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Fenton Exhibit
Opens at Oglebay Institute in Wheeling, WV
WHEELING, W.Va. (April 11, 2005) - Telling a unique West Virginia
story, “Fragile Art: 100 Years of Fenton Art Glass” opened at Oglebay Institute’s Mansion Museum in Wheeling, West Virginia
April 15, 2005. Fenton historian Dr. James Measell opened
the exhibit with a lecture and gallery talk on April 16 .
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Fenton Art Glass
Company, this unique exhibit showcased more than 200 pieces of
stunning glass and displays products made from 1905 through the
2005 Platinum Collection of today.
Founder Frank L. Fenton began his career as a decorator at the
Northwood Company in Indiana, Pennsylvania in the late 1890’s.
When Harry Northwood moved his glassmaking firm to Wheeling in
1902, Fenton joined him as foreman of the decorating department
and worked there until he opened his own company a year later. In
1906, Fenton moved the firm to Williamstown, West Virginia, where
it is still located today.
This exhibit, sponsored by Jackson Kelly PLLC, was the only venue
in the country that highlighted the early Northwood glass that
Fenton decorated or designed.
To complement the exhibit, gallery tours and lectures were offered
to the general public. The first event was a lecture titled
“Fenton Celebrates 100 Years,” held April 16 at 11
a.m. at the Mansion Museum with Dr. James Measell, associate
historian of the Fenton Art Glass Company and guest curator for
the exhibit.
Displaying the legacy of Fenton, the largest producer of hand-made
American glass, this exhibit was open in the Sauder Gallery
of the Mansion Museum through October 15, 2005.
Additional gallery talks with Holly McCluskey, Oglebay Institute’s
curator of glass, and a glass identification event with McCluskey and Measell
was
held May 21.
Oglebay Institute is the largest private arts organization in West
Virginia. Founded in 1930, the Institute offers cultural,
educational, environmental and recreational programming.
Facilities that encompass Oglebay Institute are: the Mansion
Museum, the Glass Museum, the Stifel Fine Arts Center, the School
of Dance, Towngate Theatre and Cinema and the Schrader
Environmental Educational Center.
For more information on Oglebay
Institute’s Mansion Museum, please call 304.242.7272. To find out more about Oglebay Institute, visit us online at
www.oionline.com.
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