THE TIFFANY EXHIBIT AT THE PAINE ART MUSEUM

TURNING ON THE LIGHTS

Back in September I doubt I would have ever made it to the Paine Art Center and Gardens if it weren't for having to travel to our furniture manufacturer to check on several pieces I had in production. Sometimes the greatest adventures end up being right in your own backyard or at least in the backyard of your manufacturer. It was nearing the time that an exhibition of Louis Comfort Tiffany's work was coming to a close at the Paine.

One of the beauties of the Paine is its curating of its shows.

There's a strong inclination to bring to the Paine traveling exhibits that are made more dramatic by being seen in the period rooms of the Paine.
The Tiffany exhibit was a delightful extension of their ability to attract these exhibitions that fit so perfectly into the Paine mansion.

The strength of Tiffany's designs was so much more meaningful by being placed in environments evocative of the same period in which many of the pieces were made.

A dragon fly lamp sitting on a writing desk in the Paine library gave so much more context to the piece by being displayed in the Paine as opposed to being shown on a pedestal encased in a plastic cage at a more modern museum.

The delicate green and gold damascene shade on a small desk lamp featuring an iridescent swirling pattern became more of a story once it was set against those floral drapes. A pair of men's reading glasses laid in the base's bronze tray seemed as if we were waiting for the gentleman to reenter the room with the book he had left in the downstairs library now in hand.

The sheer mastery of glass as an art material was no more pleasing than in this parasol lamp with its Asian influence. A sleek slender shade balanced on a reed-like stem was perfect in its proportions and glow.

The arts and crafts period used nature extensively as its inspiration. This nasturtium table lamp nestled in the Belter sitting room couldn't have felt more at home in its setting of carved furniture.

The array of magical sparks of illumination were everywhere and rather than placing them behind stanchions you could get up close enough to smell the peonies on this leaded glass shade

The overlapping leaves on a stunning nasturtium shade almost made this shade into a where's Waldo game of deciphering where the flowers were hidden. Tiffany began manufacturing his own glass very near the beginning of his career so he could create the amazing colors and mottled quality of the glass that made him famous

I feel Tiffany would have been very pleased with having this exhibit show up at the Paine, The ability to see his pieces placed in environments worthy of being a background to his work I believe would have pleased him.

After his artwork was so lauded, he was thrust into the design limelight with clients ranging from New York's society doyennes to designing rooms at the White House for President Arthur. His lily lamps were a staple for many of his clients.

We only have memberships at two museums, one had one of the most extensive collections in the world the other has a modest collection, yet each has the talent to create some of the most breathtaking and valuable temporary exhibits making them into world class venues. It's much easier for me to get to the Met, it's a short walk across the park.

The Paine takes a bit more effort but the trek is always rewarding.






















THE GALLERY

Fractal art
Jacqueline Payne, artist
Contact at jacquebeth