Editor's note: The New-York Historical Society
provided source material to Resource Library for the following article
or essay. If you have questions or comments regarding the source material,
please contact the New-York Historical Society directly through either this
phone number or web address:
Byrdcliffe as a Utopian
Community
March 15 - May l5, 2005
(Jessie Tarbox Beals, American, born
Canada, 18701942, View from White Pines Front Porch, 1908, silver
print. Winterthur Library, Downs Collection, 92 x 39.1140.604. Exhibition
catalogue cover image)
An exhibition that
honors one of the most influential arts colonies in the United States
is on view at the New-York Historical Society from March 15 - May 15, 2005.
Produced by the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University,
the exhibition tells the story about this remarkable community that was
founded in 1902 and still operates today.
Byrdcliffe is located in Woodstock, NY; a town known for
its impact on social change through art, music and non-violent measures.
Set against the background of a rapidly changing America, the exhibit concentrates
on the arts and crafts created at Byrdcliffe from the colony's earliest
days, until the death of co-founder and chief investor Ralph Whitehead in
1929. The colony drew especially large crowds for its 'Maverick' music festivals
which were filled uninhibited, bohemian song and dance. Folk icon Bob Dylan
continued the music tradition many years later at Byrdcliffe when he and
The Band lived and recorded the famous Basement Tapes at a neighboring
house in Saugerties.
The exhibit features a total of 191 paintings, photographs,
prints, frames, metalwork, furniture, ceramics and textiles from nearly
two dozen artists who called Byrdcliffe home. Of equal importance as the
art itself, were the utopian ideals advanced by Whitehead and the other
founders, combined with the dynamic creativity of its talented but under-appreciated
artists. 
The exhibit and companion catalog, which is available in
the N-YHS Museum Store examines the historical, artistic and social significance
of the colony through three interconnected themes: Quest for the Handmade
shows how the work of the artists, writers and critics reflects a rebellion
against the technological advances of the Industrial Revolution; Byrdcliffe
as a Utopian Community explores the colony's role as an independent
entity against an increasingly global backdrop and Artists and Artisans
examines the independence and creativity of the artists themselves.
(right: Attributed to George Eggers, American, 18831958,
Chest with Winter Landscape, ca. 1904, oak with painted panels, Height:
64 3/8 inches; width: 60 inches; depth: 23 3/4 inches. Collection of the
Byrdcliffe Art Colony of the Woodstock Guild)
From examples of hand-crafted furniture such as George
Eggers' oak Chest with Winter Landscape with its painted panels depicting
stark winter landscapes; to jewelry and tableware designer Bertha Thompson's
silver table spoon; as well as landscape paintings, ceramic bowls, textiles,
photographs and hand-bound journals, Byrdcliffe tells the story of
how a community driven by the desire to create beautiful, functional objects
drew a diverse array of artisans to a pristine setting in the heart of the
Catskills, where they flourished in a communal atmosphere of shared artistic
endeavor.
To accompany the exhibit, N-YHS will host two intriguing
public programs by expert curators with intimate knowledge of the arts &
crafts movement in the early 20th Century. On Wednesday, March 23 Wendy
Kaplan, Curator of Decorative Arts, Los Angeles County Museum of Art will
deliver a discussion on the Arts and Crafts Movement in Europe and America,
1880-1920. On Wednesday, April 20 a gallery talk will be given by Nancy
Green, Senior Curator of Prints, Drawings and Photographs at the Herbert
F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University. Ms. Green is one of the
original curators of the Byrdcliffe exhibition.
Additional programs and exhibitions at the New-York Historical
Society are made possible in part with public funds from the New York City
Department of Cultural Affairs and the New York State Council on the Arts,
a State Agency.
Works in the Exhibition
-
- Books/Sketchbooks/Magazines
-
- 1. Good Housekeeping, February 1907
- Alvan F. Sanborn, "Leaders in American Arts and Crafts,"
pages 14652
- 9 7/8 x 6 7/8 inches
- Collection of the Byrdcliffe Art Colony of the Woodstock Guild
-
- 2. E. A. Needles, "A Little House with Five Fireplaces,"
- The House Beautiful, April 1907 (with images of Bolton Brown's
Palo Alto House)
- 12 3/4 x 9 5/8 inches
- Collection of Tom Wolf
-
- 3. Louise Lindin, binder
- Carl Lindin Sketchbook
- Paper and linen binding
- Height: 11 1/2 inches; width: 7 5/8 inches; depth: 3/4 inch
- Courtesy of David Cook Fine Art, Denver
-
- 4. Louise Lindin, binder
- Carl Lindin Sketchbook
- Leather binding, gold-embossed
- Height: 11 3/8 inches; width: 8 7/8 inches; depth: 1/2 inch
- Courtesy of David Cook Fine Art, Denver
-
- 5. John Ruskin
- Modern Painters, Volume I with Byrdcliffe bookplate
- Leather bound
- Height: 7 1/8 inches; width: 4 7/8 inches; depth: 1 inch
- Bookplate: 2 x 1 1/2 inches
- On loan from Morgan Anderson Consulting
-
- 6. John Ruskin
- Modern Painters, Volume III with Byrdcliffe bookplate
- Leather bound
- Height: 7 1/8 inches; width: 4 7/8 inches; depth: 1 inch
- On loan from Morgan Anderson Consulting
-
- 7. Ellen Gates Starr, binder
- Crux aetatis, and other poems, by Martin Schütze, 1904
- Leather bound
- Height: 7 9/16 inches; width: 5 5/19 inches; depth: 1/2 inch
- University of Chicago Library, Special Collections Research Center
-
- 8. Ellen Gates Starr, binder
- Hero and Leander, a tragedy, by Martin Schütze, 1908
- Leather bound
- Height: 7 5/8 inches; width: 5 5/16 inches; depth: 3/4 inch
- University of Chicago Library, Special Collections Research Center
-
- 9. Hervey White
- Ralph Radcliffe Whitehead
- Unbound manuscript
- 12 x 9 inches
- Collection of the Historical Society of Woodstock
-
- 10. Hervey White
- Woodstock in 1902
- Unbound manuscript
- 11 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches
- Collection of the Historical Society of Woodstock
-
- 11. Compiled by Jane Whitehead and Ralph Whitehead
- The Morning Stars Sang Together: Folk-Songs and Other Songs for
Children, 1903
- Cloth-bound book with paper cover design attributed to Jane Whitehead
- Height: 11 15/16 inches; width: 8 9/16; depth: 13/16 inch
- Collection of the Byrdcliffe Art Colony of the Woodstock Guild
-
- 12. Jane and Ralph Radcliffe Whitehead
- Birds of God, 1902
- Linen-bound book
- Height: 15 1/4 inches; width: 11 5/8 inches; depth: 1/2 inch
- Private collection
-
- 13. Ralph Radcliffe Whitehead
- Grass of the Desert, 1892
- Leather- and burlap-bound book
- Height: 8 5/8 inches; width: 6 3/4 inches; depth: 7/8 inch
- Collection of the Byrdcliffe Art Colony of the Woodstock Guild, Alf
Evers Collection
- Gift of the Douglas C. James Charitable Trust
-
-
- Furniture and Related Drawings
-
- 14. Dawson Dawson-Watson, designer
- Settle, ca. 1904
- Poplar
- Height: 70 1/4 inches; width: 69 1/2 inches; depth: 28 3/8 inches
- Private collection
-
- 15. Dawson Dawson-Watson, designer
- Blanket Chest, ca. 1904
- Oak
- Height: 26 1/4 inches; width: 59 1/4 inches; depth: 21 1/4 inches
- Private collection
- Courtesy of the Detroit Institute of Art
- *Shown only at Milwaukee, Ithaca, and Albany
-
- 16. Dawson Dawson-Watson, designer
- Blanket Chest, ca. 1904
- Colored pencil
- 14 x 19 1/2 inches
- Private collection
- *Shown only at Milwaukee, Ithaca, and Albany
-
- 17. Attributed to George Eggers
- Design for Chest with Winter Landscape
- Pencil and colored pencil
- 12 x 10 inches
- Collection of the Byrdcliffe Art Colony of the Woodstock Guild
- Gift of Jill and Mark Willcox Jr.
-
- 18. Attributed to George Eggers
- Chest with Winter Landscape, ca. 1904
- Oak with painted panels
- Height: 64 3/8 inches; width: 60 inches; depth: 23 3/4 inches
- Collection of the Byrdcliffe Art Colony of the Woodstock Guild
-
- 19. Morris & Company
- William Morris "Honeysuckle" cretonne fabric, mounted
in a Gothic-style screen, ca. 1890
- Pine frame with cotton printed fabric
- Height: 86 1/2 inches; Width: 37 3/8 inches
- Private collection
-
- 20. Hermann Dudley Murphy, panel designer
- Chiffonier, ca. 1904
- Oak with painted panels
- Height: 27 3/8 inches, width: 36 7/8 inches, depth: 14 5/8 inches
- Private collection
-
- 21. Zulma Steele, designer
- Drawing for Dawson-Watson Chest, ca. 1904
- (see cats. 15 and 16)
- Pencil
- 22 x 28 inches
- Private collection
- *Shown only at Milwaukee, Ithaca, and Albany
-
- 22. Zulma Steele, designer
- Lily Blanket Chest, ca. 1904
- Oak with carved panel design
- Height: 20 1/4 inches; width: 50 1/4 inches; depth: 22 1/4 inches
- Private collection
-
- 23. Zulma Steele, designer
- Drawing for a Side Chair, ca. 1904
- Pencil
- 12 3/8 x 6 3/8 inches
- Milwaukee Art Museum, Layton Art Collection
-
- 24. Zulma Steele, designer
- Side Chair, ca. 1904
- Cherry with leather upholstery
- Height: 37 7/8 inches; width: 18 inches; depth: 16 inches
- Milwaukee Art Museum, Layton Art Collection
-
- 25. Zulma Steele, panel designer
- Chiffonier with Chestnut Relief, ca. 1904
- Poplar with copper hardware
- Height: 27 1/4 inches; width: 38 3/4 inches; depth: 14 5/8 inches
- Milwaukee Art Museum, Layton Art Collection
-
- 26. Zulma Steele, designer
- Iris Desk Drawing, ca. 1904
- Graphite and colored pencil
- 9 1/8 x 7 inches
- Collection of the Byrdcliffe Art Colony of the Woodstock Guild
- Gift of Jill and Mark Willcox Jr.
-
- 27. Zulma Steele, designer
- Iris Desk Panel Drawing, ca. 1904
- Graphite
- 18 1/2 x 28 1/2 inches
- Collection of the Byrdcliffe Art Colony of the Woodstock Guild
-
- 28. Zulma Steele, designer
- Desk with Three Panel Iris Design, ca. 1904
- Green-stained cherry with three painted panels
- Height: 50 3/8 inches; width: 38 3/4 inches; depth: 16 inches
- Collection of the Byrdcliffe Art Colony of the Woodstock Guild
- Gift of Elise Genne and the Douglas C. James Charitable Trust
-
- 29. Zulma Steele
- Iris Hanging Wall Cabinet
- Stained poplar
- Height: 18 inches; width: 39 1/2 inches; depth: 8 inches
- The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Purchase, Nelson Trust (by exchange)
- *Shown only at New York and Winterthur
-
- 30. Zulma Steele, designer
- Design for Maple Leaf Sideboard
- Pen and ink
- 7 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches
- Collection of the Byrdcliffe Art Colony of the Woodstock Guild, Alf
Evers Collection
- Gift of the Douglas C. James Charitable Trust
-
- 31. Zulma Steele, designer
- Hanging Cabinet with Carved Poppy Design, ca. 1904
- Oak
- Height: 14 inches, width: 42 1/2 inches, depth: 8 inches
- The Henry Francis Du Pont Winterthur Museum Inc.
-
- 32. Zulma Steele, designer
- Footstool with Lily Motif, ca. 1904
- Poplar with carved panels
- Height: 9 3/4; width: 20 7/8; depth: 13 1/2 inches
- Collection of the Woodstock Artists Association
- 33. Zulma Steele
- Designs for Three Chairs
- Pen and ink
- Each sheet approx. 6 3/4 x 5 inches
- Collection of the Byrdcliffe Art Colony of the Woodstock Guild, Alf
Evers Collection
- Gift of the Douglas C. James Charitable Trust
-
- 34. Zulma Steele
- Chest Design
- Graphite
- 8 x 7 inches
- Collection of the Byrdcliffe Art Colony of the Woodstock Guild, Alf
Evers Collection
- Gift of the Douglas C. James Charitable Trust
-
- 35. Attributed to Giovanni Battista Troccoli
- Linen Press with Carved Maple-Leaf Design, 1904
- Oak
- Height: 60 inches; width: 40 inches; depth: 23 3/4 inches
- Private collection
-
- 36. Unidentified designer
- Drawing for Linen Press with Carved Maple-Leaf Design
- Colored pencil
- 11 x 9 1/2 inches
- Private collection
-
- 37. Unidentified artist
- Lamp Stand with Hollyhock Design
- Oak with polychromed sides
- Height: 35 7/8 inches; width: 15 1/4 inches; depth: 10 1/16 inches
- Collection of the Byrdcliffe Art Colony of the Woodstock Guild
- Gift of Gioia Timpanellie
-
- 38. Edna Walker, designer
- Linen Press with Sassafras Panels, ca. 1904
- Carved oak, tulip poplar, and brass
- Height: 55 inches; width: 41 inches; depth: 18 3/4 inches
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Purchase, Friends of the American Wing
Fund and Mr. and Mrs. Mark Willcox Jr. Gift, 1991. (1991.311.1) Photograph
© 1992 The Metropolitan Museum of Art
-
- 39. Edna Walker, designer
- Tulip Chest, ca. 1904
- Poplar
- Height: 72 1/2 inches; width: 48 inches; depth: 21 inches
- The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
- Museum purchase with funds donated anonymously and Frank B. Bemis Fund
-
- Metal
-
- 40. Laurin Hovey Martin
- Covered Tazza, 18971902
- Copper
- Height: 13 1/4 inches; diameter: 7 1/4 inches
- The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
- Gift of the artist's family, 1997
-
- 41. H. Stuart Michie
- Charger, ca. 1905
- Copper and enamel
- Diameter: 15 1/2 inches
- Collection of Henry T. Michie
-
- 42. H. Stuart Michie
- Two-Handled Bowl, ca. 1905
- Copper
- Diameter: 15 1/2 inches
- Collection of Henry T. Michie
-
- 43. Edmund Rolfe
- Necklace
- 10k gold and freshwater pearls
- Pendant: 3 3/8 x 2 inches; chain: 7 1/2 inches
- Collection of Maribeth Harmes
-
- 44. Edmund Rolfe
- Pendant
- 10k gold with green opals
- Pendant: 1 7/8 x 1 5/8 inches; chain: 15 inches
- Collection of Maribeth Harmes
-
- 45. Edmund Rolfe
- Brooch
- Silver with jadeite
- Diameter: 1 5/8 inches
- Collection of Maribeth Harmes
-
- 46. Edward Thatcher
- Five Coasters
- Pewter
- Diameter: 3 7/8 inches (each)
- Collection of Lawrence Webster
-
- 47. Edward Thatcher
- Tin Train Engine Toy and Booklet
- Toy height: 11 inches; width: 7 1/4 inches; depth: 5 3/4 inches
- Collection of the Historical Society of Woodstock
-
- 48. Edward Thatcher
- Chandelier, ca. 1905
- Wrought iron
- Height: 35 inches; diameter: 39 inches
- Collection of Jean and Jim Young
-
- 49. Attributed to Edward Thatcher
- Metal Hinge
- Iron
- Height: 5 3/8 inches; width: 3 inches
- Collection of the Byrdcliffe Art Colony of the Woodstock Guild
-
- 50. Bertha Thompson
- Sugar Bowl and Creamer
- Silver
- Sugar Bowl: Height: 2 3/4 inches; width: 5 1/4 inches; diameter: 3
1/2 inches
- Creamer: Height: 2 5/8 inches; width: 4 1/2 inches; diameter: 3 1/4
inches
- Collection of Janet Keep
-
- 51. Bertha Thompson
- Bell
- Silver
- Height: 3 1/2 inches; width: 2 1/2 inches; diameter: 2 1/2 inches
- Collection of Janet Keep
-
- 52. Bertha Thompson
- Spoon
- Silver
- Height: 3 1/2 inches; width: 1 1/2 inches
- Collection of Janet Keep
-
- 53. Bertha Thompson
- Nacre Cape Fastener/Buckle
- Silver with nacre cabochon
- Height: 1 1/2 inches; width: 1 5/16 inches; diameter: 3/8 inch
- Collection of Janet Keep
-
- 54. Bertha Thompson
- Brooch
- Silver and agate cabochon
- Height: 1 5/8 inches; width: 1 1/4 inches; diameter: 1/2 inch
- Collection of Janet Keep
-
- 55. Bertha Thompson
- Brooch
- Silver and greenstone cabochon
- Diameter: 2 inches
- Collection of Janet Keep
-
-
- Painting
-
- 56. Bolton Brown
- Landscape, in Carrig-Rohane frame
- Oil on canvas
- 21 1/4 x 22 1/2 inches
- On loan from Morgan Anderson Consulting
-
- 57. Bolton Brown
- Sifting Shadows, ca. 1903
- Oil on canvas
- 35 x 27 inches
- Brooklyn Museum of Art
- Gift of Quill Jones
-
- 58. Bolton Brown
- Nude by Pond, ca. 1910
- Oil on canvas
- 25 x 35 inches
- National Arts Club Permanent Collection, New York
-
- 59. John Carlson
- Wintry Glen, ca. 1922
- Oil on canvas
- 12 x 16 inches
- Collection of the Woodstock Artists Association
- Gift of David and Robert Eric Carlson
-
-
- 60. Dawson Dawson-Watson
- Aster, Mullein, Burgloss, Bergamot, 1903
- Oil on canvas
- 24 1/2 x 63 1/4 inches
- Private collection
- Courtesy of Berry-Hill Galleries, New York
-
- 61. Lovell Birge Harrison
- The Hidden Moon
- Oil on canvas
- 25 1/4 x 30 1/8 inches
- Collection of the National Academy of Design, New York
-
- 62. Lovell Birge Harrison
- Woodstock Meadows in Winter, 1909
- Oil on canvas
- 46 x 40 1/4 inches
- Collection of the Toledo Museum of Art
- Gift of Cora Baird Lacey, in memory of Mary A. Dustin
-
- 63. Lovell Birge Harrison
- Moonrise on the Sea, 1896
- Oil on canvas
- 19 x 24 inches
- Private collection
-
- 64. Lovell Birge Harrison
- Serenity on the Pacific, ca. 1896
- Oil on canvas
- 29 x 41 inches
- Collection of the Woodstock Artists Association
- Gift of Peter Whitehead
-
- 65. Carl Eric Lindin
- Landscape
- Oil on canvas
- 23 5/8 x 29 3/4 inches
- On loan from Morgan Anderson Consulting
-
- 66. Carl Eric Lindin
- Landscape, ca. 1913
- Oil on canvas
- 19 x 22 inches
- Woodstock Artists Association
- Gift of Ruth Drake in memory of Pansy Drake Copeland and Franklin Ross
Drake
-
- 67. Hermann Dudley Murphy
- Landscape, ca. 1903
- Oil on canvas
- 28 x 69 inches
- Private collection
- Courtesy of Debra Force Fine Art, Inc., New York
-
- 68. Hermann Dudley Murphy
- Evening Glow, ca. 1905
- Oil on canvas
- 10 x 18 inches
- Private collection
- Courtesy of Hirschl & Adler Galleries
-
- 69. Leonard Ochtman
- In May, 1907
- Oil on canvas
- 40 1/2 x 50 1/2 inches
- On loan from the Previti Gallery, New York
-
- 70. Gino Perera
- Moonlight
- Oil on canvas
- 20 7/8 x 23 7/8 inches
- Collection of Guido R. Perera Jr.
-
- 71. Gino Perera
- Study, 1911
- Oil on canvas
- 19 5/8 x 22 5/8 inches
- Collection of Dr. Frederica P. D. Perera