Spirit of Bethlehem: The Boehm Porcelain Nativity

(ORANGE, TX) – The Stark Museum of Art celebrates the holiday season with an encore exhibit of Spirit of Bethlehem: The Boehm Porcelain Nativity. The exhibit will be on view in the Museum's Lobby beginning on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, through Saturday, January 7, 2023.

Spirit of Bethlehem tells the Christmas story through the figures of a sixteen-piece Nativity scene in white bisque porcelain. Boehm Porcelain (founded in 1950) produced the set of figurines in the years 1979-1983. Centuries of tradition inspired the artisans of the Boehm studios. They followed the Biblical accounts enriched by medieval stories in designing the porcelain sculptures. The set includes the Christian Holy Family and those gathered at the manger such as angels, shepherds, kings, townspeople, and animals. The works of Edward Marshall Boehm (1913-1969), founder of Boehm Porcelain, gave inspiration to the project. Edward Marshall Boehm established the firm's identity with his naturalistically modeled birds in porcelain, but he also made works with religious subjects.

Spirit of Bethlehem was a gift to the Stark Museum from the estates of David and Sara Lindsey in 2016. "The Spirit of Bethlehem is a part of the holiday tradition at the Stark Museum of Art. We hope members of the community can make it part of their traditions as well. The artistry of Boehm Porcelain can be enjoyed on many levels, as artistry, storytelling, and holiday observance," commented Sarah Boehme, Curator.

Visitors to the Museum can also see examples of other works by Edward Marshall Boehm and Boehm Porcelain. Hallway 1 in the Museum features an exhibit of Boehm birds such as Stonechats with Blackberry and Bramble and Racquet-Tailed Hummingbirds with Hibiscus.

Stark Museum of Art is located at 712 Green Avenue in Orange, Texas, and is open Wednesday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. For more information, visit Starkmuseum.org