Past Exhibitions

Higbee Gallery | Linda Öhrn-McDaniel Concept, problem solving and material process are the fundamental starting points for all my creative work as a designer, artist and educator. The act of exploration and discovery consistently inspires me to create new ideas. Narrowing my field of options in theme or color expands the need to use craft technique, fit or surface design to solve creative issues within each garment. A primary example of this approach is the circles and hearts that feature prominently in this exhibition.

Alumni Gallery | Sara Hume, Curator The image of women at the seaside in elegant white gowns was a popular subject for Impressionist painters. This exhibition explores the reality of summer tourism with a selection of actual garments of the style that would have been worn near and at the beach between 1865 and 1915. The practice of vacationing was once the exclusive domain of a wealthy elite and did not become accessible to the middle class until the mid-nineteenth century.

Broadbent Gallery | Sara Hume, Curator  You refer to Annie’s mourning dresses. She wore black at the funeral, but so many deaths are now occurring at home and in the army, that black apparel is not so generally worn as formerly. It is not pleasant to wear somber black for long periods, and besides it is far costlier than before the war.  — Mrs. Thomas J Anderson to Mrs. James H Anderson. Marion Ohio, Dec 8, 1863  

Stager and Blum Galleries | Noël Palomo-Lovinski, Guest Curator  The exhibition "Sustainable Fashion: Exploring the Paradox" is a comprehensive look at sustainable practices in fashion. The multi-billion dollar fashion industry is in a powerful position to make significant changes to the social and physical environment that we all live in. The problems in creating clothing are overwhelming and systemic in all facets of production, retail, maintenance and then disposal, causing a crisis for environmental concerns.

Higbee Gallery | Vincent Quevedo  Our physical and emotional states are layers upon layers of independent planes stacked but separated in opaque and sometimes translucent elements that make up who we are.  These layers build character that defines the uniqueness of an individual.  Sometimes, these layers build a visual facade concealing internal elements.  My work is about exposing the internal elements and revealing the parts that make the whole.

Alumni Gallery | Sara Hume, Curator  The Kent State University Museum’s collection of costumes is already one of the finest in the country, and it continues to grow and improve thanks to the generosity of our donors. The objects on display in the Alumni Gallery through October 2011 have all been given to the Museum since 2002 and have been selected because they attest to the great diversity and exceptional quality of the objects that are accepted into the collection.

Broadbent Gallery | Jean L. Druesedow, Director    Katharine Hepburn (1907-2003)

Tarter/Miller, Palmer, and Mull Galleries | Sara Hume, Curator What drives an individual to acquire ever more objects of a certain type? Some people collect out of a specific interest – Chinese art or first edition books. Others collect to fill their homes with beautiful things, things that demonstrate their taste and refinement. Once these collections find their way to museums, often their original coherence is lost.

Stager and Blum Galleries | Sara Hume, Curator  The Kent State University Museum is proud to present this exhibition drawing from its extensive collection of clothing and textiles from India in order to highlight the dynamism, flexibility and variation of the nation's culture. Beyond the impressive assortment of historic garments, which are remarkable examples of "traditional" Indian dress, a sizable portion of the collection was produced in India for the western market.