I’ve driven past the Matilda Joslyn Gage house a gazillion times.  You know how it is – you see the sign and say to yourself, one of these days I will investigate what that’s all about.  It is located at 210 E. Genesee Street, Fayetteville, New York 13066.

I mean, yes, it is about abolishionist Gage, and her connection to the Underground Railroad, friendship with fellow suffragette Susan B. Anthony AND she also happened to be L. Frank Baum’s mother-in-law.

Small world.

My almost thirty year connection with Chittenango, New York and all things Oz should have brought me here sooner,  No matter because today I was invited to an open house and art reception for the fabulous Jen Gandee.

Jen has created an installation of pottery and digital imagery utilizing human silhouettes representing her experience with long lines at the voting booths during the 2020 election.  These figures are stenciled onto ceramic cups glazed in variations on skin color.  They are also superimposed on printed documents from the Library of Congress, papers that have historical significance to our voting system.

The show was made possible through a CNY Arts Initiative grant.  It will be on display until November 24, 2024.  Check the Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation web-site for hours of operation.

Other rooms in the house display Gage’s connection to Native American tribes in the area, women’s rights and a historically accurate parlor room, as this house was her childhood home.  They’ve removed the kitchen and replaced it with a gift shop.  They can also accommodate physically handicapped via a small elevator.

P.S. I loved that they served cucumber sandwiches at the event.  I almost felt like I could fall through one of those Land of the Lost time doorways and find myself in 1924, but only because the rooms reminded me of the museum in that Christopher Reeve movie “Somewhere in Time” plus I’ve been falling into too many timey-wimey rabbit holes on YouTube lately.

Thank you, Jen Gandee for giving me a reason to explore this wonderful home and for being an inspiration as both artist and advocate.