A seminar Thursday at Sturdivant Hall will explore a Dallas County native’s art and the inspiration behind her masterpieces.

The museum will host a spring seminar titled “Of Color and Light: An Examination of the Life and Career of Artist-Designer Clara Weaver Parrish” from noon to 1 p.m. at the Robinson Building.

Parrish was born at the Minter’s family Dallas County plantation near Sardis in 1861. She studied art at the Art Students League of New York before returning to Selma and marrying William Peck Parrish.

The couple moved to New York in 1890. While William worked on the New York Stock Exchange, Clara continued to paint and started stained glass design, eventually working for Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company.

Though her commissions included New York’s St. Michael’s Church, she also designed many windows for churches closer to home, including St. Paul Episcopal Church Selma, First Baptist Church Selma, Church of the Holy Cross in Uniontown and Christ Episcopal Church in Tuscaloosa.

She was left a widow at age 40 after William suffered a heart attack in 1901. She continued with her art, living in Paris, France for several years.

She returned to New York in 1914 and died there in 1925. She was interred beside William at Old Live Oak Cemetery.

Assistant director and architectural historian with the Mobile Historic Development Commission Cartledge W. Blackwell III will host Thursday’s seminar.

The Selma native is in the process of writing a book about Parrish and her work. The seminar will be free, with a limit of 45 seats available. A $10 box lunch will be available.

Sturdivant Hall board member Tamara Hanning said Cartledge knows a lot about Parrish’s art and life.

“He is very knowledgeable on Clara Weaver Parrish,” she said. “He’s going to speak on her paintings, which Sturdivant is very fortunate to house so many of her works.”

In addition, Blackwell will also discuss some of the Tiffany stained glass windows Parrish designed.

Last year, Sturdivant Hall held two seminars on gardening and floral arrangements. This year, the museum wanted to draw inspiration from the arts, Hanning said.

“We wanted something else that brought Sturdivant members and citizens who are not members of Sturdivant to realize what Selma really has to offer,” she said.

To reserve a seat, call Sturdivant Hall at 872-5626.