Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Bluebirds Fly High at Swann

Stained Glass Sidelight Project at Swann

An exciting project is in the works at Carson-Newman's Swann dorm.  Funded by former residents of Swann, Women of Vision is busy having new stained glass sidelights designed by Knoxville glass artist Susan Watson.

The new windows will reflect the beauty and heritage of Swann found in the stained glass windows recently restored and installed in Swann's parlors. Alumni of The Bluebirds, a spoof organization present at Swann in the 1960's and 70's, are making sure that a bluebird figures prominently in the design.

Organized as a take off on Mortarboard, an honor society who tapped new members at night in the dorms, Bluebirds featured members dressed in blue sheets with wildly teased hair and face powder, walking through the dorm mysteriously late at night, tapping new members.  There was no formal criteria to join the Bluebirds, just a desire for crazy fun with fellow Swann dorm residents.
 Bluebirds tap new members in Swann Dorm - May, 1969