Isabella Stewart Gardner (April 14, 1840 – July 17, 1924) American art collector, philanthropist, and patron of the arts.
Ella Augusta "Eleanor" Norcross (June 24, 1854 – October 19, 1923 American painter and Art collector
I don’t know if these two women knew each other or not. In my imagination they traveled in the same circles. A year ago I had not heard of either of them, today both their lives fascinate me. Last April, I went to the Isabella Gardner Museum for the first time and was mesmerized by the architecture and hanging Nasturtiums, and became intrigued by the life of Mrs Jack as she was known in some circles. As a side I also loved the "Being Muholi: Portraits as Resistance show by South African photographer and visual activist Sir Zanele Muholi.
Yesterday, I finally made it to the Fitchburg Art Museum (FAM) where I discovered Eleanor Norcross, but I will get to her shortly.
I loved everything about this little hidden gem of an Art museum, from the sweet and out of her way helpful guest relations rep to the exhibits, curation and consciosness. The thing which stood out right away was the fair representation of women artists! The first exhibit we enjoyed was “ Paper Town” which I highly recommend to any book artist or anyone who appreciates paper really. It’s a group show by New England Artists (including May Babcock, Michelle Samour, Wendy Wahl, Tory Fair, Fred HC Liang and Heidi Whitman) who create a world that is rich is personal history as well as being imaginative, intricate, and colorful. Paper Town explores paper in all forms; pulp, cast, folded, and cut. Paper Town also pays tribute to Fitchburg’s history of paper manufacturing and its industrial heritage, though there is little industrial about the show! Fitchburg still has one operating paper mill which uses water from the Nashua River. Nature meets science meets art!
The next exhibit we saw was “In the Eye of the Beholder: Gender through the Camera Lens” which exploreshe “gendered gaze” across the early 20th and 21st centuries with pieces from their permanent collection and some recent acquisitions including works by Cindy Sherman, Shirin Nest, Annie Leibowich, Yasumasa Morimura as well as a piece by Sir Zanele Muholi. Again so impressed by representation of women, non binary and artists of color.
Next we headed upstairs to the “Evoking Eleanor” exhibit whom/which I had no prior knowledge of. Upon reaching the top of the steps I immediately picked up an Isabella Steward Gardner feel. And was excited to see all the gold frames with oil paintings on a dark painted wall and a velvet couch…one of my all time favorite decor items. (Personally I would have gone with a dark green or deep red wall as opposed to purple!) How I love paintings with paintings within paintings such as Matisse’s Red Studio and there were no shortage of these.
Oils paintings, furniture- art, life and legacy of Eleanor Norcross. To say I am obsessing a little over her paintings would be an understatement! Full disclosure: I went to the Fitchburg Art Museum w/ a little agenda, to do a little research on Fitchburg in order to submit my application for “First Lowe Park Chalk Art Festival” the theme being “Community Connection & Resilience." I came away with so many ideas-but ultimately settled on reproducing the following floral masterpiece. It felt true to me and my personal mission of promoting and lifting the work of women and fitting to the festival’s theme- another opportunity to make public art while highlighting the a local woman artist! and what brings people together more than flowers in May! There was something about this work that seemed like it would lend itself to the chalk medium- fingers crossed!
Circling back to the festivals theme of “Community Connection & Resilience” I felt it in Fitchburg yesterday, the energy and consciousness the Fam is putting out and this sweet new coffee shop just a block away.
Saving the best for last (kidding they were really all so good) there was one more exhibit to see Lebanese/Palestinian American photographer Rania Matar’s: Oceans at My Door. Photographs of young women exploring cross-cultural identity and femininity. All I can say is CHECK OUT HER WORK! There were works from one of her projects Where Do I Go?, an ongoing work that focuses on Lebanese women at a crossroad navigating national crises of corruption, inflation, lockdown, and shortages. Every photo shown was powerful and poignant and stunningly curated on the deep red wall. Simply stunning.
After the visit to FAM yesterday I am excited to be able to add a few more names to my personal goal of getting to know the work women and non binary artists from every country of the world. This little art museum impressed me in all the good ways, no stuffy old white man feels, and will be on my radar for years to come I am sure. It’s also such a manageable size, we saw 5 exhibits and were really able to take them in.
I don’t know whether Isabella and Ella’s (Eleanor) paths crossed in acuality but in my world they sat at each others tables sharing meals and art adventures just the way Remedios Varo, Leonora Carringston and Kati Horn did in Mexico a few decades later. (Any friend/artist that may want to collaborate on a children’s book “Isabella and Ella” please hit me up.
and one final image
** Stay tuned for next weeks article and interview (finally!! after talking about it for over a year the first interview in the podcast series I have been working on Dreaming in Green: Where art & herbalism intersect**
In the meantime check out my 2023 workshop series, something for everyone!