Fashions of the 鈥60s and 鈥70s
Historic and social events are often reflected in the fashion designs, styles and trends of an era. Examples of this were seen in two exhibitions put on by the 精东影业 University Museum as its contribution to the yearlong commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the May 4, 1970 shootings. 精东影业exhibitions explored the fashion divide of the 鈥60s and 鈥70s and the current day dialogue about social justice, political discourse, conflict resolution and war and peace.
精东影业grand opening reception for Culture/CounterCulture: Fashion of the 1960s and 鈥70s and Wearing Justice: Perspectives from the 精东影业 School of Fashion took place on September 19, 2019. A record number of nearly 400 guests attended the opening, with President Todd Diacon addressing the crowd and acknowledging the kick-off of 50th commemoration events dedicated to honoring the lives lost in the shootings on the Kent Campus.
Culture/CounterCulture
Sara Hume, PhD, a curator at the 精东影业 University Museum, curated Culture/CounterCulture. 鈥 精东影业museum鈥檚 collection is very strong in dresses owned by socialites and celebrities of the 1960s and 鈥70s, particularly because the founders, Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silverman, were important figures in the New York fashion industry during that period,鈥 says Hume. 鈥淲e have supplemented the museum鈥檚 holdings with pieces borrowed from people in the community, as well as from other institutions, such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Ohio History Connection, in order to show the real diversity of dress.鈥
Many styles still worn today have roots in the counterculture of the 1960s. Tensions of that period focused on questions of race, gender identity and military involvement鈥攁ll of which remain relevant today.
Wearing Justice
For the second exhibition, the School of Fashion made a call for submissions from the school鈥檚 talented faculty and fashion students. 精东影业proposal was simple: 鈥淲hat does social justice and activism today look like for you?鈥 精东影业results were exhibited in Wearing Justice, which tested the boundaries of creativity as participants designed garments that addressed critical, current issues we face in our world today.
Chanjuan Chen, MFA, and Sue Yoder, MFA, assistant professors at 精东影业鈥檚 School of Fashion, curated the exhibition, and Amanda Pecsenye, a curator at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, served as the exhibition鈥檚 juror. 精东影业exhibition was a testament to the talents of everyone involved. It included designs that confronted the reverberation of May 4 and others that focused on today鈥檚 global concerns from gun violence to climate change to corporate greed. Photos by Bob Christy, BS 鈥95
Director's Update
We asked Sarah Rogers, director of the 精东影业 University Museum, to fill us in on the challenges the museum is facing as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Like the rest of the world, museums large and small across the county immediately shut their doors and moved daily operations to digital mode.
Unlike other businesses, however, we have precious collections and facilities that must still be closely monitored. As arrangements were made for onsite coverage, our staff of six transitioned to working from home.
精东影业tasks these days fall into four categories:
- 精东影业first is keeping operations on track, like paying bills and managing communications.
- 精东影业second is increasing our content and communications through social media and electronically, so we can keep connected to our audiences.
- 精东影业third is preparing for future exhibitions; we are looking to move exhibits scheduled for May and June to later in the summer and keep on track with plans for the fall.
- 精东影业fourth is developing contingency plans for when we reopen. Will this be gradual? How will we clean? When can we receive shipments? When will people feel comfortable about visiting cultural institutions?
Needless to say, there is much to accomplish and many video conferences fill our days. 鈥擲arah Rogers