Events: Apr - Jun 2008

In the Loop: Highlights of the Montse Stanley Knitting Collection’

‘In the Loop: Highlights of the Montse Stanley Knitting Collection’ is the first exhibition of the collection in its permanent home. It explores the cultural and social history of the craft and its significance for scholars and practitioners alike. Patterns, books, magazines, tools, photographs and knitted objects from 1800 to the present day combine to reveal the riches and unexpected dimensions of this nationally important collection.

Contact/Email: For information about the exhibition programme in the Special Collections Gallery, visit www.archives.lib.soton.ac.uk.

The Costume Society creates
Midsummer Magic in June 2008

A Costume Society: Small Museums Visit, a unique opportunity to see the costume collection at Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery with a magnificent 18th century dress in a painted silk.

Charleston House and Garden in Sussex, the perfect starting point to explore Bloomsbury in Sussex with Virgina Woolf’s home, Monks House in the village of Rodmell and the murals painted by Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant at Berwick Church.

See the 2 events below.

Small Museums Visit - Royal Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery

We continue our series of visits to small museums with a visit to Tunbridge Wells. This is a unique opportunity to visit a fascinating collection of costume that includes an exquisite eighteenth century dress of painted silk: there is also a splendid collection of dolls. The costume collection amounts to a few thousand items. Some of these will be on display and others will be made available to our group. The Museum and Art Gallery also has the largest and best collection of Tunbridge ware. This stylised form of parquetry, originally introduced in the middle of the seventeenth century and extremely popular throughout the following centuries, was used for games boards, work-boxes, dressing-cases, trinkets and portable writing desks.

11.30 a.m.: Jo Wiltcher, Curator will talk on some of the eighteenth and nineteenth century items of costume not on display demonstrating the quality and breadth of the collection. Members not familiar with the collection will gain an overview of this treasure trove: the day will probably stimulate individual research using the collection in the future. There will be time to view the many architectural and shopping delights of Tunbridge Wells including, of course, walking in the famous Pantiles.

Please note: there are no facilities available at the library. Refreshments can be found in cafes in Mount Pleasant Road and Calverley Road close by.

Travel directions and maps will be sent with your tickets. This event is the day before the study day Art Beyond the Gallery, Clothes Beyond Fashion: Design and Dress of the Bloomsbury Group at Charleston House. You may wish to spend a delightful weekend in Sussex and book for both events. Imogen Stewart has generously offered help with suggestions for local bed and breakfast accommodation.

Contact Imogen by email imogens@btinternet.com.

A study day at Charleston House and Garden in Sussex:
Art Beyond the Gallery: Clothes Beyond Fashion; Dress and Design of the Bloomsbury Group

As midsummer gathers momentum here is an opportunity to join the Friends of Charleston and mix magical moments with them among the glories of Charleston House, the Bloomsbury Group’s summer house and vibrant garden in Sussex, and celebrate and reflects the artistic talents, wit and originality of those who have lived there.

We are all aware of the writings, paintings and creative decorative work of the Omega Workshop, but how is this reflected in the way this unique group of creative people dressed? Did their clothes reflect fashionable trends or did they reflect their own counter-culture ideals?

The Society offers an afternoon at Charleston House to enjoy these tantalising issues. The day will consist of a light lunch with time to enjoy the beautiful garden full of vibrant flowers, pond and sculptures. Papers will be presented in the afternoon, in the Barn, a wonderful rustic setting by a group of eminent speakers. This is then followed by a tour of the Charleston House with a specialist guide to view the creative decorations to the interior of the house and furniture which was to inspire the setting up of the Omega workshop. The afternoon concludes with tea

Speakers:
Lou Taylor: Professor of Dress and Textile History at the University of Brighton.
Dress and Textiles Designs of the Omega Workshop and Charleston House as a Counter- Culture 1900-1939

Cressida Bell: One of Britain’s foremost contemporary studio-craft textile designers, retailing in the UK and USA, moving her family’s design tradition into the 21st century.
Fabric, Fashion and Decoration

Anna Buruma: Museum administrator at Central St Martins School of Art and Liberty’s archivist

We will provide maps and information on public transport and even bed and breakfast suggestions on ticket application. Charleston House is not easy to get to but the effort will be more than worth while. Imogen Stewart has offered to help with information on both transport and B&B in the area. Imogen would prefer you to email her on imogens@btinternet.com

Tickets
Please make cheques payable to The Costume Society, and send, with SAE to Costume Society Bookings: 10, The Orchard, Locking, Weston-Super-Mare BS24 8DU

Choda two- day Conference
DRESS & THE NATURAL WORLD CONFERENCE PROGRAMM

Tickets
See booking form