The Bard Graduate Center

Interesting exhibition about inhibition – women’s and men’s constricting clothing in the past. In a lovely brownstone with just enough to see to 1) not be too tired and 2) work up an appetite.
There was also a one-​room exhibit on technology: laptops, computers, and cell phones – showing what has already become obsolete.

I had the pleasure of visiting this wonderful art gallery again today. It is always a gentle pleasure to see beautifully curated exhibits in this lovely historic townhouse. Luckily I came for the last day of a retrospective of Barbara Nessim’s amazing art (3 floors of her work spanning more than 40 years!) The other exhibit was about picture, artwork, and maps from NYC in the early to mid 1800s.
So worth a visit!

I WENT TO THE BARD GRADUATE CENTER SPEFICALLY
TO SEE THE EXHIBIT OF HATS FEATURING THE WORK OF
STEVEN A. JONES, AMONG OTHERS, AND I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED! IN JUNE I HAD SEEN THE ALEXANDER
MCQUEEN SHOW AT THE MET AND THIS WAS AS GOOD.
AND WITHOUT THE CROWDS. THERE WERE HATS BY
STEVEN A JONES ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS, INCLUDING
CHRISTIAN DIOR, PHILLIP TREACY AND SCHIAPARELLI,
JUST TO MENTION A FEW. THERE WERE SOME REMARKABLE
CREATIONS-​OF HATS WHICH FEATURED A HIGH FASHIONSHOE
SET ON TOP OF A HAT BASE-​THIS, ALONG WITH ANOTHER, OF A COUPLE MAKING LOVE, WOULD BE A FINE ADDITION TO MY
COLLECTION. OF COURSE EVEN IF THEY WERE FOR SALE
THEY ARE ART AND THE PRICE WOULD BE PROHIBITIVE.
BUT I SALIVATED THROUGHOUT THE 3 FLOORS AND WHILE
THE POSTCARDS DO CAPTURE SOME OF THE STYLE AND
GLAMOUR OF THE CHAPEAUX, IT IS, OF COURSE NOT QUITE
THE SAM! But it is of no real importance-​this is a seminal exhibit
which was in London previously at the Victoria and Albert
Museum but which seemed quite appropriate on the upper
west side of Manhattan as well! The security personnel were
quite nervous as i made notes on my IHONE but they did not
intrude and the mood was truly magical! A fine collection of
books is available for purchase, but I stuck with the postcards,
which will have to serve as reminders of the glory of head wear!
How any woman can consider herself elegantly attired without
a hat is beyond me!

The Bard Graduate Center: Studies in the Decorative Arts, Design and Culture is like a mini-​museum which hosts some really interesting exhibits. I went there a while back to see a show that was on several floors about Marimekko fabric design, which was fascinating. I also bought the catalogue for the show from their miniature book store. Since then, I have stayed on their mailing list and have gotten notice of great jewelry shows, fabric exhibitions, lectures and every once in a while, a day where they just have a festival with different events. For example, upcoming is «Obi, Oh My» — a kimono-​dressing and obi-​tying demonstration. Sounds interesting!