Mary Bright (11 January 1954 – 29 November 2002) was a Scottish curtain designer. She began her career doing a short apprenticeship at Paris' Lanvin fashion house. In 1979, Bright relocated to New York City and worked as a hat maker as well as designing clothes. She began designing curtains in her own studio Mary Bright Inc. in 1983, and her clientele included contemporary architects and other well-known celebrities. Bright was also a contributor to exhibition design. She experimented with corrugated paper, rubber and fine metal meshes with cut and sewn linen and wool.
Mary Bright | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 January 1954 Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom |
| Died | 29 November 2002 (aged 48) New York City, United States |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Citizenship | United Kingdom |
| Occupation | Curtain designer |
| Years active | 1979–2002 |
| Spouse |
David Paskin (m. 1990–2002) |
Biography
editOn 11 January 1954, Bright was born in Edinburgh, Scotland.[1] She was the daughter of a family doctor.[2] Bright learnt fine arts in London and then fashion and millinery in Leeds;[3][4] despite this, she did not formally train as a designer.[2][3] Bright did a brief apprenticeship period at Paris' Lanvin fashion house, where she learnt millinery's secrets. At Gelot, she sewed men's hats.[2][5] In 1979,[6][7] she relocated to the East Village neighbourhood of New York City, working as a hat maker,[2][3] learning the production of both garments and sowing.[8] To complement her work, Bright became a clothing designer, completing such projects as a cocktail dress with a revealing back shielded by slats by a window blind.[2]
In 1983, she began working as a curtain designer in her own studio Mary Bright Inc. in lower Broadway,[1][5] when she designed a 60 ft (18 m) curtain for Ellen Barkin, the actress.[2][4] According to The Times, Bright "found herself in great demand, often working with New York's leading architects and interior designers."[2] Such clients of hers included Lauren Bacall,[4] Calvin Klein, The Mercer Hotel of New York,[5] Bette Midler,[1] Museum of Modern Art of New York, Rupert Murdoch, Wendi Deng Murdoch and Jean-Georges Vongerichten among other contemporary architects such as Laurie Hawkinson, Henry Smith-Miller, Keenen Riley, Michael Schmitt and Kevin Walz.[5][8] One of Bright's works, which was a 12 ft (3.7 m)-high, 26 ft (7.9 m)-wide undulating veil of tiny metal coils, was hung in the Museum of Modern Art's restaurant.[2][8] She was a contributor to exhibition design, such as for Mies in Berlin at the Museum of Modern Art in 2001.[7]
Personal life
editShe was married to David Paskin from 1990 to 2002.[5] In 2002, Bright was diagnosed with lung cancer, which had metastasised to her brain and body treated with radiation and steroids.[1][5] On 29 November 2002, she died from lung cancer at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.[3][4]
Approach and legacy
editBright experimented by using the materials corrugated paper, rubber and fine metal meshes,[3][6] with linen and wool that was cut and sewn on.[4][5] Using such materials garnered her much attention,[6] and she would spread the fabric on a 30 ft (9.1 m) worktable,[2] before cutting it up with her 8 in (200 mm) shears.[8] Every room of her clients saw Bright apply a different solution of materials,[5] such as blends, buttery wools, shimmering linens, synthetics, and Teflon-coated nylons of which she promoted.[9][10] She said in 1997: "I try to find other ways besides using fringe and tassels to make curtains look interesting."[8] Bright also used silvery metals in her works starting from 1987, which gradually became fashionable, and included 3 in (76 mm) of silk taffeta lining peering at the centre and bottom in the style of a petticoat to distinguish.[8]
John A. Hoch described her legacy in the January 2003 issue of Metropolitan Home: "As a needle woman, she certainly flourished in her exacting craft in the most inventive and creative sense. And then there was Mary's depth of perception--whether at a showroom, an East Village restaurant or local coffee shop. Mary could assess a group or individual and ignite the situation into fiery brilliance with wit and sparkle, or calm it with that inner serenity of hers."[7] Hoch also referred to Bright as "a larger-than-life individual" and "a unique talent".[7] William L. Johnson of The New York Times wrote of Bright's artistry: "from controlled chaos – a crinkled polyester curtain for a New York apartment that looks alive with the electricity of an approaching storm – to a flatness as tranquil as a flat sea."[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Bright, Mary (1954–2002)". Dictionary of Women Worldwide: 25,000 Women Through the Ages. 2006. Archived from the original on 18 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Mary Bright; The Register". The Times. 4 December 2002. p. 33. Archived from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021 – via Gale Academic OneFile.
- ^ a b c d e Hamilton, William L. (30 November 2002). "Mary Bright, 48, Curtain Maker Who Used Unorthodox Materials". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 18 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Designer Mary Bright". Newsday. Associated Press. 2 December 2002. p. A45. Archived from the original on 18 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021 – via Newspapers.com
.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Hamilton, William L. (25 July 2002). "A Curtain Maker Who Challenges The View". The New York Times. p. F1. Archived from the original on 16 May 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ^ a b c "In memoriam: Mary Bright". Interior Design. 74 (1): 48. January 2003. ProQuest 234936964. Archived from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021 – via ProQuest.
- ^ a b c d Hoch, John A. (May–June 2003). "The passing of Mary Bright. (Mailbag)". Metropolitan Home. 35 (3): 30. Archived from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021 – via Gale General OneFile.
- ^ a b c d e f Trucco, Terry (25 September 1997). "Trade Secrets; Performance Art In Curtain Form". The New York Times. p. F7. Archived from the original on 29 December 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ^ Louie, Elaine (28 May 1992). "Currents; Curtains on the Ceiling". The New York Times. p. C3. Archived from the original on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ^ Lupton, Ellen (2009). Design Your Life: The Pleasures and Perils of Everyday Things. New York City, United States: St. Martin's Press. pp. 21, 23. ISBN 978-1-4299-9423-1. Archived from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021 – via Google Books.
