously earned a degree and taught courses. A year after graduation, Miller enlisted in the Army where his artistic talents did not go to waste. He painted a number of murals while at Fort Knox and was a member of a team of writers and illustrators that produced illustrations and maps for tanks on the battlefield.

After his service, Miller returned to CIA and taught a variety of courses including design, filmmaking, and metalry. His teaching career at CIA spanned 40 years.

Miller is recognized in the metalsmithing field for his research and work in the ancient technique of granulation. He began mastery of this technique through trial and error and built an affinity for working in gold. He works in granulation to create objects that inspired him as a child — small creatures, crabs, spiders, beetles and snails — beautifully enameling these creatures into a life of their own.

Just as in the work of Fabergé, Tiffany and Lalique, John Paul Miller has drawn his own inspiration from nature and the world around him to create fantastic gold and enameled works of art. This dynamic discussion of Miller’s work in the context of those featured in Artistic Luxury provides a unique opportunity to hear how these earlier master artists have directly influenced Miller — and maybe one or two things he could have probably taught them.

Stephen

FYI:

• Check out my vlogs on WKYC.com.
• Check out another amazing Cleveland designer, Russell Trusso.
• Check out the remaining education programs for Artistic Luxury – before it’s too late!

I have been extremely thankful, gracious and lucky for the last umpteen years while creating Artistic Luxury. Here are some of the things I’m thankful for:

• Gracious lenders for lending me so many wonderful objects to the exhibition.
• The staff at the Cleveland Museum of Art for believing in Artistic Luxury as much as I do and helping to make this exhibition a success.
• My amazing assistant who keeps me on task and in line.
• Visitors who have come to the museum from all over to see Artistic Luxury – you make everything I’ve done worthwhile.
• My family and friends for putting up with me while I worked on this exhibition. As sweet as I look, I have my moments.

What are you, my readers, thankful for? I’d love to know; and remember to give your thanks tomorrow and every day throughout the year. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Stephen

Last week marked the 108th anniversary of the closing of the fair. Although infamous for introducing several revoluationary techniques, including talking films and escalators, perhaps the most influential unveiling was that of the Art Noveau style.

Through the seven-month exposition that was the World’s Fair, the highly-stylized, organic motifs that distinguish Art Noveau were all apparent. One of the fair’s exhibiting artistis, who helped inspire a worldwide craze, was jewelry Rene Lalique, featured prominently in CMA’s exhibition, Artistic Luxury: Fabergé, Tiffany, Lalique.

Today, you and your family can take a trip back to Paris 1900 right here in Cleveland present day. No passport or French phrasebook required. CMA welcomes families of all ages to “Bask in the Luxury,” a hands-on family workshop on Sunday, November 30.

Get inspired, create your own modern day bling, and take a tour of Artistic Luxury to see the very same pieces that inspired more than 50 million World’s fair visitors.

It’s a roundtrip that you won’t feel in your wallet. Go ahead, tell your friends you’re spending the holidays in Paris. So chic.

Stephen

I give you the Top 10 Reasons for Men to see Artistic Luxury:

10. Really, it’s just a rock collection.

9. Most everything is in a case, meaning you more than likely can’t break anything.

8. You’ll score points with the ladies.

7. It’s cheaper than taking your wife or girlfriend to a fancy dinner.

6. The exhibition highlights the rivalry between designers - pretend the designers are sports teams and root for your favorite.

5. LeBron, Jay-Z, Kanye…they all wear bling.

4. Impress a date – come by yourself and do the audio tour, then come back with a date and impress the heck out of her.

3. Take solace in the fact that your wife/girlfriend can’t ask for these items for Christmas, they’re one-of-a-kind. But do be prepared to shop for knock-offs – visit the CMA store.

2. Take your wife/girlfriend to Artistic Luxury on Saturday and maybe she’ll let you watch the Browns on Sunday, undisturbed.

1. You can put that “I’m so bored and was dragged here by my wife/girlfriend look” on your face and I won’t be offended, I know you secretly love it.

Stephen

One example is the upcoming concert, Artistic Luxury: Music of Opulence and Decadence around 1900, with Antonio Pompa-Baldi on piano, Wednesday, November 12 at Severance Hall. I recently sat down with Antonio and Tom Welsh, CMA’s associate director of music, and discussed Artistic Luxury  – go ahead and listen, then go to order your tickets.

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Stephen

Joining in the fun, I’ve picked three take home pieces. Hey, I’m the curator, I can do what I want.

Take home piece #1 – The Adam’s Vase.

Adam's Vase, c. 1893-95, Tiffany & Co., The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Adam’s Vase (c. 1893-95) was designed by Paulding Farnham of Tiffany & Co. and created from American gold (nearly 23 pounds), gemstones (pearls, amethysts, garnets and tourmalines) and mineral specimens (gold-bearing quartz, rock crystal and petrified wood). The vase was displayed at the 1900 Paris World’s Fair as the crowning achievement of Tiffany & Co.

Take home piece #2 – Kelch Rocaille Egg.

The Kelch Eggs, done by the House of Fabergé for heiress Barbara Kelch, were Easter eggs meant to compete with the Imperial eggs (also done by Fabergé) for the Russian Tsar. Said to be gifts of Alexander Kelch (Barbara’s husband), Barbara Kelch actually purchased her own Easter eggs from the House of Fabergé each year for seven years.

Take home piece #3 – Jester Hand Mirror.

The Jester Hand Mirror (c. 1898-1900) by René Lalique shows a mocking jester confronting the user of the hand mirror, while stag beetles proclaim the true beauty of the beholder on the reverse. Lalique’s repertoire of subject matter ran the gammet from flora and fauna to the human form.

For more on why these pieces are my take homes and visuals, watch my video blogs for more curatorial insight.

Now what are you waiting for? Come to Artistic Luxury and pick your own take home piece, just don’t actually take it home of course.

Stephen