Amy Autenreith
Amy Autenreith has been named executive director of the Houston Museum. In that role, she will curate all new and changing exhibits, supervise and train the museum’s vast army of volunteers, supervise the education coordinator, assist with all special events, including the annual Houston Museum Show and Sale, oversee the gift shop, and most importantly be an enthusiastic ambassador for the museum in the community and with other national institutions that specialize in the decorative arts.
“Amy has the experience, perseverance and professional skills to lead the Houston on its ambitious path, creating new ways to connect with visitors and the community,” said Kathie Scobee Fulgham, board president.
The Houston Museum, with its priceless collection, is an integral part of the Bluff View art district in downtown Chattanooga. A guided tour of the museum, with its extensive collection of Victorian art glass and antiques, provides visitors with an insight into Victorian life and the quizzical and colorful life of its founder, Anna Safley Houston.
Visitors to the museum are consistently struck by the quality of Ms. Houston’s glass objects, from water pitchers (trustees counted 15,000 in her barn after her death) to a group of miniature oil “courting” lamps. She collected very rare examples of cut glass, satin glass, Peach Blow pitchers and cruets, Burmese glass objects, cameo glass and cranberry glass. Manufacturers represented in the collection include Steuben, Tiffany, Durand, Loetz and Fenton.