Search Results for: Thomas G. Moses

Ernest Albert was also involved in the establishment of a nineteenth-century theatrical organization called the American Society of Scene Painters. On June 26, 1892, the Pittsburg Press noted that that this movement was “first put in motion” by Harley Merry – a mentor of Albert’s. Its membership included some thirty of the most prominent and … Continue reading “Tales from a Scenic Artist and Scholar.  Part 138 – Harley Merry and the American Society of Scene Painters”

Horace Lewis recalled a visit with Burridge in 1900 writing, “every object, from his devoted wife to the pictures upon the walls, and his den in the garret, is indicative of the genial, most modest nature and simple poetry of the man who finds his greatest wealth within that home.” Burridge was well liked by … Continue reading “Tales from a Scenic Artist and Scholar. Part 135 – And I’ll Keep on Changing Partners (Walter Burridge)”

The Beckwith Memorial Theatre of Dowagiac, Michigan, was built in 1892 for the cost of one hundred thousand dollars. Today’s equivalent would be $2,588,925.36! Albert, Grover & Burridge directed the plan and installation of all stage fittings, the wall decorations of the auditorium and painted décor throughout the entire building. This was a major extravagance … Continue reading “Tales from a Scenic Artist and Scholar. Part 134 – “The Finest Theatre in America” by Albert, Grover & Burridge”

The artistic seeds from the Düsseldorf School found fertile ground in the magical landscapes of the Hudson River Valley movement. Artworks associated with American Romanticism also appeared on the stage as theatrical settings. For Freemasonry, foreign lands rife with mythology and mysticism were perfect compositions to accompany their newly formed degree productions during the latter … Continue reading “Tales from a Scenic Artist and Scholar. Part 129 – The Düsseldorf School and Scenic Art”

There is an historical approach to painting drapery for any stage composition. A simple technique that allows an artist to create artfully draped fabric. Just like broken lines that suggest a hung tapestry, there is a standard and simple approach. For the next few installments I am going to examine a variety of scenic art … Continue reading “Tales from a Scenic Artist and Scholar. Part 117 – Drapery Painting”

Scenery Restoration is Dirty Business The Minnesota Masonic Heritage Center’s “Behind the Scenes” article discusses the “91-year lifespan” of the Fort Scott’s scenery. The author then attributes another age to the collection mentioning a “century of soot.” Both ages are incorrect. All of the Fort Scott drops, except two scenes, will turn 93 years old … Continue reading “Tales from a Scenic Artist and Scholar. Acquiring the Fort Scott Scottish Rite Scenery Collection for the Minnesota Masonic Heritage Center, part 83.”

Drops are not Props On May 5, 2017, an online article was posted on the Minnesota Masonic Heritage Center website looking in depth at their Fort Scott scenery acquisition and their “restoration” team. Here is the article in it’s entirety: http://www.masonicheritagecenter.org/…/05/behind-the-scenes/ This article appears as a counterpoint to some of the information that I have … Continue reading “Tales from a Scenic Artist and Scholar. Acquiring The Fort Scott Scottish Rite Scenery for the Minnesota Masonic Heritage Center, part 79.”

Hail! Hail! The Gang’s All Here Thomas Moses was just one of many theatre artists who left memoirs that provide future generations with brief glimpses into the past. Almost two-hundred years surrounding the history of American scenic art can be explored in the writings of three artists: William Thompson Russell Smith (1812-1896), Thomas Gibbs Moses … Continue reading “Tales from a Scenic Artist and Scholar. Acquiring the Fort Scott Scottish Rite Scenery Collection for the Minnesota Masonic Heritage Center, part 76.”

Adversity Reveals Character As we drove home from the Minnesota Masonic Heritage Center after the Singers in Accord concert, my husband and I discussed strategies that might distance myself from the poorly restored scenery. I did not want to appear as a disgruntled individual, speaking out against a past employer. Nor did I want to … Continue reading “Tales from a Scenic Artist and Scholar. Acquiring the Fort Scott Scottish Rite Scenery for the Minnesota Masonic Heritage Center, part 74.”

The remaining painted scenes for the Singers in Accord concert at the Minnesota Masonic Heritage Center used cut drops with one-inch opera netting – the cathedral, King Solomon’s private apartments, and the woods. As I looked at the cathedral, the first thing that I noticed was the inappropriate use of white netting. Historically, netting for … Continue reading “Tales from a Scenic Artist and Scholar. Acquiring the Fort Scott Scottish Rite Scenery Collection for the Minnesota Masonic Heritage Center, part 72.”