Page 7 – Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library

Artisan Market Guest FAQ

How do I purchase tickets?

You can purchase online or by calling 800.448.3883.

New this year! Advanced tickets required. All guests are required to purchase an event ticket in advance for either:

Friday, July 19 | 12:00–6:00 pm
Saturday, July 20 | 10:00 am–4:00 pm
Sunday, July 21 | 10:00 am–4:00 pm

What is included with my Artisan Market Admission ticket?

More than 100 local artisans.
Live music throughout the weekend in various locations, including Market Bites (near the Greenhouses), Clenny Run Lawn, and Enchanted Woods.
Access to the self-paced house tour (on a first-come, first-served basis as capacity is limited), exhibitions, garden, and estate. No garden tram or specialty tours offered this weekend.
This is a rain-or-shine event.

What is the cost to attend Artisan Market?

Early Bird ticket pricing is available May 3–June 30, 2024. After June 30, standard pricing is in effect for Artisan Market.

Adult: $25 through June 30; $35 after June 30
Member: $0 through June 30; $10 after June 30
Member guest passes: $0 through June 30; $10 after June 30
Senior (62+): $23 through June 30; $33 after June 30
Student (13 and older; valid ID required for college students): $23 through June 30; $33 after June 30
Child (3–12): $8
Infant (under 2): Free
Member child: Free

Where do I enter?

Review the map of the estate to see where all the activities of Artisan Market are located.
On Friday, July 19, all guests will enter Winterthur’s main gate and park in the Visitor Center Parking Lot.
On Saturday, July 20 and Sunday, July 21, General Parking guests will enter “Gate 3” on Winterthur’s property. This is not the main gate to Winterthur but about 100 yards south on Kennett Pike. It will be marked with large signs.
For Premium Parking guests (Saturday and Sunday only), please enter through the main gate. Your parking pass will be reviewed upon entering in order to proceed to the Visitor Center Parking lot. Please visit “What is Premium Parking?” for additional information.
As this is a high-traffic event, please be prepared for a short wait while entering the estate. There will be a police escort managing traffic on Route 52/Kennett Pike. Please be patient as we accomodate the larger-than-normal crowds. Please have your tickets ready when entering the gate.

Where do I park?

All non-premium parking guests will park in the field for the day. Once parked, please make your way to the “Check-in Tent.”
Please have your tickets ready to be scanned to receive your wristband. You will then board transportation to take you to the main garden area of the Artisan Market. Guests will not be able to enter the event without a wristband. Wristband colors will change each day.
For accessible parking, please have your tag visible when entering the estate. Parking attendants will guide you to the reserved accessible spaces in the field.

What is Premium Parking?

Premium Parking is available on Saturday and Sunday.
This parking area will provide access to the Visitor Center Parking Lot, which is the closest area for guests to park and walk to the Artisan Market activities. There is a limited number of spaces available for each day.
Guests will receive a one-day parking permit by mail for the registered vehicle prior to Artisan Market.
Parking passes must be displayed on the mirror/dash when arriving at the main entrance on the designated day of your tickets; otherwise, you will be directed to the General Parking area.
Once parked, walk to the Visitor Center lobby (make your way to the crosswalk in the parking lot and walk down the hill) to finish checking in to receive your wristband. Please have your pre-purchased tickets ready to be scanned upon arrival.
There are a limited number of Premium Parking spaces available for Saturday and Sunday, with passes valid for one day only.

Premium parking sales have been extended; reserve by July 11!

Where is Accessible Parking?

Please have your Accessible Parking tag on display when you enter the estate. You will be directed to the accessible spaces in the General Parking field and will have your ticket scanned at the Check-in Tent.

For Premium Parking guests, accessible spaces are indicated in the Visitor Center Parking lot.

How best do I navigate the grounds?

Review the map of the estate to see how best to navigate the estate.
Winterthur is a vast estate with uneven terrain. Please plan accordingly for this summer day with appropriate footwear and attire. There are various transportation vehicles available for guests to get to each Artisan Market “hub” throughout the estate.
While you’re joining us, be sure to explore the garden, the galleries, and self-guided house tour to experience all that Winterthur has to offer. Please note that, while a house tour is included in your ticket, we will have limited capacity this weekend. House tours will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis with estimated wait times of 15 minutes.
As it is summertime and Artisan Market occurs outdoors, please be sure to bring a water bottle and breathable clothing. There are shaded areas throughout the estate. There are water fountains located inside the Visitor Center, Brown Horticultural Center, and the Galleries Reception Area. Water bottle filling stations are available outside of restrooms near Enchanted Woods (Quarry Garden restroom) and at the Reflecting Pool.
Artisan Market weekend typically welcomes over 5,000 guests across the three days. There will be many Winterthur team members along the way to happily answer your questions. Look for anyone with a green button!

What transportation options are available?

Review the map of the estate to see where transportation stops are located (denoted as the “T” icon).
Shuttle buses and open-air trams will transport guests throughout the estate. Once you have parked and checked in, hop aboard a vehicle to transport you to the Visitor Center to begin your day. All shopping locations are also walkable; each is about a 5–10-minute walk from the others.
Transportation will be roving throughout the estate all day for you to hop on and off. Please note where the stops are located on the map and reference the names in case you need assistance: Visitor Center, Greenhouse (Market Bites), Clenny Run lawn, West Gallery Circle, The Galleries (Aspiring Artisans), Enchanted Woods, and Parking.
Please utilize all transportation as needed throughout the weekend as each will allow you to visit all aspects of Artisan Market. All vehicles go to all stops and run on the same route. For questions, please visit any Information Hub or ask a Winterthur Team Member (look for someone with a green button).

Where can I fill my water bottle and use the restroom?

Along with the food trucks and cafes located throughout the estate to purchase water and beverages, there will be several water bottle filling stations/water fountains available as well as restrooms in the following places:

Visitor Center
Brown Horticulture Learning Center (Greenhouse area/Market Bites)
Museum Store
The Galleries (Aspiring Artisan location)
Reflecting Pool (along the walking route from The Galleries to Enchanted Woods)
Quarry Garden restroom (adjacent to Enchanted Woods)

Review the map of the estate to see where there are spaces to refill your water bottle and use the restroom (denoted as the restroom icon).

Where do I retrieve my concierge large item pickup?

Should you purchase a large/oversized item (furniture, lawn items, paintings, etc.) and are unable to carry it by hand or take it on the tram/shuttle, you are welcome to use the Concierge Product Delivery service provided by Winterthur.
Each artisan will have slips that you will fill out with contact details for the purchased item.
Items will be transported to the Picnic House (a small building toward the back of the Visitor Center Parking Lot), where you can pick the item up when you are ready to depart.
If you parked in the General Parking field, please make your way to your vehicle, enter at the main gate, present your concierge slip at the Guard House, and make your way to the Picnic House, as directed, for your item.
Feel free to ask an artisan about this service so you don’t have to carry items throughout your time.

What is the weather protocol?

The event is rain or shine for all three days. No refunds.

Are dogs welcome to join?

Only service dogs are permitted on the Winterthur estate.

How do I become a Winterthur Member?

Please visit our Membership webpage for more information, or visit the Visitor Center during Artisan Market for more information on how to join. Winterthur Members receive many benefits, including discounted ticketing for all ticket options.
Member tickets are free of charge through June 30 and $10 for tickets purchased after June 30.

What house and garden tours will be available?

The self-guided house tour is available with limited capacity; first-come, first-served.
Entry to the house tour on Friday, July 19, will be from 12:00 to 5:15 pm with house closing at 6:00 pm. On Saturday and Sunday, July 20–21, entry to the house will be from 10:00 am to 3:45 pm with house closing at 4:00 pm.
There are no specialty guided tours in the house or Garden Tran Tours during Artisan Market.

What reciprocal admissions are accepted during Artisan Market?

ACCESS, Museums for All, the Delaware Libraries Museum Pass Program, and the Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport will all be accepted.
ROAM, AHS, and NARM will not be accepted.

How does one become an artisan for next year?

Applications for the 2025 Artisan Market will be live on Winterthur’s website in January 2025. For more details on becoming an artisan, please visit this year’s Vendor Information Page and set a reminder to apply next year!
Each year, all interested artisans submit an online artisan application for consideration. Given the competitive nature of the application process and Winterthur’s desire to have a variable selection of vendor mediums, your acceptance from previous years does not guarantee acceptance in future years.

You’ve arrived, now what?

Review the map of the estate to see where all the activities of Artisan Market are located.

On a normal day, Winterthur’s vast estate can be a confusing place, and now we’ve added a multitude of activities into the mix. Please see a suggested “route” to be sure to enjoy all aspects of Artisan Market and Winterthur!

You’ve parked, checked in with your ticket, received your wristband and map, and now are on your way to explore and shop. Here is a suggested itinerary for your day:

1. Start at the Visitor Center. Fill your water bottle, use the restroom, grab a bite, and make your way to the Visitor Center Patio to start your shopping journey with about 10 artisans.

2. Make your way up the small hill, through the tunnel, and take the first right to the Greenhouses, where you will enter the Market Bites hub. Here, you’ll find:

Culinary artisans
Seating within the Greenhouses to enjoy food and beverage from local food trucks
Live music
Restrooms and water fountains inside the Brown Horticulture Learning Center
Tour the historic Head House building and learn a bit more about how this space was used during Winterthur founder Henry Francis du Pont’s time.

3. Follow the paved pathway lined with the market stands and make your way towards the Museum/House. If you’re interested in taking a self-guided house tour (might as well enjoy the historic home and some AC!), make your way to the left to enter the Conservatory. Please note that house tours are available on a first-come, first-served basis as the house has limited capacity. You do not need a ticket to tour the house. It is included in your Artisan Market ticket – just walk up.

4. Continue down the hill to the Museum Store for additional shopping, restrooms, and concessions.

5. As you exit the café to the Cottage Patio, take a seat to enjoy the beauty of Clenny Run Lawn and listen to some live music before exploring the 30 artisans in this location and enjoying a bite or beverage (located on the grass).

6. Meander past the stream and make your way to the West Circle at the Galleries to visit about six artisans and cool off with cocktail by Bubbles & Brews.

7. Make your way indoors to The Galleries where you will find Aspiring Artisans and the Transformations: Contemporary Artists at Winterthur exhibition (water fountain and restrooms available, too).

There is an Information Desk in this location.
The Member Lounge is located in the Montgomery Room.

8. Then, exit on the opposite end to the East Side of the estate. Here, you can hop on a vehicle to escort you to the final major hub, Enchanted Woods, or make your way through the Campbell Collection of Soup Tureens and Reflecting Pool (restrooms and water fountain) to the next shopping experience.

In Enchanted Woods, you’ll find about 40 artisans, live music, food trucks, and a tented area in which to sit and enjoy the summer day.

9. Once you’ve experienced it all and you’re ready to make your way back to your car, walk down the hill, or hop on a vehicle to take you to The Galleries. Walk through the Galleries building once more, and on the other side, hop on a vehicle to take you back to the parking area. Any vehicle will take you to additional shopping areas or to your car.

Map

Guests will receive a map upon arrival, but here is a handy reference for you to explore in advance and note where all the vendor areas and activities are located, as well as transportation stops, food and beverage spots, water bottle refill stations, and restrooms.

You may purchase tickets online or by calling 800.448.3883.

Thank you for experiencing the Artisan Market at Winterthur with us this year!

Gifts for Mothers and the Special Women in Your Life

Finding the perfect present is as easy as a trip to Winterthur! Branch out from the bouquets and choose something that will be cherished for years to come. From tiny tokens to creative keepsakes, a little luxury goes a long way. Choose one or more items from the gift guides curated by our Museum Store staff to make any woman’s day.

Adornments to Adore

Gold Plated Woven Sunstone Bracelet, $185

Oval Sunstone Drop Earrings, $80

Tiny Flower Pendant Necklace, $35

Nautilus Shell and Pearl Earrings, $130

Nautilus Shell and Pearl Necklace, $105

Bronze Orbit and Cubic Zirconia Necklace, $225

Sunstone and Pearl Necklace, $125

Three Pearl Drop Necklace, $130

Leblon Golden Grass Earrings, $35

Leda Golden Grass Earrings with Pink Stone, $65

Quali(tea) Time

Morris & Co. Mugs (Set of 2), $50

Morris & Co. Honeysuckle Teapot, $50

Morris & Co. Tiered Desert Stand, $125

Heart-Shaped Tea Strainer, $10

Crowned Bird Figure, $16

Faux Peony in Vase, $12

Ombre Twisted Tapers (Set of 2), $12

Protea Square Tray, $96

Teal Crack-Glazed Dish, $5

Fern Tea Towel, $20

Gingko Leaf Dishes (Set of 2), $20

Embroidered Meadow Pillow, $55

Green Thumbs Up

Charmant Garden Finial, $150

Squirrel Garden Figure, $64

Beehavin’ Purple Sunflower Pillow, $70

Terracotta Toad House, $50

Assorted Terracotta Wakefield Planters, $32 each

Ceramic Watering Can Mug, $14

The Garden Book, $59.95

The Garden: Elements and Style, $49.95

Seed Salutation Seed Packets, $8 each

Small White Metal Urn, $17

Mini Potted Faux Ranunculus, $22

Gardener’s Log Book, $16.99

Outdoor School: Gardening, $19.99

A Naturalist’s Book of Wildflowers, $22.95

Dinnerware that Delights

Assorted Floral Stoneware Plates, $11 each

Assorted Relief Dots Stoneware Bowls, $16 each

Set a High Bar

Framed Floral Print (18”), $55

Faux Viburnum Spray, $15

Glass Cloche with Metal Tray, $50

Embossed Taper Holder in Gold (18”), $23

Etched Glass Decanter, $70

Cobbled Bronze Pitcher $90

Adrian Tray, $9

Corinne Crystal Old Fashioned Glass, $55

Corinne Crystal Coupe Glass, $75

Corinne Crystal Martini Glass, $75

Metal Taper Holder (3”), $10

Antiqued Brass Flower Taper Holder, $25

Antiqued Brass Finial Taper Holder, $20

Glazed Pitcher, $25

Trinkets to Treasure

Desert Flower Necklace, $305

Desert Flower Earrings, $78

Dandelion Ring, $148

Black-Eyed Susan Brooch, $125

Royal Extract Bath Salts Sachet, $8

Royal Extract Dusting Powder, $92.50

Royal Extract Eau de Parfum, $125

Royal Extact Bath Salts in Decanter, $88

Lady Primrose Body Cream, $92.50

Antique Brass Mirror Riser, $105

Winterthur Hand Poured Candle, $35

Ranunculus Bundle (13.5”), $25

Green Glass Vase, $16

Antique Brass Swivel Mirror, $110

Wildflower Honey Bar Soaps (Set of 5), $56

Assorted Fluted Insect Dishes, $9 each

Sip and Savor

Harbor Boat Blockprint Round Tablecloth, $112.50

Blue Woven Placemats (Set of 2), $55

Rattan and Stainless Steel Cocktail Shaker, $25

Glass and Woven Seagrass Pitcher, $35

Drinking Glass with Woven Seagrass Sleeve, $10 each

Brass Finish Fish Bottle Opener, $12

Natural Woven Napkin Tray, $18

Red Checker Paper Cocktail Napkins (20 pack), $8

Lida Teak Wood Stand (Medium), $28

Design Dreams

Head of Goddess Planter, $40

Real Touch Peony Bundle (10.5”), $28.50

Faux String of Pearls Pick, $17

Faux Trailing Succulent Pick, $25

Assorted Multi-Colored Vases, $10 each

Paddybird Pillow in Lime Green and Azul (26”), $275

Peacock Pillow in Persimmon (26”), $375

Peacock Pillow in Azul (20”), $300

Toile Pillow in Golf (20”), $300

Cotton Fringe Throw Blanket, $50

Stop by the Museum Store Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00 am–5:00 pm (general admission not required). Call 302.888.4822 or email museumstore@winterthur.org for a bespoke shopping experience provided by our talented retail team.

Make Memories with Mom this Mother’s Day

Give the ultimate gift! Time spent in the company of others or alone at Winterthur will leave her feeling refreshed and relaxed. From the smooth melodies of Bourbon and Bluegrass to the artistry of a symphony performance, we’ve curated a weekend full of memorable experiences. General Admission tickets are valid for two consecutive days (programs have an additional charge).

Purchase a Winterthur e-gift certificate or Gift of Membership online and let her fancy take flight in our museum, garden, library, and store.

Founder’s Circle

We invite you to join Founder’s Circle, an active community of Winterthur’s most generous patrons who are stewards of founder Henry Francis du Pont’s vision to inspire and educate through Winterthur’s collection, estate, and academic programs. Established in 2024, Founder’s Circle provides essential support to Winterthur’s vibrant ecosystem by funding important acquisitions to the museum, garden, and library; the academic work of conservation, exhibition development, and scholarly research; and the ongoing preservation, restoration, and enhancement of the historic garden and estate.

Founder’s Circle donors enjoy exceptional access and opportunities for learning and engagement with fellow Winterthur patrons, including:

Invitations to exclusive donor events, receptions, and academic programs
Invitation to the Founder’s Circle Annual Meeting
Privileged access to the Delaware Antiques Show
Special access to Winterthur’s senior staff members through private tours and general advisement from curators, horticulturists, librarians, conservators, and educators
Exclusive travel opportunities to premier historic sites, private collections, and gardens led by Winterthur staff members and experts
Subscription to the Founder’s Circle newsletter
Free admission to the museum, garden, and estate
10% discount on shopping and dining at Winterthur
Fully tax-deductible annual contributions

Each contribution to Founder’s Circle will be divided equally into four shares to support the museum, garden, library, and general operations. Founder’s Circle patrons may also choose to support a particular aspect of Winterthur, in which case the contribution will be split evenly between the museum, garden, or library and general operations.

Donor Levels

$2,500–$4,999
All advantages of Founder’s Circle, including invitations to exclusive donor events, receptions, and academic programs, plus the opportunity to invite two guests to the Founder’s Circle Annual Meeting.

$5,000–$9,999
All advantages of Founder’s Circle at the $2,500–$4,999 level, plus general advisement from Winterthur experts regarding personal collections, gardens, and conservation efforts, together with a one-year subscription to Winterthur Portfolio: A Journal of American Material Culture, published three times a year for Winterthur by the University of Chicago Press.

$10,000–$24,999
All advantages of Founder’s Circle at the $5,000–$9,999 level, plus the opportunity to schedule a personalized tour of the Winterthur collection, garden, or library with senior staff members followed by a cocktail reception.

$25,000 and Above
All advantages of Founder’s Circle at the $10,000–$24,999 level, plus the opportunity to schedule a private dinner with Winterthur’s director and senior staff members for your household and six guests.

Give Today

For more information, please contact the Founder’s Circle office at 302.888.4878 or contributions@winterthur.org.

Image: Aaron Shikler (1922–2015), Henry Francis du Pont, 1965. Oil on canvas. Bequest of Henry Francis du Pont 1970.0561 A, B. Photo: Lois Mauro.

Prescribed Burn Ignites Life at Winterthur

Tendrils of haze drifted across a meadow at Winterthur on a cool morning in early March…a familiar sight after a wet and misty winter. But this was not water vapor rising from a thawing field. It was smoke from vegetation set ablaze on the grounds of the estate.

Winterthur’s Arboriculture and Natural Lands team, in collaboration with the Winterthur Fire Department, had embarked on a journey of rejuvenation through prescribed burning. A marshy meadow along the back drive and a slice of the East Barn wetlands were consumed by controlled flames, dancing with the promise of renewal.

*Smoke rises as the fire does its purifying work.*

Prescribed burning is not an inferno driven capriciously by the availability of tinder and the arrival of a spark and wind. In fact, Kevin Braun, supervisor of arboriculture and natural lands, had even delayed the recent managed blaze by one day due to the possibility of high winds.

A prescribed burn is not about wanton destruction but rather strategic land management.

“Controlled burns are akin to nature’s reset button, benefiting wildlife, combating invasive species, and fostering the growth of native flora,” Braun said. It’s like giving Mother Nature a spa day, complete with a detox and facial.

*Kevin Braun, supervisor of arboriculture and natural lands, second from left, coordinates a prescribed burn at Winterthur.*

Our estate is a tapestry of habitats, and these prescribed burns serve as catalysts for biodiversity. Think of it as an open invitation to avian friends like the eastern bluebird, red-winged blackbird, and eastern meadowlark, beckoning them to nestle in our replenished grasslands.

Birds aren’t the only ones RSVPing to the targeted areas. Native pollinators like monarch butterflies and industrious bees eagerly flit among native meadow flowers and grasses, which flourish in the aftermath of a well-executed burn.

And it’s not just about the birds and the bees. By bidding adieu to thatch (the pesky buildup of cut grass), we’re liberating our meadow plants from suffocation and ensuring that vital nutrients aren’t held hostage beneath a blanket of dry grass. It’s like spring cleaning for the soul of the land, clearing away the clutter to make room for new growth and vitality.

There are practical benefits, too. “The areas we set ablaze aren’t exactly the friendliest to mowers,” Braun added. Marshy meadows and soggy wetlands make for treacherous terrain when it comes to traditional land management techniques. The process also minimizes the spread of pests and plant diseases.

With prescribed burning, we’re reclaiming these inaccessible spaces, transforming them into havens of biodiversity and beauty. So, as the smoke dissipates and the embers fade, what remains is not just charred earth, but a promise—a promise of vibrant ecosystems, thriving fauna, and a landscape teeming with life. Here at Winterthur, we’re not afraid to embrace the flames, for we know that within their flickering dance lies the secret to renewal and regeneration.

*The burn is carefully tended throughout the process.*

Point-to-Point returns for 46th year

WINTERTHUR, DE (March 13, 2024) – The 46th Annual Point-to-Point Races—with thrilling steeplechase horse races, an unparalleled tailgating atmosphere, delightful parades, and family fun—will take over the Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library estate on May 5.

Tailgate parking spaces and event wristbands are on sale now. For more information and to purchase, visit winterthur.org/PTP. The Point-to-Point web page details pre-event offers, contests, hospitality tents, and more. The page will be updated periodically as the event approaches.

The sights and sounds of Point-to-Point will thrill spectators while the Winterthur Hunt area will entertain with games and activities for all ages. Point-to-Point is Winterthur’s largest annual fundraising event.

Proceeds from this year’s Point-to-Point support key environmental and landscape stewardship initiatives such as Winterthur’s Natural Lands program managing woodland, meadow, and wetland habitats throughout the estate; preservation of the Winterthur Garden; and initiatives to invite members and visitors to enjoy almost 1,000 acres of conserved land.

Tailgate Parking Spaces and Tailgate Tents

Tailgate parking spaces start at $300, and tailgate parking tents start at $750; both include four adult guest wristbands. Additional tailgate wristbands are available for purchase: $60 Guest; $30 Under 21; Children under 10 free, wristband required.

Member Wristbands

Winterthur Members can pack a picnic and join us on Members Hill for the races. Individual Member wristbands are $60 and can be purchased online.

Parking Options

Guest parking is free for wristband holders. Shorten your walk by purchasing closer parking. Premium Parking North $25/car; Premium Parking South $50/car (limited quantities).

ABOUT WINTERTHUR MUSEUM, GARDEN & LIBRARY

Winterthur—known worldwide for its preeminent collection of American decorative arts, naturalistic garden, and research library for the study of American art and material culture— offers a variety of tours, exhibitions, programs, and activities throughout the year.

Winterthur is located on Route 52, six miles northwest of Wilmington, Delaware, and five miles south of U.S. Route 1. Winterthur is committed to accessible programming for all. For information, including special services, call 800.448.3883 or visit winterthur.org.

Alexandra Cade and Tommy Dougherty

About the Artists

Alexandra Cade is a Ph.D. candidate in the history of American civilization at the University of Delaware. An interdisciplinary scholar and musician, Cade studies the material culture of music, performance, and tourism in the early 19th-century Atlantic World. She has worked at the Sigal Music Museum and Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, and has undertaken fellowships through Winterthur, the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, and the Classical American Homes Preservation Trust. Cade received her bachelor of music in viola performance from the Eastman School of Music and her master of arts degree from the Winterthur Program in American Material Culture, where she completed her thesis on amateur-made antebellum American pianos.

Social Media: @ConcertoChick

Tommy Dougherty is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and is a violinist and composer of orchestral, chamber, and solo works. The Orchestra of St. Luke’s recently premiered a new work by Tommy through his participation in the DeGaetano Composition Institute, where he worked closely with mentor composer Anna Clyne. His music has been performed by the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra, American Composers Orchestra, the Modern Violin Ensemble, and Alarm Will Sound, and he is the recipient of three ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Awards. Tommy currently lives in San Diego where he plays with the San Diego Symphony.

Website: TSDoughertyComposer.com

The Winterthur Suite and Ruth’s Fugue | Chinese Parlor

The fugue composed by Ruth du Pont is the most complete of her musical creations. Trained in piano at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Ruth found joy and solace in playing and listening to music. While seeking inspiration for their own Winterthur composition, Allie Cade and Tommy Dougherty found Ruth’s fugue in the archives. This became the inspiration for the final movement of The Winterthur Suite. You can hear this movement in the Chinese Parlor on the introductory tour of the house rooms.

Beginning June 8, you can listen to the full version of The Winterthur Suite in the Transformations exhibition.

The Winterthur Suite | Galleries

The Winterthur Suite merges aural and haptic reactions to six selected objects and spaces from across the Winterthur collection and grounds. Drawing inspiration from art-based compositions in the Western musical canon, like Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition (1874), our work endeavors to encourage new reactions to the familiar by forging radical sensory connections with our audience. We asked: what could we learn if we listened to objects or environments in a space like Winterthur? Looking to the warp and weft of a sampler, the crystalline lyricism of a glass flask, or the clean and methodical lines of Shaker furniture, we worked to translate the tactile into sound. By forging these novel sonic relationships, we hope to begin a conversation of multisensory refractions through The Winterthur Suite.

The Radish Project

About the Artists

Dan Feinberg
Paint Lick, Kentucky

Dr. Mary Parr
Berea, Kentucky

Although the Radish Project came to Winterthur as a result of conversations that began while Dan Feinberg was in residence as a Winterthur Maker-Creator Fellow, this project is intensely collaborative. Planting beds are located in and beyond Delaware, acting as remote sites of a unified project to bring attention to environmental challenges such as over paving, flooding, drainage, and water quality. Radishes planted in patterns break pavement that is no longer needed and create better drainage.

The Radish Project is currently on view in the Empire Parlor. Additional installations related to the radish project will be on display in the Galleries Reception Area and in the Galleries from June 8, 2024 to January 5, 2025.

Artist Statement

Repeating patterns, like those found in wallpapers, textiles, and other objects, inspired the planting designs and the radish “avatars” created in the Radish Project and seen in the Winterthur house, Galleries Reception area, and here in the Galleries. Using familiar things like wallpaper can help viewers connect to the environmental messages of the project that can otherwise seem distant or hidden from sight.

Planting Together

Below is a list of people whose labor has constituted the project’s development and ongoing life. There are others who contributed along the way who wish to remain anonymous or whose names we were unable to record.

Ali Alberta, Janee Amig, Prince Aminu, Marisa Angel, Emily Bach, Sol Baumgartner, Emily Beeber, Sophie Bell, Julia Bouwkamp, Benét Burton, Julian Clark, Kim Collison, Christian Cooter, Amy Curry, Catherine Cyr, Catharine Dann Roeber, Ted Davis, Meghan Doherty, Brian Eisenhauer, MJ Embree, Avery Fair, Dan Feinberg, Kelly Fu, Robert Garland, Janea Garner, Jena Gilbert-Merrill, Irwin Goldman, Nicholas Goodwin, David Govatski, Phil Griffiths, Steve Groff, Thomas Guiler, Collin Hadsell, Julia Hamer-Light, John Hayes, Scott Heggen, Autumn Heil, Ann Hewitt, Sylvia Hickman, Inna Horbovtsova, Margaret Hughes, James Hutzenbiler, Alexandra Izzard, Elaheh Jamal, i Rachael Kane, Clint King, Dasha Likhacheva, Alex Lopez Guzman, Austin Losada, Haritha Malladi, Chris Malone, Lisa Mangin, Molly Mapstone, Chase Markee, Madeline Markert, Megan Markert, Kit Martin, Daisy Martin, Cody Mitchell, River Moon, Aaron Morris, Concepta Njolima, Kara Norris, Emmy Norris, Quinn Norris, Sam O’Hara, Laura Ochoa Rincon, Andrew Oles, Jocelyn Paradis, Mary Parr, Moriah Peña, Rob Plankinton, Isaac Renner, Katrina Reynolds, Riley Richards, Kimberly Ritchie, Katie Roach, Elizabeth Roeber, Naomi Sabotnick, John Salata, Lenny Santiago-Bautista, Devin Santos, Betsy Schley, Ethan Snyder, Chloe Soliday, Richard Stout, Chris Strand, Naomi Subotnick, Kendall Sullivan, Emi Torres-Vera, Heidi Underbakke, Natasha Vadas, Amy Villamagna, Nathan Wiley, Meg Wilson, Megan Wolverton, Students in Conversations in Sustainability at Plymouth State, Fall 2022, Winterthur Garden staff and Natural Lands staff.

It’s Electric! New Tram a First for Winterthur

Winterthur staff recently enjoyed a serene journey around the estate aboard the museum’s inaugural—and pleasantly quiet—electric tram.

Priced at just over $70,000, the electric tram comes with a significant advantage: it’s approximately 40 percent cheaper than its gas-powered counterpart. During a recent test run with various staff taking turns on board, the tram gracefully traversed the garden paths for three hours, utilizing only half of its battery charge.

Eileen Scheck, manager of tour programs, said staff affectionately dubbed the tram “EVelina.”

The name was chosen, not just because of the play on the term “EV” for “electric vehicle,” but also for du Pont ancestor Evelina Gabrielle du Pont Bidermann (1796-1863), the first generation of du Ponts to garden at Winterthur.

Plans are underway to procure more electric trams if EVelina proves to be a success.

Charging EVelina is a breeze, with dedicated outlets conveniently located in a barn on the estate. With Winterthur boasting 118 buildings across nearly 1,000 acres, this strategic placement ensures easy access for maintenance and charging, said John Castle, director of facilities services.

Scheck praised EVelina’s agility, noting its narrower frame effortlessly navigated the estate’s winding pathways and Garden Lane. It’s a seamless addition to Winterthur’s fleet, which now includes six vehicles for guided tours: four gas-powered trams, one wheelchair-accessible garden bus, and EVelina.

“The introduction of our electric-powered tram enhances the multi-sensory experience of our open-air tours,” remarked Scheck. “Visitors can now engage fully in the sights, sounds, and scents of the garden, making for an unforgettable journey.”

With EVelina leading the charge, Winterthur continues to embrace innovation while preserving its rich heritage, offering visitors an eco-friendly and immersive way to explore the estate’s natural beauty.

The next time you come to explore our gardens on a guided Garden Tram Tour, be on the lookout for our very own electric tram and experience for yourself the gentle serenity of a ride aboard EVelina.

By the smiles on their faces, it seems Eileen Scheck, in the driver’s seat at left, and John Castle, in the rear-facing seat at the back of the new electric tram, enjoyed the recent test run of “EVelina.”

Richard Saja

About the Artist

Richard Saja is an artist making work in Catskill, New York. After first attending the University of the Arts in Philadelphia to study surface design, he devoted his studies to the great books of Western Civilization at St Johns College in Santa Fe, NM and received a BA as a math and philosophy major. After a brief stint working as an art director on Madison Avenue, all his interests coalesced and a small design firm, Historically Inaccurate Decorative Arts, was born in the early aughts and gradually evolved into a fine art practice.

Though he occasionally feels the need to explore avenues of expression beyond that of the needle, the majority of Saja’s work focuses on creating interferences on the formal patterns of French toile through embroidery.

He has exhibited internationally with shows in London, New York, Paris, Berlin and South Korea and will have a solo exhibition at the Toile de Jouy Museum in Jouy en Josas, France in 2023.

Evolving Utopia | Port Royal Parlor

Richard’s enduring love and fascination for textiles derives from the absolutely unlimited interplay of pattern, color and texture – there is no other medium where this trinity is so fully realized. He came up with the embellished toile concept while waking from sleep years ago. The original idea was to embroider Maori facial tattoos onto figures in the print but he soon discovered there were no toile prints available where that concept could be realized because of the relatively small scale of nearly all toile prints. He thus amended the concept slightly to include any and all embellishment. Historically, toile de Jouy is a print that through its dense repetition becomes anonymous. It’s a tabula rasa begging for context not unlike a child’s coloring book. The act of selectively embellishing small areas of it automatically inverts its historical usage: suddenly the anonymity of the print is broken and it evolves through its subversion which appeals greatly to Richard. With an economy of means, a whole new context is created. There is another story there, it just needs to be drawn out.

Samara Weaver

About the Artist

Samara grew up making artwork her whole life. Having an artist for a father deeply influenced her. Samara received a bachelor’s and master’s in architecture from Temple University which further enhanced her artistic abilities and added another layer of reasoning and functionality to her work. Through college she was also able to add other skills to her artistic repertoire, taking oil painting and glass blowing alongside architecture classes. Samara uses many different mediums, including paper, watercolor, clay (ceramic), wood, photography, glass, wool (felt), dyes, oil paint, and metal. Using these different mediums allows her to choose the best ones for the project she’s working on. Her work has been displayed at venues including the Delaware Contemporary, The MEzeanine Gallery, Delaware Art Museum, and the Blue Ball Barn.

Conception to Realization | Readbourne Stair Hall

Samara has always been fascinated with materiality, resulting in her artistic exploration of various materials, using them to explore texture, color, and perspective. She combines large numbers of smaller, often simple elements into multi-faceted compositions, gaining complexity and space from their combination. In Conception to Realization Samara drew inspiration from objects in Readbourne Stair Hall and Parlor—the undulating pattern of the Anna Maria Garthwaite –designed silk depicted in the gown Ann Shippen Willing wears in her portrait and the intricately rolled paper pieces in the quillwork sconces. The work also resonates with these Winterthur objects made by, or depicting women, drawing attention to the skill and creativity of women makers from the past and today.