As the women’s affiliate of Tulane University, Newcomb College offered a range of educational opportunities, but the institution came to be associated with the young art students who developed their talents and entrepreneurial skills by producing and selling pottery and other artisanal wares. From 1895 to 1940 these artisans, who were closely aligned with the British Arts & Crafts movement, honed a uniquely Southern aesthetic, crafting designs that reflected the local flora and fauna of Louisiana. On June 12, “Women, Art, and Social Change: The Newcomb Pottery Enterprise,” the largest exhibition dedicated to the oeuvre in nearly 30 years, opens at the Wolfsonian – Florida International University. The 130 objects on view — examples of metalwork, textiles, and jewelry, as well as photography, bookbinding, and ceramics, including the 1897 daffodil vase at right — reflect the ingenuity of these pioneering individuals. “These were educated women who wanted to become part of the workforce, paving the way for the women who labored for the common good during World War II and beyond” says show organizer Whitney Richardson. On view through August 30.A version of this article appears in the June 2015 issue of Art + Auction.
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