The Lois Jett Historic Costume Collection (LJHCC) in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences at Illinois State University invites the public to the collection’s new exhibition, Fuse: The Influence of Art on Fashion, running through January 25, 2019.
Fuse focuses on how different styles of art throughout history have influenced fashions from the 1920s to the early 21st century. The exhibition was planned and installed by students in the fashion design and merchandising program at Illinois State. From the Greek civilization, circa 850 B.C.E., to graffiti art popular from the 1970s to today, garments and accessories representing 14 different art styles are on display. Exhibition lead curators Evelyn Ekstrom ’18 and Veronica Glatt ’18 planned the exhibition space to move guests chronologically through time and art styles through the gallery.
“Some garments in the exhibition reflect art movements that were popular at the time the garment was constructed,” LJHCC Director Jennifer Banning said. “We have a wonderful example of an art deco-influenced flapper-style dress on display. The black trim and beading against a beige background are reminiscent of art deco skyscrapers built during the same period.”
Additional examples worn in their respective art periods represent psychedelic art of the 1960s and contemporary folk art of the 1970s. Other garments take inspiration from art movements from the past. While impressionism reigned in the mid-to-later 19th century, dresses from the 1960s and 1970s display the soft visual effects of the style.
This free exhibition is located in 126 Turner Hall on Illinois State’s campus and is open to the public.
An exhibition reception will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 24, in 147 Turner Hall. Curators will discuss the background and installation of the exhibition with time afterward for guests to tour the exhibition. The event is free and open to the public.
The LJHCC was created in 1962 by Lois Jett, a professor in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences. Over the years, the collection has expanded to more than 2,000 items of men’s, women’s, and children’s dress and related artifacts dating from the 1840s to today.
Gallery hours are Monday 1:00-3:00 p.m. and Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. through December 7, 2018. To schedule additional times Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., contact Jennifer Banning.
