Pangolin Pair
By Louise Irvine Ardmore’s Pangolin Park fabric pattern has proved to be one of the most popular in the Thanda Design collection. The endangered pangolin has appeared on a limited-edition sofa, pillows, tablecloths, and fabric by the yard. Now, a pair of pangolins star on tea towels, which have recently
Flower & Flame
The stunning new Flower & Flame documentary paints an intimate portrait of master flameworker Paul Stankard, exploring his work, his wit and his wisdom. The executive producer of the new film is the paperweight artist David Graeber who studied and worked with Paul for 20 years. You can hear him talk about
Marvelous Moorcroft
By Louise Irvine The most prestigious pottery ever made by the Moorcroft studio in Stoke-on-Trent can be seen at WMODA. In the early 1900s, William Moorcroft made some very large pieces for practical purposes, such as umbrella stands. In recent times, the modern Moorcroft studio has created a succession of
Bees for Elephants
By Louise Irvine September 22nd is National Elephant Appreciation Day, and an opportunity to highlight the ongoing plight of this popular pachyderm. Human and wildlife confrontations due to habitat loss can result in more elephant deaths than ivory poaching, so it was fascinating to learn about an initiative to leverage
The Oracle
By Louise Irvine With Halloween approaching, it is a good time to learn more about Mark Marshall’s bizarre portrayal of The Oracle, featured in the 1889 Humorous & Grotesque Art Exhibition introduced in the last newsletter. The strange Doulton stoneware piece stands 24 inches tall and was sold two years ago
Turkeys, Hams & Pies – Oh My!
You can help us prepare plentiful Thanksgiving feasts for homeless and hungry men, women and children in our community by supporting the “Pack the Pantry” food drive organized by The Caring Place in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Last year, they served over 850,000 meals and they are seeking hams, turkeys,
Carousels and Cotton Candy
September is World Fun Fair Month dedicated to the joy and excitement of fun fairs worldwide. At WMODA, we have had lots of fun with our very own carousel horse and look forward to welcoming back visitors, young and old, for photo opportunities again soon. As summer draws to a
Meet Me in St. Louis
By Louise Irvine The American Ceramic Circle conference will be held in St. Louis this year and Louise Irvine has been invited to talk about Royal Doulton art pottery displayed at the World’s Fairs in America. The Louisiana Purchase Exposition held in St. Louis was the biggest event in the
World of Wedgwood
The Wedgwood collection at WMODA has inspired a junior high school class in world history. Luis Montanez, our building manager, invited his son, Nestor, to see the new museum while he was visiting from North Carolina. He was so fascinated by the Wedgwood exhibition that he started haunting antique shops.
Trunks in Trouble
Elephants are facing an ecological crisis at Victoria Falls in Africa as they are victims of plastic pollution. The elephants scavenge the rubbish dumps surrounding the Falls ingesting plastics and other harmful waste. Fée Halsted and the Ardmore artists are helping to raise awareness of the elephant’s insidious enemy with