In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of May 4, 1970, when Ohio National Guardsmen opened fire on Kent State University students protesting the U.S. invasion of Cambodia during the Vietnam War, killing four and wounding nine, students and faculty from Kent State’s School of Fashion Design and Merchandising are bringing attention to current social issues in the new exhibition called “Wearing Justice: Perspectives From KSU Fashion School Faculty and Students” that is on display now at the Kent State University Museum. The exhibition runs through May 31, 2020.
“Wearing Justice” uses student- and faculty-made designs and fashion to create a dialogue about social justice, political discourse, conflict resolution, war and peace. The exhibition features designs that directly address the reverberations of May 4, while others focus on today’s global concerns from gun violence to climate change to corporate greed. Kent State Fashion School assistant professors Chanjuan Chen and Sue Yoder curated the exhibition, and Amanda Pecsenye, a curator at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, served as the exhibition’s juror.
The museum hopes “Wearing Justice” sparks conversations about the significant role fashion plays in social activism.
“The garments and textiles not only prod us into conversations about social activism, but also remind us of the power and deep significance carried by what we wear and how we wear it,” expressed Sarah Rogers, director of the Kent State University Museum.
The museum is holding two gallery talks for “Wearing Justice” from 2-3 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13, and Friday, Oct. 18, featuring Kent State Fashion School faculty members as they discuss their inspiration and process behind their designs. These events are free with a Kent State ID or included with paid general admission for the public.
For more information about the 50th Commemoration of May 4, visit www.kent.edu/may4kentstate50.
About the Kent State University Museum
The Kent State University Museum is located at 515 Hilltop Drive, at the corner of East Main Street and South Lincoln Street in Kent, Ohio. It features more than 30,000 pieces in its collection, amassed from many generous donors. The museum is open to the public on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursday from 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; and Sunday from noon-4 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and $4 for children ages 5 to 17. The museum is free for children age 5 and under and for those with a Kent State ID. Sunday admission is free for all ages. Parking is free for all museum attendees. Patrons should use the allotted museum spaces in the Rockwell Hall parking lot. For more information, please call 330-672-3450 or visit www.kent.edu/museum.
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Media Contacts:
Brittani Peterson, bpeter12@kent.edu, 330-672-2714
Eric Mansfield, emansfie@kent.edu, 330-672-2797