Black History & Culture: BLACK PRESENCE. PROFOUND INFLUENCE. (Bethany Arts Community [Leaving March 8th])
This is the 4th installment of this exhibit, which has earned its accolades. The focus is on Black impact throughout American history, in Ossining and beyond. In the first gallery, mannequins depict the beginnings of Black presence in America, from African tribes to surviving the middle passage to cotton fields in the American South. From there we can see a classroom brought to life, recognizing the efforts of Booker T. Washington and Julius Rosenwald. A desk and a mannequin give a glimpse into the life of Phillis Wheatley, renowned poet and first African-American to publish a book of poetry. A scene from Sing Sing Prison, Black regiments of the Revolutionary War, artifacts of the Great Migration and the Harlem Renaissance are brought to life throughout the exhibit. The journey ends in Black influence today, all around us, from Sesame Street to music on the radio.
Women Dressing Women (The Met [Leaving March 10th])
The Anna Wintour Costume Center presents the visions for womenswear of over seventy female fashion designers from the early 1900s to today, Elsa Schiaperelli to Rei Kawakubo. There are four elements to the exhibit: I. Anonymity, II. Visibility, III. Agency, IV. Absence/Omission, each representative of the unique struggles that female designers must confront. Women are often discredited and forgotten for their contributions in the fashion industry, some simply aren’t seen, and many have pushed boundaries and experimented to reclaim autonomy and recognition. Protection and recognition, of course, are not blind and designers of color have faced additional barriers.
These elements influence one another, and while progress continues, this beautiful and thought-provoking exhibit wraps up as Women’s History Month begins and is a great way to start learning about the history of fashion.
The Orchid Show: Florals in Fashion (NYBG [Now through April 21st])
Continuing on the train of fashion, New York Botanical Garden has brought three talented New York designers to create stunning displays for their annual orchid show. The Enid A. Haupt Conservatory is lovely on any given day, but it is transformed into something breathtaking with hundreds of orchids, from tiny Ecuadorian orchids in a glass case to giant Cattleyas in the color of a sunset. I spent over two glorious hours peering at every species and marveling at the displays. There’s something for everyone to enjoy!
Coming up:
- The Harlem Renaissance and Transatlantic Modernism (The Met [Now through July 28th])
- Hudson River Explorers: Prints by Holly Sears (Hudson River Museum)
- The Secret World of Elephants (AMNH)
- After the Golden Age: Movie Musicals Since 1955 (Jacob Burns Film Center [Mar 10 – Apr 21])
- End of Fossil Fuels (NYC Climate Museum [Through April 30th])
