*********** CSA E-News Volume 2 No. 14 October 15, 2003 Edition Costume Society of America http://www.costumesocietyamerica.com CONTENTS: 1. Exec Comm Previews Houston 2. Bibliography 3. Martin Award Submissions Sought 4. Beadwork 5. Nomination Deadlines Approaching 6. Macedonian Miracle 7. Reminders! 8. Theatrical Houston 9. Member Activity 10. Weddings & More 11. Requests From Members 12. New Book on WWD 13. Luxury Textiles Part Two 14. Social Seduction **************************************** 1. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE PREVIEWS HOUSTON CSA President, Donna Locke reports that in September, the Executive Committee (the CSA Officers) held their fall meeting in Houston at the Warwick Hotel -- our site for the 2004 Annual Meeting and Symposium. Other officers attending were Barbara Broudo, Jacqueline Fields, Rosalyn Lester, Kay King, Joy Emery, Kathy Mullet, Trish Cunningham, Loreen Finkelstein, Kathi Martin, Vicki Berger and National Office Manager, Kaye Kittle Boyer. All received a full, wonderful preview of the many attractions that Hot, Haute Houston has to offer. After tours of museums, famous sites & architecture (and tucking in a little shopping), the leadership committee took care of CSA business and will make their report at the Board of Directors meeting in late October in Minneapolis. Thanks to you all for the work you do for the membership. **************** 2. BIBLIOGRAPHY An annotated bibliography of costume print and media resources is now available at http://www.wmich.edu/library/vrl/costume_bib/index.html. It is sponsored by Miranda Haddock and the Visual Resources Library at Western Michigan University. CSA members are welcome to submit titles to be included in the bibliography. A link to the submission forms can be found at the lower right portion of each page on the Website. Any questions, please contact Miranda Howard Haddock at mailto:miranda.haddock@wmich.edu. *********************************** 3. MARTIN AWARD SUBMISSIONS SOUGHT This from committee chair, Margaret Spicer: CSA members are invited to submit entries by January 15, 2004 for the third RICHARD MARTIN AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE EXHIBITION OF COSTUME. Eligible are exhibitions open to the public during any part of the 15-month period between October 15, 2002 and January 15, 2004. At least one exhibition team member must be a CSA member. Up to two awards for 2004 will be presented at the Houston Symposium where recipients will give slide talks on the winning exhibitions. Each presenter receives $500 for travel and symposium expenses. See the CSA Website at http://www.costumesocietyamerica.com/GrantsAwards/richardmartin.html for more detailed information. ************ 4. BEADWORK As part of the "African Spirit Series" at the Baltimore Art Museum, "The Beaded Prayers Project" will be on display from November 12, 2003 - February 29, 2004. This is a collaborative international art project inspired by traditional African amulets. On November 16, 2003, discover amulet traditions from the African diaspora and throughout the world in a slide lecture by Sonya Clark, Baltimore fiber artist and director of "The Beaded Prayers Project." Lecture at 1 pm; workshop from 2:30-4 pm at the Museum. See the website for more details: http://www.artbma.org. ************************************ 5. NOMINATION DEADLINES APPROACHING A. BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Would you like to nominate yourself or someone you know for the CSA Board of Directors? November 1st is the postmark deadline. Please be in touch with David Newell or Claudia Iannuccilli, co-chairs of the CSA Nominating Committee, for nomination forms or questions: David at mailto:david.newell@chs.state.co.us or Claudia at mailto:CPIan@mfa.org. B. FELLOWS: November 30th is the deadline for nominations for CSA Fellow, the highest honor bestowed by CSA on a member. The purpose is to recognize the dedication, commitment, leadership and outstanding contributions of members of CSA. For details and application protocol: http://www.costumesocietyamerica.com/GrantsAwards/fellow.html. ********************** 6. MACEDONIAN MIRACLE This from Naeda Robinson of Carmel, CA who has been working for several years with an Ethnographic Museum in Bitola, Macedonia. "I first saw their unusual and fascinating collection of 'Traditional Macedonian Dress' when it lay in cloth-wrapped bundles on the floor, on shelves, on trunks (full of more textiles) and on any other flat surface -- sharing space with all nature of farm implements, mannequins, pots, jars and baskets in a 'Depot.' The Depot was a large, dreary, but dry room in a section of the Museum. "Through various grants -- starting with a one-year Earthwatch grant in 1995, and continuing in 2000 with a Travel Research grant from CSA -- much has happened. The collection is now stored in made-to-measure cabinets, the Depot has been made into a research/study room, the minimal collection information has been entered into a computer and the Museum staff has been trained in its use." Naeda is now back in Bitola to arrange for publication of the research information in two forms: one will be a CD as a research tool and the second will be a book with pictures and narratives collected in the villages which will be for a more general audience. She welcomes inquiries about information on the treasures that are housed at the Museum. Contact her at mailto:naedabr@aol.com. ************** 7. REMINDERS! A. AUCTION ALMOST HERE: Karen Augusta reports that the upcoming Vintage Clothing & Textile Auction from Charles Whitaker Auction Company promises to be their best vintage auction to date! The two-day sale is October 28 & 29, 2003 in New Hope, PA. The auction curator adds: "Most of the lots in the amazing array originate from three large sixty-year-old collections and three U.S. museums, with all pieces new to market. Especially strong in this sale are 19th century garments in impeccable condition. There is also a group of superior textiles, including four Aubusson panels and a rare 17th-18th century Ottoman wall hanging." For the first time, the Whitaker Auction will have on-line bidding available for some of the catalogued lots. Check the website http://www.whitakerauction.com for photographs and a printable catalog with other auction details. B. TEXTILE CONSERVATION CONFERENCE: Claudia Iannuccilli tells us that there is still time to register for the fourth biennial North American Textile Conservation Conference, "Tales in the Textile: The Conservation of Flags and Other Symbolic Textiles," November 6-8, 2003 in Albany, NY. The Keynote speaker will be Dr. Laurel Thatcher Ulrich. For more information about the NATCC conference or to register, please contact Ruth Potter at mailto:Ruth.Potter@oprhp.state.ny.us or 518-237-8643. ********************** 8. THEATRICAL HOUSTON The 2004 Houston Symposium ARMCHAIR TOURS will include Theatrical Costume Designs! The popular Charleston Symposium ARMCHAIR TOURS of Exhibitions will be continued at the 2004 Symposium in Houston and ARMCHAIR TOURS of Costume Designs for Theatrical Productions are invited as well. Exhibitions of costume, as well as costume designs for a theatrical production, dating from October 1, 2002 may be presented in slide or digital formats. The ARMCHAIR TOURS will take place on Thursday afternoon, May 27. Applications are available on the website at http://www.costumesocietyamerica.com or from the National Office at 800-CSA-9447. Slide and LCD projectors will be provided. Computers will be available. ******************* 9. MEMBER ACTIVITY A. For two weeks in September, Kathi Martin, our busy CSA Vice President of Technology, was in Paris consulting with the Musee de la Mode and the Paris American Academy on digital archiving systems for historic costume collections. She was also in Antwerp with the Flanders Fashion Institute regarding post-graduate course work for international students. One of Kathi's projects back at Drexel University is the Drexel Digital Museum Project - Historic Costume Collection, where she is Director. See http://digimuse.cis.drexel.edu and be dazzled! B. EL PUEBLO HISTORY MUSEUM: David Newell of the Colorado Historical Society has been working in Pueblo, CO on a new CHS museum facility. He reports: "It opened in mid-September as part of the local Chili and Frijoles Festival. We had about 300 people at the ribbon cutting ceremony. My staff and I lived on site for two weeks and worked eleven and twelve hour days to get the 3000 square foot gallery done, packing nine interpretive themes into the space. Pueblo was known as "the Pittsburgh of the West" and immigrants traveled from 47 different countries to work the many smelters and steel mills. An interesting ethnic mix." No actual costumes, but some great period photographs and great history! See http://coloradohistory.org/hist_sites/Pueblo/Pueblo.htm. C. ALPACA APPEAL: This from Elizabeth Mehlschau Potter: Earlier in the month the Fashion Design and Merchandising Programs of Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, CA hosted the Central California Alpaca Association. What began as a special event for the Introduction to Fashion course on textiles expanded to include the history of Peruvian textiles for other classes as well. Local ranchers brought alpacas to the event and artisans, dyers, spinners, and weavers were there to demonstrate their skills. Commercially made products were displayed to show the end uses of the fiber. For more info, contact Elizabeth at mailto:EM1FASHION@aol.com. D. INDONESIAN TEXTILES: Ida Gunadi, a former student of Barbara Broudo and new member of CSA, reports that she and two friends have recently founded the Indonesian Textile & Fashion Development Center in Bandung, Indonesia. They have gotten great feedback from the local textile industry about marketing projects they have done -- Bandung alone has more than 800 textile and garment factories. Ida says that part of their mission is to start international projects. Contact Ida for more information at mailto:ida_gunadi@hotmail.com. ******************** 10. WEDDINGS & MORE A. COSTUME GALLERY: The DuPage County Historical Museum in Wheaton, IL presents "Draped, Pleated & Fringed: Women's Dress of the 1870s & 80s" in its recently renovated Costume Gallery. According to Senior Curator, Steph McGrath, eight period mannequins feature day dresses, wedding ensembles, a reception dress and outerwear. They are viewed in context with period furniture upholstery and window drapery styles. The wedding ensembles provide an opportunity to compare an 1880 formal wedding dress worn for a large church wedding, an 1882 day dress worn for a small church wedding, and an 1883 day dress worn for a home wedding. The exhibition continues through April 2004. Exhibit photos available on Museum website: http://www.dupageco.org/museum. B. ORDER YOUR CALENDARS: Don't forget the 2004 Historic Fashions Calendar "The Wedding Dress" is available at a 25% discount price to CSA members. Call the National Office for more information: 1-800-CSA-9447. Order now for holiday gifts and support CSA publication projects! ************************** 11. REQUESTS FROM MEMBERS A. MARKETING VOLUNTEERS: Loreen Finkelstein, Vice President for External Affairs, is seeking volunteers with marketing skills to help her with a promotional project for CSA. Anyone interested can contact Loreen at The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, 757-220-7077 or mailto:lfinkelstein@cwf.org. B. DONATION: Karen Augusta of "Antique Lace & Fashion" is in contact with a woman who wants to donate two 1870s wedding dresses (one brown, one tan) from her ancestors in Fulton County, IL. Karen suggested a study collection, given there are some condition problems. Any non-profit institution interested in accepting these two wedding dresses, please email Karen at mailto:oldlace@sover.net. C. BRIDAL RESEARCH: Cornelia Powell is working on a bridal mythology book and is using vintage photographs. If you have wedding photographs in your institution's archival collection -- or just one from a personal family collection -- please let Cornelia know at mailto:cpowell@corneliapowell.com or 404-261-6653. She is using photos from various eras and fashion styles that evoke a compelling story. ******************** 12. NEW BOOK ON WWD Fairchild Books announces a new title by new CSA member Michele Wesen Bryant, "WWD Illustrated: 1960-1990s." In this book, Michele examines fashion illustration as art and how the Fairchild staff artists captured the spirit of what was fashionable at the moment and in doing so created a rich visual history of four fashion decades. Also, Michele is attending this year's ITAA meeting in Savannah and presenting a slide presentation based on the book on November 8, 2003 at 9 pm, following the opening reception. Contact Olga Kontzias at Fairchild Books for more information: mailto:Olga.Kontzias@fairchildpub.com. For details about the ITAA conference: http://www.itaaonline.org/index2.html. Michele's book is available through the CSA Amazon Bookstore at http://www.costumesocietyamerica.com/Bookstore/bookstorepages/1970s-1990s.htm ***************************** 13. LUXURY TEXTILES PART TWO Dale Gluckman and Sandy Rosenbaum inform us that the second installation of LACMA's "Luxury Textiles East & West" exhibition is about to go up. "Luxury Textiles East and West: Dress and Identity" begins October 30, 2003 and runs through July 5, 2004. The first of the three "Luxury Textiles" installations, ending this month at the Los Angeles museum, was a big hit. See http://www.lacma.org for more info. ********************* 14. SOCIAL SEDUCTION Opening February 27, 2004 in the Betty Rymer Gallery at the Art Institute of Chicago, "Social Seduction" celebrates 15 years since the Fashion Resource Center at AIC was established. The exhibit will integrate sound, text and varied media installations, linking fashion to the multi-sensory responses it provokes in society. See http://www.artic.edu/webspaces/socialseduction.