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On May 15, Miss Kitty and Ol’ Swapos were privileged to attend the Grand Opening of the Ohio Glass Museum’s newest 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 are on loan from Donna’s personal collection that numbers in the thousands!
Located at 124 West Main Street in the heart of historic Lancaster, OH (about 40 miles SE of Columbus), the Ohio Glass Museum has put together an outstanding Gay Fad exhibit, beautifully arranged and displayed. Case after case of Gay Fad pieces document 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 are hanging on a wall by the entrance. Accompanying them is a large framed poster with a short biography and photo of Fran Taylor.
Ol’ Swaphos’ pictures on this page are only to whet your appetite for what you’ll experience when you attend this breathtaking exhibit yourself. It’s your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see and revel in “The Artistry of Gay Fad!” Be sure to bring your camera!
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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