wow! Thanks to the person who mentioned this exhibit at the LA County
Museum of Art (LACMA).
Drove to LA today with a friend, and had a lovely time. Never knew the
La Brea Tar Pits were right there by LACMA, so we happily detoured to
admire boneses and tar pits for awhile.
Then, on to LACMA. Fashioning Fashion is an exhibit with only a modest
attempt at a timeline; costumes are displayed by theme, whether men's
or women's fashions. The examples are sumptuous and displayed on
mannequins, within easy camera distance and no intervening glass (for
the most part). Some of the accessories are behind glass. Some of the
costumes have mirrors to the side or behind so you can admire
different views of the garments.
I think I photographed 95% of the garments on display. It's so very
nice now that I don't have to change rolls of film. I really burned
pixels this afternoon! The exhibit appropriately is not strongly lit,
but with judicious breath-holding I was able to get some very nice
shots.
One surprise was a delicious bright red pair of ladies' hose from the
18th century. They were knit in silk with a fine denier, looking much
like modern t-shirt knit, and heavily embroidered (clocked) in gold.
The surprise was the construction. The fine knit fabric was literally
sewn down the back. The heel seam was a right angle and continued
underneath the heel, ending at the back of the instep. Not much
relation to the way in which I knit my own socks, and I have tried
some historic patterns. I'll be able to describe more when I upload my
potos.
It appears to me that any ambitious sewing person could fashion these
stockings, if she/he wanted to embroider badly enough to have some
luscious clocked stockings. . .
The catalog of the exhibit lacks nothing, and if you can afford the
$55, it is sumptuous. The usual coffee table size. I'll probably buy
it once it's remaindered, but for now, my photos will suffice.
We then saw the exhibit "India's Fabled City: the Art of Courtly
Lucknow." Mamma mia- more loveliness. Since I don't do exotic
costuming, I could just enjoy this one for its beauty. This was mostly
art-on-walls, with a few artifacts. Still, a very nice exhibit indeed,
with lots of primary source "miniature" paintings in the style of the
Mogul courts.
My eyes now refuse to stay open, having been exercised considerably
with all that eye candy!
If you're able to see Fashioning Fashion before March 27th, when it
goes away, do so. Highly recommended. The only photography restriction
is "no flash," so that will make many of us happy campers.
BTW, the small cafeteria on site has good food, too. Museum's open
most nights til 9, gift shop til 8.
Just GO.
http://www.lacma.org/art/ExhibFashioningFashion.aspx
== Marjorie Wilser
=:=:=:Three Toad Press:=:=:=
"Learn to laugh at yourself and you will never lack for amusement." --MW
http://3toad.blogspot.com/
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