Date: Fri 26-Jun-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Quick Words:

Bruce-fashion-Dior-elegance

Full Text:

Elegance, Glamour And Style: An Artistic Fashion Show

(with cuts)

GREENWICH -- From July 1 through September 20, the Bruce Museum will present

its major summer exhibition, "Elegance, Glamour and Style: Fashion and Its

Photography." The museum is at One Museum Drive; telephone 869-0376.

The show will feature over thirty examples of outstanding fashion photographs,

along with the costumes they depict. Included are works from some of the

biggest names in fashion photography, among them Irving Penn, Richard Avedon,

Hiro, Horst, Baron de Meyer and Steven Meisel, as well as fashions by

internationally recognized designers Balenciaga, Dior, Vonnet, Poiret, and

younger talents Dolce & Gabbana.

"Elegance, Glamour and Style: Fashion and Its Photography" will give equal

importance to the actual clothing of fashion design and the way the photograph

depicts the clothing. The show has been co-curated by Caroline Rennolds

Milbank, a fashion historian and author of New York Fashion and Couture: The

Great Designers , and Nancy Hall-Duncan, the Bruce Museum curator of art and

author of The History of Fashion Photography .

"Fashion photography -- and fashion itself -- deals with social, cultural and

feminist issues," says Ms Hall-Duncan. "This show will, possibly for the first

time, deal equally with fashion and its depiction in photographs.

"We felt that by bringing the two disciplines of fashion and photography

together we could make a unique contribution to the field. The show also

explores what these photographs have to tell us about our society and its

concerns."

Spanning the 20th Century, from the early 1900 to the present, "Elegance,

Glamour and Style: Fashion and Its Photography" features photography and

costumes that have had significant impact on society. Issues such as women's

changing self-concept and sexuality are evident in the photographs.

The images also illustrate how fashion photography of women's clothing mirrors

attitudes by and about women, their concerns, their buying habits and

lifestyle.

The exhibition features such important photographs as Richard Avedon's "Dovima

with the Elephants of the Cirque d'Hiver" (Paris, 1955), which shows the model

Dovima in a form-fitting Dior gown loaned to the museum by the Kent State

University Museum.

The show also features Irving Penn's "Twelve Most Photographed Models," from

1947, a groundbreaking group portrait that captured the elegance and

sophistication of the clothing and the "look" of the period. The photo also

includes the model Lisa Fonssagrives, who later became Penn's wife.

Decades later the German-born photographer Helmut Newton captured the blatant

sexuality and sexual androgyny of the Seventies in his photographs, one of

which is also on display, of St Laurent's impeccably tailored pin-striped

suit. "Elegance, Glamour and Style: Fashion and its Photography" pairs these

and other significant photographs with clothing by important designers that

ranges from casual sportswear to ball gowns.

"This exhibition will feature several pieces that have become icons of 20th

Century fashion," says Ms Milbank, "beginning with many of the ethereal

Fortuny tea gowns that were immortalized by Proust in `Remembrance of Things

Past.' Dior's `New Look' will be represented by one of the most breathtaking

ball gowns ever made. And from the 60s, we have Rudi Gernreich's most shocking

creation: the topless bathing suit."

Throughout the exhibition, labels by Ms Milbank and Ms Hall-Duncan will

illuminate the numerous issues involved with each pairing of photograph and

outfit.

Related Programs

On Thursday, July 23, join curators Nancy Hall-Duncan and Caroline Rennolds

Milbank for a short lecture followed by a guided tour of the exhibition.

"Fashion for Breakfast: A Curator's Art Lecture and Gallery Tour" will begin

with coffee and pastries at 9:45, with the lecture to begin at 10 am.

Cost is $7 to participate, and reservations are requested; call 869-0376.

A "Dinner Lecture: Fashion Revolutions" will be presented Tuesday, August 4,

at 6:30 pm. Fashion historian Valerie Steele, who is the chief curator at the

Fashion Institute of Technology, will present a slide lecture on the evolution

of 20th Century fashions.

Cost is $50 per person. Cocktails will be served at 6:30 pm, followed by

dinner and the lecture. Reservations are by check only, which should be sent

to Fashion Dinner, c/o Bruce Museum.

In September, curator of art Nancy Hall-Duncan will again lecture on the

history of fashion photography. On Thursday, September 20, Ms Hall-Duncan will

present "Art Tea: The History of Fashion Photography," beginning at 2 pm. Her

lecture will be followed by a tea reception. Cost is $10 per person, and

reservations are necessary.

Children can also join the fashion fun of the museum's exhibition, with two

workshops. The first will be Wednesday, July 29, at 10:30 am. After touring

"Elegance, Glamour and Style," children ages 5 and up will be invited to

create their own pair of wild sunglasses during a program called "Wednesday

Workshop for Children: Crazy Summer Sunglasses." Cost is $5 per children,

which includes all materials. Reservations are required.

A Wednesday Workshop called "Couture Tee Shirts" will then be offered on

August 12. In this workshop, also beginning at 10:30 am, participants will

create their own high fashion T-shirt. Cost is $5, which includes materials,

and reservations are necessary.

Also At The Museum

In addition to "Elegance, Glamour and Style," the Bruce Museum has three

exhibitions already on view, one of which ends at the beginning of July, and a

permanent exhibition on display.

Through July 1, "The Middle Passage: White Ships, Black Cargo (Drawings from

the book by Tom Feelings" presents 50 drawings by the African-American artist

Tom Feelings detailing the importation of Africans from their homeland to The

New World. The drawings are mixed media creations, using tempera and pen &

tissue.

On view until July 26, "Women of Allah: Photographs by Shirin Neshat"

investigates many important and complex issues in today's society. An Iranian

artist working in New York City, Ms Neshat has compiled 12 powerful images --

gelatin silver photographs, some with hand calligraphy or hand coloring, all

in a large format -- which include the essential nature of women, the role of

Iranian women in society, and the use of violence with respect to women.

"Through the Eyes of A Naturalist," through November 8, is a chronicle of Paul

Griswold Howes' life and a look at the special relationship naturalists

develop with living things. Mr Howes was associated with the Bruce Museum from

1918 to 1996, first as curator and then as the museum's director.

"Through the Eyes of a Naturalist" includes a full tent reconstruction, rare

specimens from Mr Howes' collection, and some of his artwork. There is a

hands-on woodland diorama, a marine touch tank and a bird observation area,

all to help visitors realize the skills, tools and activities used by

naturalists today.

The museum's permanent exhibit is called "Changes in Our Land." The display

presents environmental history and science exhibitions, locally and globally,

with a minerals gallery, wigwam, woodland habitat and marine touch tank.The

museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm; Sunday, 2-5 pm.

Admission is $3.50 for adults, $2.50 for seniors and children ages 5-12; and

free for children under five. Admission is free for all visitors every

Tuesday.

The museum store is open during regular museum hours, and admission is not

charged to visit the museum store only. The museum is accessible to the

handicapped. Free, on-site parking is also available. For additional

information, call 869-0376.