Hey there, art enthusiasts! Let’s take a trip down memory lane to celebrate the legacy of two remarkable women who laid the foundation for Spartanburg’s vibrant art scene. On March 1, 1907, Josephine Sibley Couper and Margaret M. Law had a bold vision to “cultivate the art spirit” in Spartanburg. They turned this dream into reality by organizing The Arts & Crafts Club, igniting a passion for fine arts in our community that still burns brightly today.
Just a month after forming the club, these pioneering artists pulled off their first exhibition with flair, showcasing over 100 paintings by leading artists of the era. Picture this: masterpieces by Robert Henri, William Merritt Chase, Elliott Daingerfield, Anna Heyward Taylor, and of course, Couper and Law themselves, all under one roof! It was a grand event that put Spartanburg on the map as a budding hub for fine arts.
Among the standout pieces was Robert Henri’s “The Girl with Red Hair,” which quickly captured the hearts of Spartanburg’s art lovers. The Spartanburg Herald couldn’t contain its excitement, reporting, “There is much rejoicing in Arts and Crafts Circles over the news that Robert Henri’s “The Girl with Red Hair” comes to Spartanburg. This was one of the talked-of pictures of the Society of American Artists Exhibition in New York last season.” The community was so enamored with this striking portrait that editorials were penned, and speeches made, all rallying for the painting to stay in Spartanburg as the cornerstone of a fine arts gallery.
The Arts & Crafts Club didn’t stop at admiration—they took action, launching a campaign to raise the $500 needed to purchase the painting (that’s roughly $13,000 in today’s money). Robert Henri himself was touched by the effort, writing, “That you liked my picture of The Girl with Red Hair gives me much pleasure, and I appreciate the honor that will be mine if you expect to make it the beginning of your city’s art collection.” Fast forward to today, and that same Arts & Crafts Club is now the Spartanburg Art Museum, proudly housing “The Girl with Red Hair” in its collection!
Now, let’s shine a spotlight on the enigmatic subject of the painting, Marjorie Organ Henri. Born in 1886, Marjorie was an Irish-American illustrator and a trailblazer for women in the arts. In 1905, she was the only female artist on the staff of the New York Journal. She later married Robert Henri, who painted her captivating likeness. Marjorie’s career was nothing short of groundbreaking, with her work featured in the iconic Armory Show of 1913. Sadly, her life was cut short by cancer in 1930, but her legacy endures through Henri’s portraits, which grace the collections of prestigious institutions like the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the San Diego Museum of Art, the Detroit Institute of Art, and MoMA in New York City, and thanks to the Arts & Crafts Club of 1907, the Spartanburg Art Museum.
So next time you’re soaking in the rich art scene of Spartanburg, remember the inspiring tale of The Arts & Crafts Club and the enduring charm of “The Girl with Red Hair.” Here’s to the art spirit that Josephine Sibley Couper and Margaret M. Law kindled in our community over a century ago!