August 15September 15, 2013 Milam Hall Corridor (2nd floor) Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon
Exhibit Catalog The School of Design and Human Environment Presents 2
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Forward 4 Exhibit Planning and Installation Credits 5 Introduction 6 Bridesmaids Dress of Vicki Menard 9 Bridesmaids Dress of Damon Family12 Paisley Wrap Skirt of Natalie Menard 15 Wedding Veil of Margaret Reeves 18 Ring of Emily Damon 20 Sicilian Ring of Martin Family 22 Promotional Flier 24 Press Release 25 Table of Contents 4
In the inaugural offering of DHE 399: Dress, Museums, and Popular Culture at Oregon State Univer- sity, students were given the opportunity to design an exhibit that incorporated dress and popular culture (i.e., the interpretive process of creating experience through dress in the museum space). The whole class worked together as a team, separated into five smaller committees, to prepare the dress exhibit that is chronicled in this catalog. This exhibit depicts the popular culture of the mother- daughter relationship and sharing of dress from mother to daughter. The exhibit is special because it is comprised of the objects owned by students and instructors. That is, the objects contained in this exhibit represent the lived experience of those who used their time and energy to create it. We are so proud of the work that the students have produced!
We want to extend special thanks to Student Multimedia Services at Oregon State University and Alex Trevigne for his wonderful photography contributions. Many thanks to all of the family mem- bers that assisted us in gathering the garments, photographs, and oral histories that add so much richness to this exhibit. Also, thank you to Dr. Elaine Pedersen for her guidance on this project, as well as the use of display space and support materials for student use in the exhibit.
We hope you enjoy this unique view into the lives of mothers and daughters, as told through dress.
Best,
Forward 5
Exhibit Planning and Installation Credits 6
The mother-daughter relationship is an important part of popular culture and especially influential when it comes to dress. When we are young, we like to play dress-up in our mothers clothes. When we get older, we are eager to pick out our own clothes and wear what our mothers would never let us wear. As adults we want to wear clothing that reflects our individual- ity and sense of self. Some of these items turn out to be the dress that our mother wore.
Whether its a dress our mother made, jewelry passed down through gen- erations, or even some of her favorite outfits that are now coming back in- to style, we can represent that special connection and feel close to our mothers. These items are unique and can be upcycled to become a part of your everyday wear.
This exhibit was created by the students of DHE 399: Dress, Museums, and Popular Culture. It is dedicated to the most stylish women we know-our mothers. Introduction 7
Popular culture is the culture of mass appeal.
It reflects the value of the majority and recognizes societys multicultural values. Oral history reveals the lives of ordi- nary people, and allows us to have a more in-depth under- standing of a specific time or place. We can use the oral history provided by our mothers to have a greater apprecia- tion for their life experiences and value their sense of self.
I realize then how little we know of our parents when they were our age, even after we pry their stories from them. Try- ing on my mother's dress offers me another glimpse and helps me understand, in a physical way, part of her life. This dress tells me we really are a perfect fit.
Hua, V. (2004). Young woman puts herself in her mother's dress. San Francisco Chronicle, p. F3.
Introduction, cont. 8
Childhood is an important time to define identity and the relationship between mother and daughter is a central part of the process. Our notions of femininity are revealed through the creation of our identity through fashion, and ul- timately we learn how to be women from our mothers. This process of socialization based on clothing preferences stems from the mother-daughter relationship that is negoti- ated through clothing and then redefined into adulthood.
"The mother's position is therefore informed by their own cultural and life experiences that in turn shape the way in which their daughters' view certain issues such as fash- ion...the mother-daughter relationship is an extremely im- portant influence on a young girl's life.
Rawlins, E. (2006). Mother knows best? Intergenerational notions of fashion and identity. Childrens Geographies. Vol. (4)3. 359-377. Introduction, cont. 9
Womens bridesmaid dress, ca. 1996. Magenta -colored, above the knee with capped tulip sleeves. Courtesy of Natalie and Vicki Menard.
Front of dress Back of dress 10
My mom made this dress for her sister's wedding in 1996. My Aunt Kathy wanted to choose a pat- tern that wasn't too complicated and that easily could also be worn to other functions. My mom mentioned recalling the new trend of bridesmaid dresses being more versatile, allowing the dress to be worn multiple times to diverse events without being known as merely a "bridesmaids" dress. -Natalie Menard 11
This dress is sentimental to me because I always remember playing dress-up in it as a kid, and wanting to be able to wear it. I essentially wanted to look as beautiful as I remember my mom look- ing on the day of my aunt's wedding. Around 17 years later, I can now fit into the dress and am anxiously awaiting the day I can wear it to an ap- If anything, the magenta bridesmaid dress is a representation of my sewing hobby being handed down to me from my mother just like the dress. 12
Womens bridesmaid dress, ca. 2000. Pink- colored satin, below the knee, with tulle petti- coat. Courtesy of Emily Damon. 13
My grandmother made this dress for my aunt Jennifers wedding in 2000 (pictured at left). She made eight of them. It was also worn in my other aunts wedding. It has been in my grandmothers closet since. My grandma has been a wedding dress seamstress for the past 10 years and has re- cently retired from sewing wedding dresses for other peo- ple. My little cousins have enjoyed playing dress up in them in the bridesmaid dresses that my grandma has made over the years. I remember playing dress up with all of my aunts old dresses that hung in my grandmas closet. My grandma has also tried to teach me how to sew, but I have never re- ally caught on other then mending the simple button. -Emily Damon
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My little cousins have enjoyed playing dress up in them in the bridesmaid dresses that my grandma has made over the years. I remember playing dress up with all of my aunts old dresses that hung in my grandmas closet. My grandma has also tried to teach me how to sew, but I have never really caught on oth- er then mending the simple button.
This dress (pictured below) was passed down to me to wear as a junior bridesmaid in my Aunt Julies wed- ding. I think I was around twelve years old. The wed- ding was held on a rooftop in Brea, California in 2004.
-Emily Da- Emily wearing the pink dress as a young girl 15
Womens wrap around skirt, ca. 1990s. Navy, purple and white paisley with ties. Courtesy of Natalie Menard. Tank top for photo ensemble courtesy of Jennifer Mower. 16
My mom remembers buying this skirt because she loves bandanas and blue, although she can't remem- ber where she bought it it may have been a thrift store purchase. She initially thought it would be cute to wear over her bathing suit for trips to the river. Be- fore she passed it down to me, she remembers wear- ing it last on a hot summer night with a white cotton camisole (which is actually what I have also paired with it a few times). Interestingly, the white camisole had belonged to her mom, who passed down many summer tops to my mother. My mom remembers buying the skirt in the late 90s and wearing it to many music festivals, where she recalls the skirt trying to fly open when she would dance. I now wear the skirt with a few safety pins attached to the skirt, in order to avoid this very scenario. Natalie Menard Natalie (far right) wearing a dress of a similar print as a young girl at an outdoor gath- ering with her mom and twin sister, Kathleen 17
This wedding veil was worn in the 1977 wedding of Margaret and Frank Reeves in Los Alamos, New Mexico. The veil (and accompanying dress) were custom made by Mrs. Vera Rauchfuss, also of Los Alamos, for the wedding. Photographs provided by Genna Reeves-DeArmond and Margaret The bridal veil of Margaret Reeves worn by daughter Genna Reeves-DeArmond for her wedding rehearsal
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This is the wedding veil worn by my mom, Marga- ret Reeves. It was original- ly made with an accompa- nying wedding dress by Mrs. Vera Rauchfuss, a neighbor from down the street when she was growing up. The dress and veil had been chosen from a bridal magazine in 1977 (pictured at above). Vera was so talented at sewing that she was able to make the dress from a magazine pic- ture without a pattern. My mom provided a head- piece to which Vera sewed the finished veil. It was a truly custom, original and special piece for my mom. The magazine advertisement that Gennas mom used as a template for her wedding dress and veil. 19
My mom told me in August 2013 that she had hoped her daughters would wear her wedding dress and veil one day because it represented a special day for her. My mom explained to me that it was nice to see me wear it for one of my special days. My mom also appreciated that she saved it and it was actually worn again because, as a frequent shopper at thrift stores, she values the idea of recycling and making an old item new again. My mom thought it was neat that I asked for her veil to wear at my wedding rehearsal be- cause she may not have thought to offer it for use. It was a way to creatively add something borrowed and something old to my special day and have my mom more front and center on my wedding day. -Genna Reeves-DeArmond Genna chose to wear the veil for her wedding rehearsal and re- hearsal dinner in preparation of marrying Richard DeArmond on July 13, 2007. 20
Emily received this ring from her grandma on her 16 th birthday. Emilys grandma was bestowed this ring on her birthday from her parents when she was a little girl. Emily continues to wear this ring on special occasions like her prom. This is Emilys favorite piece of jewelry and she plans on passing it down to her future granddaughter. Photograph Emily Damons Ring Passed Down from her Grandmother as a Rite of Passage 21
Dear Emily, So hard to believe that you are 16. Seems like you were just a sweet new baby. This ring I got from my parents when I was 16. Now that I am 67 the ring is 51 years old. I decided since you are my frst granddaughter turning 16 you should have it. May be someday you can give it to your 16 year old granddaughter. Love you very much Grandma Emilys grand- mother wrote a letter (pictured at right) that was given to her with the ring.
Read the letter to find out more about their special bond. 22
A gold-set diamond ring. Made in Sicily, Italy in 1923. Photographs provided by Joseph Martin. Capturing True love and Perseverance with a Cherished Sicilian Ring in the Martin Family 23
This ring is from my great grandmother who passed away several years ago from a broken heart four months after my great grandfather died. It was brought over by her and her family from Sicily, Italy when she came to Ellis Island in 1923. The ring has a lot of sentimental value to my family and I because of its history and also because of our love for our great grandmother. My mother used to wear the ring as a memorial piece until the gold started to become worn and it has be- come antique and the stones are be- coming loose. Joseph Martins mother wearing the ring 24
Promotional Flier 25
Press Release Sentimental Recycling Exhibit The students of DHE 399 have come together to create an exhibit that illustrates the sentimental recycling of dress from the lives of OSU stu- dents and their mothers. Items have been donated from generations of Oregon State students families to illustrate the sentimental value and history that each garment holds. Join us in the journey of explor- ing the history and nostalgia that is depicted in each garment. Engage with our exhibit by telling us your own story of clothing you own that has been passed down in your family. The exhibit will be open for viewing from August 15 to September 15, 2013 in Milam Hall in the display case directly across from Milam 236/224. Bring your friends and family and join us in the free event. Throughout summer session 4, students of DHE 399:Dress, Museums, and Popular Culture have learned the significance of dress in Western museums and how to curate a museum exhibit successfully. As a class, the students of DHE 399 came together to brainstorm ideas for a mu- seum exhibit and were put into various committees to work together to curate this exhibit.
Press Release Submitted to OSU Today:
Sentimental Recycling Exhibit: The students of DHE 399 present their final museum exhibit pro- ject to the public for viewing. The exhibit illustrates the sentimental recycling of dress from the lives of OSU students and their mothers. The exhibit will be open for viewing from Aug. 15 to Sept. 15 in Milam Hall in the display case directly across from Milam 236/224. Free. 26