Lampworking from the Venetian Lagoon
By Louise Irvine WMODA is awash right now with weird underwater critters. Mermaids have been joined by mollusks and crustaceans from the Venetian Lagoon as well as some creepy crawlies brilliantly created in glass by two talented Italian lampworkers, Dario Frare and Emanuel Toffolo. Dario Frare Dario Frare was born
The Mermaid Tale
Louise Irvine & Alexandra Barth Once upon a time, Rhanu the mermaid appeared at WMODA to tell us all about the wonders of the deep. She helped us create an entertaining and informative scavenger hunt around the museum by explaining some of the natural history behind the ocean-themed decorative arts
Who’s Who at WMODA – Alexandra Barth
Rhanu, our new mermaid in residence, made her debut at the Mermaid Tale Halloween event to launch our Mermaid Quest scavenger hunt around the museum. Rhanu modeled the wearable glass art creations of Chelsea Rousso to accessorize her beautiful mermaid tail. On land, Rhanu is better known as Alexandra Barth, a graduate
Ardmore Comes to WMODA
by Louise Irvine Ardmore Ceramic Art has been building an international reputation for the last twenty years thanks to some dedicated individuals promoting South African art and culture. Ardmore exhibitions have been held in major cities around the world including, London, Edinburgh, Paris, Berlin, Moscow, and Sydney. In America, the
Shop WMODA – Halloween Howl
We are all sick to death of this pandemic, but pranksters have been seeing the funny side of mask-wearing in Britain. Plague doctors have been roaming the streets of some cities and it is not Halloween yet! We are not suggesting you terrify your neighbors with our Venetian plague doctor
Trick or Treat
By Louise Irvine Trick or treating will not be the same this year so we are looking back nostalgically at costume parties of the past. The Halloween tradition began with the Celts, who believed that condemned souls would come back to wreak havoc on October 31. They dressed up in
Who’s Who at WMODA – Steven Lynch
Our ambition to create virtual experiences for our WMODA audience is how we met Steven Lynch of L55 Media. He produced the virtual concert of Esther Underhay playing her harp in the museum galleries, which has been much enjoyed online. He is now volunteering his expertise to produce videos about
Petroglyphs in Glass · William Morris
by Louise Irvine Symbols of a North American bison and a stag are depicted on one the most dramatic glass vessels at WMODA. It is from the Petroglyph series that William Morris created in the late 1980s. Morris became fascinated with Native American anthropology and archaeological fragments while growing up
Doulton at Chicago World’s Fair
by Louise Irvine A colossal Doulton Faience vase, made for the Maharaja of Baroda, welcomes visitors at the entrance to WMODA. Surprisingly, there are two of these enormous works of art. The second was Doulton’s centerpiece at the World’s Columbian Fair held in Chicago in 1893. World’s Columbian Fair The
World Animal Day – The Art of Nichola Theakston
by Louise Irvine World Animal Day on October 4th is a day of action to improve animal welfare worldwide. At WMODA, we are focused on the plight of primates and applauding British wildlife sculptor, Nichola Theakston, as well as Endangered: Art4Apes, which supports the Center for Great Apes in Florida.