MORGAN STATE HOUSE - Alice Morgan Wright

ALICE MORGAN WRIGHT:
SCULPTOR AND ACTIVIST
Major Collection Related to
Important 20th Century Sculptor
Comes to Albany Institute of History & Art

ALBANY, NY--The Albany Institute of History & Art recently acquired a substantial collection of materials related to Alice Morgan Wright (1881-1976), Albany’s most important twentieth century sculptor. According to art historian Charlotte S. Rubenstein, Alice Morgan Wright was one of the first American sculptors to experiment with Cubism and Futurism and the small body of her early works are among the earliest and strongest avant-garde sculptures created by an American. ALICE MORGAN WRIGHT: Sculptor and Activist, an exhibition showcasing this major new collection, is currently on view at the Albany Institute. The public is invited to attend a conversation with the curators and reception, which will be held at the museum on Sunday, October 16, at 2:00 pm.

The Women's Council of the Albany Institute of History & Art, The Doane Stuart School, Richard and Karen Nicholson and the Edgar W. and June B. Martin Fund generously donated funds towards this acquisition. In addition, Elinor Wright Fleming (1918-2005), Wright's second cousin, donated numerous materials related to the artist. The collection of more than 3,000 items contains sculptures, paintings, drawings, sketchbooks, scrapbook, photographs, letters, postcards, films, plays, books, suffragette material, and material relating to animal rights. The significance, quality, and depth of the Alice Morgan Wright collection ranks with other major Albany Institute collections including the works of early nineteenth century portrait painter, Ezra Ames (1768-1836), mid-nineteenth century sculptor, Erastus Dow Palmer (1817-1904), and his son, landscape painter, Walter Launt Palmer (1854-1932).

Early Years and International Acclaim
Born in Albany in 1881, Alice Morgan Wright was the only child of Henry Romeyn Wright, a wealthy merchant, and Emma Jane Morgan Wright. As a young child, Wright developed an appreciation for art; by the time she was twelve years old, she knew she wanted to be a sculptor. Wright attended the St. Agnes School in Albany (now The Doane Stuart School) and then Smith College, where she graduated in 1904. After college she moved to New York City to study sculpture at the Art Students League with Hermon Atkins MacNeil (1866-1947) and James Earle Fraser (1876-1953). In 1909, she won both the Gutzon Borglum and Augustus Saint-Gaudens prizes in recognition of her work.

After the first public exhibition of her work at the National Academy of Design in 1909, Wright departed for Europe, where she remained until just before the outbreak of World War I. She attended classes at the Academie des Beaux-Arts and Academie Colarossi, both traditional, conservative Parisian institutions. Wright admired the work of fellow sculptor Auguste Rodin (1840-1917), futurist Umberto Boccioni (1882-1916), post-impressionist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901), photographer Arnold Genthe (1869-1942) and dancer Isadora Duncan (1878-1927). A measure of Wright’s international success was her exhibiting in the Royal Academy in London in 1911, and at the Paris Salon in 1912.

When she returned to New York City in 1914, Wright lived in Greenwich Village and became involved in avant-garde circles. Her work took on an abstract and futuristic tone, and as a result, was exhibited in the Modern Gallery in 1916 along with the European modernists, Constantin Brancusi (1876-1957) and Amedeo Modigliani (1884-1920). Wright was one of the founders of the Society of Independent Artists. Its sole purpose was to sponsor regular exhibitions of contemporary art without juries or prizes. In 1921, Wright returned to Albany, where she set up a studio on the top floor of her parents' house at 393 State Street (today the Morgan State House, a bed and breakfast). Wright continued sculpting and exhibiting throughout the 1920s and 1930s.

In 1936 Alice Morgan Wright had her first solo exhibition at the Albany Institute of History & Art. In 1978, three years after her death, the Albany Institute mounted the first full-scale retrospective exhibition of her life and work titled, "Sculpture and Suffrage." Alice Morgan Wright's sculpture is in the permanent collection of the Hirschorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina, the Newark Museum in New Jersey and The Smith College Museum of Art in Massachusetts.

Activist as Well as Artist
While in Europe, Alice Morgan Wright became interested in the Women's Suffrage movement. In 1912, she met Emmeline Pankhurst (1858-1928), the noted English suffragette, and a close friendship developed between the two. In 1903, Pankhurst founded the National Women's Social and Political Union, which became one of the most important groups working for women's suffrage. Pankhurst invited Wright to participate in a London suffrage demonstration, which resulted in the jailing of over two hundred women, including Alice Morgan Wright. While in jail, Wright made an effort to continue her artwork. She smuggled in plastoline and a sketchpad and was able to model a bust of Pankhurst and a sculpture titled Dryad. After two months, Wright was released from prison and sent home to the United States. Upon her return, she continued sculpting and participating in suffrage activities. She became a member of the New York State Women Suffrage Party, actively campaigning for female votes, and a founder of the New York State League of Women Voters. Alice Morgan Wright's activism did not stop when women were awarded the vote in 1920; she campaigned for women's rights until 1945 when her interests turned to animal rights. She became world-famous for her efforts in animal rights and took an active role in many organizations concerned with animal welfare. Wright remained an activist until a few years before her death in Albany on April 8, 1975.

Recent Research: The Lenett Memorial Fellowship
The Albany Institute’s new collection of Alice Morgan Wright material was the subject of the 2005 Williams College Judith M. Lenett Memorial Fellowship, a unique program that allows young art historians the opportunity to research original art objects and work with the Williamstown Art Conservation Center to conserve the actual art objects chosen. The Albany Institute’s Alice Morgan Wright collection was a perfect match for the Lenett Fellowship because there were wide-ranging art objects to choose from and much ancillary materials to support research. During the period considered the high point of her career, from the late 1910s to about 1930, the majority of Alice Morgan Wright's sculptures depicted women, including figures inspired by Isadora Duncan (1878-1927), Yvette Guilbert (1867-1964), Madame Breshkovsky (1844-1934) and female subjects drawn from classical literature and modern theater. Lenett Fellow Christine L. Paglia chose ten of Wright's modern dance sculptures to clean, conserve and research.

Support for ALICE MORGAN WRIGHT: Sculptor and Activist has been provided by the Edgar W. and June B. Martin Fund, The Doane Stuart School, and Richard and Karen Nicholson.

Visit the Albany Institute of History and Art (website)

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- NON-SMOKING POLICY -
The inn and all guest suites are NON- Smoking.
Smoking is permitted in the garden only.
A cleaning fee of $100 will be charged to any room violating this policy.

- CHILDREN -
Our inn is not suited for anyone
under the age of sixteen years old.

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MORGAN STATE HOUSE | 393 State Street - Albany, New York 12210
Phone 518-427-6063 | Toll Free 888-427-6063 | Fax 518-463-1316
© copyright www.statehouse.com | e-mail

WEB DESIGN: Robyn Kearns Designs

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454-0055 | Website
Albany New York Floral Designer
flower delivery, unique gifts, a leading provider of fresh-cut flowers,
bouquets, and specialty gifts, bouquets, funeral arrangments, gift baskets, christmas, happy birthday,
fresh long stem roses, fresh tulips, exotic flowers, buy flowers online, holiday floral creations, weddings.

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ALBANY, NY--The Albany Institute of History & Art recently acquired a substantial collection of materials related to Alice Morgan Wright (1881-1976), Albany’s most important twentieth century sculptor. According to art historian Charlotte S. Rubenstein, Alice Morgan Wright was one of the first American sculptors to experiment with Cubism and Futurism and the small body of her early works are among the earliest and strongest avant-garde sculptures created by an American. ALICE MORGAN WRIGHT: Sculptor and Activist, an exhibition showcasing this major new collection, is currently on view at the Albany Institute. The public is invited to attend a conversation with the curators and reception, which will be held at the museum on Sunday, October 16, at 2:00 pm.

The Women's Council of the Albany Institute of History & Art, The Doane Stuart School, Richard and Karen Nicholson and the Edgar W. and June B. Martin Fund generously donated funds towards this acquisition. In addition, Elinor Wright Fleming (1918-2005), Wright's second cousin, donated numerous materials related to the artist. The collection of more than 3,000 items contains sculptures, paintings, drawings, sketchbooks, scrapbook, photographs, letters, postcards, films, plays, books, suffragette material, and material relating to animal rights. The significance, quality, and depth of the Alice Morgan Wright collection ranks with other major Albany Institute collections including the works of early nineteenth century portrait painter, Ezra Ames (1768-1836), mid-nineteenth century sculptor, Erastus Dow Palmer (1817-1904), and his son, landscape painter, Walter Launt Palmer (1854-1932).

Early Years and International Acclaim
Born in Albany in 1881, Alice Morgan Wright was the only child of Henry Romeyn Wright, a wealthy merchant, and Emma Jane Morgan Wright. As a young child, Wright developed an appreciation for art; by the time she was twelve years old, she knew she wanted to be a sculptor. Wright attended the St. Agnes School in Albany (now The Doane Stuart School) and then Smith College, where she graduated in 1904. After college she moved to New York City to study sculpture at the Art Students League with Hermon Atkins MacNeil (1866-1947) and James Earle Fraser (1876-1953). In 1909, she won both the Gutzon Borglum and Augustus Saint-Gaudens prizes in recognition of her work.

After the first public exhibition of her work at the National Academy of Design in 1909, Wright departed for Europe, where she remained until just before the outbreak of World War I. She attended classes at the Academie des Beaux-Arts and Academie Colarossi, both traditional, conservative Parisian institutions. Wright admired the work of fellow sculptor Auguste Rodin (1840-1917), futurist Umberto Boccioni (1882-1916), post-impressionist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901), photographer Arnold Genthe (1869-1942) and dancer Isadora Duncan (1878-1927). A measure of Wright’s international success was her exhibiting in the Royal Academy in London in 1911, and at the Paris Salon in 1912.

When she returned to New York City in 1914, Wright lived in Greenwich Village and became involved in avant-garde circles. Her work took on an abstract and futuristic tone, and as a result, was exhibited in the Modern Gallery in 1916 along with the European modernists, Constantin Brancusi (1876-1957) and Amedeo Modigliani (1884-1920). Wright was one of the founders of the Society of Independent Artists. Its sole purpose was to sponsor regular exhibitions of contemporary art without juries or prizes. In 1921, Wright returned to Albany, where she set up a studio on the top floor of her parents' house at 393 State Street (today the Morgan State House, a bed and breakfast). Wright continued sculpting and exhibiting throughout the 1920s and 1930s.

In 1936 Alice Morgan Wright had her first solo exhibition at the Albany Institute of History & Art. In 1978, three years after her death, the Albany Institute mounted the first full-scale retrospective exhibition of her life and work titled, "Sculpture and Suffrage." Alice Morgan Wright's sculpture is in the permanent collection of the Hirschorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina, the Newark Museum in New Jersey and The Smith College Museum of Art in Massachusetts.

Activist as Well as Artist
While in Europe, Alice Morgan Wright became interested in the Women's Suffrage movement. In 1912, she met Emmeline Pankhurst (1858-1928), the noted English suffragette, and a close friendship developed between the two. In 1903, Pankhurst founded the National Women's Social and Political Union, which became one of the most important groups working for women's suffrage. Pankhurst invited Wright to participate in a London suffrage demonstration, which resulted in the jailing of over two hundred women, including Alice Morgan Wright. While in jail, Wright made an effort to continue her artwork. She smuggled in plastoline and a sketchpad and was able to model a bust of Pankhurst and a sculpture titled Dryad. After two months, Wright was released from prison and sent home to the United States. Upon her return, she continued sculpting and participating in suffrage activities. She became a member of the New York State Women Suffrage Party, actively campaigning for female votes, and a founder of the New York State League of Women Voters. Alice Morgan Wright's activism did not stop when women were awarded the vote in 1920; she campaigned for women's rights until 1945 when her interests turned to animal rights. She became world-famous for her efforts in animal rights and took an active role in many organizations concerned with animal welfare. Wright remained an activist until a few years before her death in Albany on April 8, 1975.

Recent Research: The Lenett Memorial Fellowship
The Albany Institute’s new collection of Alice Morgan Wright material was the subject of the 2005 Williams College Judith M. Lenett Memorial Fellowship, a unique program that allows young art historians the opportunity to research original art objects and work with the Williamstown Art Conservation Center to conserve the actual art objects chosen. The Albany Institute’s Alice Morgan Wright collection was a perfect match for the Lenett Fellowship because there were wide-ranging art objects to choose from and much ancillary materials to support research. During the period considered the high point of her career, from the late 1910s to about 1930, the majority of Alice Morgan Wright's sculptures depicted women, including figures inspired by Isadora Duncan (1878-1927), Yvette Guilbert (1867-1964), Madame Breshkovsky (1844-1934) and female subjects drawn from classical literature and modern theater. Lenett Fellow Christine L. Paglia chose ten of Wright's modern dance sculptures to clean, conserve and research.

Support for ALICE MORGAN WRIGHT: Sculptor and Activist has been provided by the Edgar W. and June B. Martin Fund, The Doane Stuart School, and Richard and Karen Nicholson.

Visit the Albany Institute of History and Art (website)

Main House | Corporate Suites | Contact us | Breakfast | Visitors Guide

- NON-SMOKING POLICY -
The inn and all guest suites are NON- Smoking.
Smoking is permitted in the garden only.
A cleaning fee of $100 will be charged to any room violating this policy.

- CHILDREN -
Our inn is not suited for anyone
under the age of sixteen years old.

Back to top of page

MORGAN STATE HOUSE | 393 State Street - Albany, New York 12210
Phone 518-427-6063 | Toll Free 888-427-6063 | Fax 518-463-1316
© copyright www.statehouse.com | e-mail

WEB DESIGN: Robyn Kearns Designs

designs by DOUGLAS
454-0055 | Website
Albany New York Floral Designer
flower delivery, unique gifts, a leading provider of fresh-cut flowers,
bouquets, and specialty gifts, bouquets, funeral arrangments, gift baskets, christmas, happy birthday,
fresh long stem roses, fresh tulips, exotic flowers, buy flowers online, holiday floral creations, weddings.

Back to top of page