LANCASTER, Ohio — A first-of-its-kind festival has taken over historic downtown Lancaster this weekend. "Bottoms Up" is the country's first-ever event held in celebration of midcentury barware culture and was co-founded by Visit Fairfield County and local glassware company Gay Fad Studios.
Owned and operated by David and Jason Annecy, Gay Fad Studios today is a recent resurrection of a company that blazed a trail for women in Fairfield County through the middle quarter of the 20th century.
Fran Taylor founded Gay Fad Studios in Lancaster in 1939 when she was only 24 years old. From her initial $40 investment, Taylor built a multimillion-dollar enterprise, employing countless women for the next 23 years.
"[Taylor] left a huge legacy in the midcentury modern glass world," said David Annecy, co-owner of the modern Gay Fad Studios. "Fran was truly a free spirit; she bucked all the norms in society at that time. [She] didn't care about what expectations were of her. She had a vision and a goal, and she relentlessly worked towards achieving that and brought countless other women up with her in that process."
Exactly 60 years after the original company closed its doors, David and his husband Jason resurrected Gay Fad Studios in 2022 with the blessing of Taylor's daughter. They have made it their mission to honor the legacy of Fran Taylor by telling her story and re-releasing some of the studio's original designs. Additionally, Jason has reimaged some of the designs for a 21st-century collection that retains the DNA of the brand's midcentury aesthetic.
"By bringing it forward into the present, we are now not only showing appreciation for it, but we're also dabbling with it in a completely new way," explained Jason Annecy. "That's what really inspired us to come up with 'Bottoms Up.'"
For "Bottoms Up," 40 Lancaster businesses have been joined by over 20 national vendors to highlight the city's history as Ohio's glass capital.
Events include appearances by glass artist Jonathan Capps and the world-renowned artist Shag. O'Huid's Gaelic Pub has gotten a Polynesian makeover, transforming it into a tiki bar inspired by Columbus's famous Kahiki lounge and even features drink recipes originally served at the beloved establishment.
"By all of these different parties coming together," said Jason, "it's really about leaning into the DNA of being a glass town and shining a light on where we came from by [showcasing] this great midcentury design, but kind of remixing it and offering up something of an event where it's now like, 'What do we want to enjoy today? What kinds of things do we want to learn about?'"
For more information on Gay Fad Studios as well as the Bottoms Up event, visit: https://gayfadstudios.com/.