Wed, 18 Jun 2014
The Oakville Museum’s exciting new exhibition — 50 Shades of Black — will open for public viewing on Thursday, June 26, 2014, in the Main Gallery at the Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre, with a special opening reception from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Rehearsal Hall.
“The opening of this exhibition will kick off a broad array of great cultural events in Oakville this summer for residents and visitors,” said Mayor Rob Burton. “I encourage everyone to take in this culturally-rich collection in the Main Gallery at Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre.”
The collection, which includes 50 black dresses from the past 150 years, allows visitors to explore the historic journey of the grand dame of fashion colour from mandatory mourning garment to the fashion industry’s darling little black dress. Every dress in the exhibition has a story to tell about its origin, its owner and their shared adventures.
“How and when we wear the colour black has evolved through time; black can take you anywhere today,” said Carolyn Cross, curator of collections for the Oakville Museum. “This exhibition will take visitors through the changing symbolism of the shade in women’s clothing while sharing the story of why each featured dress became iconic in the Oakville community.”
The opening reception on June 26, 2014, will feature formal remarks, a cash bar and hors d’oeuvres. Space is limited. To reserve a spot, contact the Oakville Museum at 905-338-4400 or email oakvillemuseum@oakville.ca.
Residents are encouraged to submit their own “My Black Dress Story” to the Oakville Museum for a chance to win an Oakville Place gift card. Send stories and photos to MyStory@oakville.ca, tweet @oakville_museum, or post on the Oakville Museum Facebook page.
The 50 Shades of Black exhibition runs until September 14, 2014 at the Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre, 2302 Bridge Road.
Visit the Oakville Museum page for details.