You may not recognize the name Hildreth Meière, but chances are you’ve seen her artwork. Meière, who died in 1961, was a distinguished and influential decorative artist whose mosaic murals, wall sculptures and other unique works of art graced many well known buildings in New York and elsewhere in the country.
According to a website devoted to Meière, the artist “ranks with a very small number of women artists — such as Violet Oakley, Berenice Abbott, Isabel Bishop and Georgia O’Keeffe — whose achievements gained the recognition of the established art world” during the first half of the 20th century.
Perhaps Meière’s most well known murals are the famous Art Deco plaques on the exterior of Radio City Music Hall. Her work is also found in New York’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral, St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church and Temple Emanu-El. Now, you can find one of Meière’s paintings at Montclair’s own St. James Church, where you can also learn more about the artist.
The panel painting hangs in the altar and depicts the Biblical scene of Jesus calling the fishermen James and John. On January 29, Meière’s daughter, Louise Meière Dunn, will present an illustrated lecture of the history of her mother’s art, including the St. James altarpiece. The event, which begins at 3 p.m., is open to everyone and will be followed by a reception in the St. James Parish Hall.
