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On May 15, 2010, Miss Kitty and Ol’ Swapos were privileged to attend the Grand Opening of the Ohio Glass Museum’s exhibit, “The Artistry of Gay Fad!” What an incredible experience! Special guests of honor at the Opening Gala were Stephanie Taylor, daughter of Gay Fad founder Fran Taylor, and Donna McGrady, noted Gay Fad expert and collector. Virtually all of the hundreds of Gay Fad pieces on display at the OGM were on loan from Donna’s personal collection that numbers in the thousands!
The Ohio Glass Museum put together an outstanding Gay Fad exhibit, beautifully arranged and displayed. Case after case of Gay Fad pieces documented Fran Taylor’s amazing and prolific talent as an artist and designer. Her Gay Fad Studios were located in Lancaster from 1945-1962 and produced over 500 designs ranging from completely hand-painted fruits, flowers, or dancing figures to elaborate silk-screened scenes with hand decorating to gold-gilded geometrics and florals to whimsical cartoon characters to state souvenir glasses.
The OGM also enlarged and framed several Gay Fad magazine ads from the 1950s that were hanging on a wall by the entrance. Accompanying them was a large framed poster with a short biography and photo of Fran Taylor.
Ol’ Swaphos’ pictures on this page are a representative sampling of “The Artistry of Gay Fad” experience and are sure to give you a new appreciation for Fran Taylor and Gay Fad Studios.
A huge thank you to Jed Janeri, OGM’s Assistant Museum Director, and Anne Kiphen, OGM’s Art Director, for all your help (not to mention patience) with our photo shoots..
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