Creative Spirits: Gold Coast Glamour & French Design in the Gilded Age

Creative Spirits: Gold Coast Glamour & French Design in the Gilded Age
Wednesday, June 17
6 – 8pm
$35 per person
Location: The Main House
Check-In: Begins at 6pm at the Main House
All tickets final sale. Guests under age 18 must be accompanied by a paid adult.

Step into a world of elegance, ambition, and imagination in this captivating talk with Kedra Kearis, Ph.D., Associate Curator of Art and Visual Culture at Winterthur Museum, exploring how the elite women on the North Shore shaped domestic environments through the adoption of French revival styles.

Focusing on figures such as Alva Vanderbilt Belmont, Katherine Mackay, and our very own Mai Rogers Coe, this program reveals how Gilded Age women of the Gold Coast visualized centuries of French style through the art, architecture, and interiors of their grand residences.

From a medieval-inspired château to French Renaissance and eighteenth-century interiors, these storied estates reveal a wide range of French models in their conception. Imported furnishings, decorative arts, and commissioned portraiture created richly layered settings that evoked both Gothic fantasy and ancien régime elegance.

Whether building a castle of one’s own or simply a room of one’s own, this talk explores how these women cultivated le goût français and brought French art and design traditions into their homes, positioning themselves as influential tastemakers of the Gilded Age.

Event Schedule
6pm: Doors open
6 – 6:45pm: Self-guided exploration of the Main House, including the second floor, where Mai’s Bedroom and Dressing Room will be open. During this time, enjoy a complimentary signature cocktail: The Mai Rosé – Rosé Champagne over ice, garnished with fresh berries, and topped with a splash of seltzer for a crisp, refreshing finish. 
6:45 – 8pm: Presentation from Kedra Kearis, followed by Q & A

More about Creative Spirits: A Lecture & Libations Series
Unlock a world of boundless creativity with our exclusive new series, where art, design, history, horticulture, and architecture collide! You’ll engage with industry visionaries and pioneers in these dynamic fields and immerse yourself in captivating lectures and innovative ideas, all while sipping on a signature themed cocktail designed to elevate each experience.

About Kedra Kearis, Ph.D.
Kedra Kearis is the Associate Curator of Art and Visual Culture at Winterthur and is a faculty member in the Winterthur Program in American Material Culture at the University of Delaware. She received her Ph.D. in Art History from Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University, where she specialized in the art and design of the Gilded Age. Her publications include contributions to Nineteenth-Century Art Worldwide and the edited volume Chronicling Lost Legacies: Women Collectors, Patrons, and Tastemakers (Brill, 2026).

For questions, please contact Communications and Marketing Manager, Kayla Cheshire, at kcheshire@plantingfields.org

By registering for this event, you consent to Planting Fields Foundation photographing and filming during the event. These images may be used for promotional purposes, including social media, on our website, newsletters, grant requests, reports. As it may not be feasible to identify individuals who may wish to opt out, your registration implies your consent to be photographed. By registering for this program, you are also agreeing to receive email communications from Planting Fields Foundation. If you have any concerns, please contact us at kcheshire@plantingfields.org

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