PAFA Alumnus Maxfield Parrish Honored with Historical Marker
PAFA Alumnus Maxfield Parrish Honored with Historical Marker
PAFA alumnus' marker dedicated at The Curtis,
home of Parrish's stunning glass mosaic Dream Garden
Dedication: Wednesday, September 16, 11 a.m.
PHILADELPHIA (September 16, 2015) – The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) is thrilled to celebrate with city and state officials, and members of the preservation and business communities, in the dedication of a Pennsylvania historical marker honoring celebrated artist and PAFA alumnus Maxfield Parrish.
The large blue-and-gold marker honoring Parrish was officially unveiled Wednesday outside of The Curtis, formerly known as The Curtis Center, where Parrish’s breathtaking Dream Garden glass mosaic has been on view in the elegant marble lobby since 1916.
“All of us at PAFA are thrilled to see one of our best-known alumni receive this recognition for his life and work,” said Harry Philbrick, Edna S. Tuttleman Director of the Museum. “What better a place to celebrate and honor Maxfield Parrish than at the home of Dream Garden, one of his most loved works and a cherished part of PAFA’s renowned permanent collection.”
Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission administers the Historical Marker Program, which commemorates important people, places and events throughout the state. Historian and author Celeste A. Morello undertook the painstaking research and application process required by the PHMC, which approves only a small percentage of the requests it receives for historic markers.
One of America's most recognized artists, Maxfield Parrish (1870-1966) was innovative in incorporating art in advertising. A master illustrator and a pioneer in commercial and graphic art, he is known for his signature vibrant blues, fantastical subjects, and capturing the spontaneity of action.
Philadelphia City Councilman Mark Squilla, who read an official proclamation dedicating the marker, and PHMC Historical Marker Program Coordinator Karen Galle both praised Parrish as a groundbreaking artist and innovator whose work has withstood the test of time.
Parrish created Dream Garden, a 15- x 49-foot mosaic of more than 100,000 pieces of favrile glass, in collaboration with Louis Comfort Tiffany's studios. It was commissioned in 1915 by Cyrus Curtis, publisher of The Saturday Evening Post, to grace the lobby of his Curtis Publishing Company Building's grand Philadelphia headquarters.
After the piece was put up for sale in 1998, a public outcry halted a potential sale. PAFA, through the assistance of several charitable organizations, took ownership of Dream Garden, ensuring its celebrated alumnus’ magnificent work would forever remain in Philadelphia.
“Parrish’s Dream Garden has long been central to the allure of The Curtis, and this marker is a fitting tribute to such an exemplary piece of work,” said Bill Glazer, President of Keystone Property Group, which acquired The Curtis in 2014 in partnership with Mack-Cali. “As we redevelop and revitalize this iconic building into a vibrant mixed-use hub, we’re excited to continue to work to preserve its rich cultural significance.”
Currently, Keystone Property Group and its partners are reinvesting in several key components of The Curtis, including a revitalized ground-floor streetscape, building atrium, and development of luxury apartments in a portion of the building's existing office space.
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