She became something of the leading lady of Columbus design, and regularly had the ear of some of the world’s most powerful artists and architects.
Xenia S. Miller picked the yellow color of the Dale Chihuly Yellow Neon Chandelier that formed the centerpiece of an addition to the Columbus Area Visitors Center. She created the needlepoint pattern with Alexander Girard on Eero Saarinen-designed tulip chairs and influenced much more in the celebrated Miller House that was her home.
And she worked alongside heralded Modernist designers Eero Saarinen and Alexander Girard on two different homes.
Those tidbits and much more are part of the 14-piece, free exhibit “XSM: Xenia Simons Miller: A Modernist Patron of Art and Architecture” opening Feb. 21 at Gallery 506 inside the Columbus Area Visitors Center, which she helped form years ago. Indianapolis’ Newfields and the Indiana Historical Society provided materials for the exhibit, according to local gallery curator Jan Banister.
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Plus, architecture and design historian Connie Ziegler, author of the recently released book, “Xenia Simons Miller: Prairie Modernist,” also contributed research and information.
Banister acknowledged that shaping the exhibit to 14 pieces clearly “was the most difficult part” considering the woman’s legacy as a major supporter of the arts. She was careful to mention that the gallery exhibit is hardly meant to be as comprehensive as Ziegler’s book. But Banister said this collection could highlight an important question.
“What would we not have in this community had it not been for Mrs. Miller’s vision?” Banister said.
Xenia Miller died Feb. 19, 2008, at the age of 90. But her creative fingerprints are all over significant art and architecture in Columbus, which is a prime theme of Ziegler’s books and presentations, including a talk slated at the local gallery at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 22.
“To me, the most WORD MISSING? thing to remember (about her) is that the Miller House, and much of the the art and architecture of Columbus, isn’t due just to J. Irwin Miller and Cummins,” Ziegler said, echoing the often-spoken sentiment of the Millers’ son, Will Miller, who has passed credit to many. “Xenia Miller really played a pivotal role in a lot of that work, including chasing artists down in their home at times.”
The exhibit will include images of Xenia and J. Irwin Miller in their younger days, and references to Xenia Miller’s inspiration upon the city’s admired architectural landscape.
Xenia Miller was born in Morgantown, and grew up in and around Columbus, according to The Republic archives. She graduated from Columbus High School and Indiana Business College before taking a position at then-Cummins Engine Company, working in the firm’s purchasing department. This is where she met her husband, whom she married in 1943.
Over the years, along with J. Irwin Miller, Xenia Miller brought art by leading international figures, such as sculptors Jean Tinguely and Henry Moore, to Columbus. She worked with major architectural figures such as Edward Larrabee Barnes — and his wife, Mary Barnes — to bring creative design to schools, churches and other civic buildings.
Xenia Miller also made a new version of the Indianapolis Museum of Art-Columbus Gallery in the original Commons mezzanine in downtown Columbus a reality with a $1 million donation in 1993, after she launched the satellite museum’s original space in 1974 at the visitors center. She was such a hands-on organizer that she came in just before it was complete and had the accent lighting tweaked.
But, true to her modest ways, Xenia Miller balked at a grand plan to name the space in her honor.
Ziegler mentioned that Xenia Miller was both a woman of the 1950s era and a design leader. The historian pointed out that because Xenia Miller was not a corporate head as her spouse was, she perhaps inherited more of a background attention on major efforts.
“As a woman-historian who has written a lot about women, that is pretty typical,” Ziegler said. “Women’s history often is not really talked about, and doesn’t work in the same way that men’s history does.
“ … But her husband knew what she was capable of — and so he gave over to Xenia choices and control of so many things, though that may not be widely known in the (Columbus) community.”
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What: "XSM: Xenia Simons Miller: A Modernist Patron of Art and Architecture," highlighting her life and her design impact with major artists, architects and their wives.
When: Opening reception is 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 21. Hours after that are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Where: Gallery 506 inside the Columbus Area Visitors Center at 506 Fifth St. downtown.
Presentation on Xenia Miller: By historical author Connie Ziegler at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 22 at a free Brown Bag Lunch and Learn event.
Admission: Free.
Information: 812-378-2622.
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