KSUM exhibition

NATIVE AMERICANS THROUGH THE PRISM OF CULTURE: EDWARD S. CURTIS & THE LEGACY OF COLLECTORS

Palmer and Mull Galleries | Dr. Anne Bissonnette, Curator As we gaze upon others, we can learn much about ourselves. Like a beam of light distorted through a crystal prism, our understanding of other cultures is filtered through our own. The inherent transparency of a lens does not infer obj…

INNER SECRETS: JAPANESE MEN'S HAORI

Blum Gallery | Jean L. Druesedow, Director The traditional formal costumes of Japanese men in the modern era continue to reflect an aesthetic that developed as a result of strict sumptuary laws promulgated during the late Edo Period in the eighteenth century. These edicts forced the wealthy …

CHARLES JAMES

Alumni Gallery | Dr. Anne Bissonnette, Curator   The body of work created by Charles James from 1926 until his death in 1978 has become a touch stone in the history of fashion. Distinctive, colorful and extreme are terms that describe both the clothes and the creator. While much coul…

VIONNET 2007

Stager Gallery | Dr. Anne Bissonnette, Curator In August 1939, Madeleine Vionnet (1876-1975) presented her last collection in Paris before closing her house of couture. At the age of eleven, she had become a seamstress' apprentice and had discovered the gift of her hands. Talented, inquisiti…

AMERICAN CREATOR SERIES: DEAN HARRIS, JEWELER

A love of the natural world and a reverence for the materials he uses has led Dean Harris to create sculptural jewelry that has struck a cord with his clientele since the inception of his company in 1998. His graceful approach produces organic shapes, fluid lines and geometric compositions that are …

LACE: THE ART OF NEEDLE AND BOBBIN

Higbee Gallery | Jean L. Druesedow, Director When Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silverman donated their collection of costume and decorative arts to Kent State University, they included an extensive group of fine laces, some of which had been collected by Shannon's mother. Two additional gifts h…

OSCAR DE LA RENTA: AMERICAN ELEGANCE

Broadbent Gallery | Jean L. Druesedow, Director From the moment he discovered his passion and talent for fashion design, Oscar de la Renta created elegant day and evening wear for discerning women. He has never lost sight of the woman who will ultimately wear his creations or her lifestyle, …

FIGURED AND FANCY COVERLETS IN THE KENT STATE UNIVERSITY MUSEUM COLLECTION

East Gallery | Jean L. Druesedow, Director By the second quarter of the nineteenth century, handwoven wool and cotton coverlets kept many Americans warm at night and brightened the beds of the young nation with bold, colorful designs. Often in shades of red, white and blue, utilizing patriot…

CRAZY QUILTS IN THE KENT STATE UNIVERSITY MUSEUM COLLECTION

Stager Gallery | Jean L. Druesedow, Director Directions for making crazy quilts first appeared in ladies' magazines in 1882. They were the first style of quilt for which commercial patterns were widely available. Kits cold be purchased containing a variety of silk fabrics and embroidery thre…

OBJECT LESSONS: AUTHENTICITY IN AFRICAN ART

Palmer and Mull Galleries | Fred Smith & Jordan Fenton, Guest Curators Establishing authenticity for African art objects has been a concern of academics, museum curators, collectors and gallery dealers for more than fifty years. The continuing scholarly fascination was reflected in the 1…