What a fabulous exhibit! Two full rooms of mostly exquisite lace, needle, Binche, chantilly and a Russian(?) piece too. It is certainly fulfilling for me to see lace displayed on a par with the rest of the art at a major Art museum. Really lovely ways of displaying the pieces should be noted. The bottom of a priest's robe was mounted on a large rectangular "block" at eye level. Three of four lappets on a slanting base with the backs exposed, several pieces of costume (shawls (of course), a cap and at least two bodices and a beautiful fan), an umbrella without his skeleton was lovingly displayed on a slight cone shape, slightly tilted toward the eye to gain the best advantage. I think I remember someone saying there was over 50 pieces of lace on display.
The presentation was magnificent, but even better was the signage. Extreme close-ups of ground stitches (where the thread was the size of clothesline rope) and very well researched descriptions. Little anecdotes and interesting lace tidbits were placed in little pouches strategically place about the room. (The bags were significant because the Cone sisters stored their lace in bags like these, an example is included in the exhibit.) The BMA (Baltimore Lace Museum) has done a fantastic job integrating lace into the rest of the museum with two large contemporary installations by an artist named Piper, who cuts these lace designs out of muslin with an exacto knife. They hang in a room near the Textile room and in the windows of a hall near the gift shop, which just might be the main entrance. There is also lace and lace related articles for sale in the Museum gift shop. Yes, you heard me correctly, lace (handmade antique, contemporary bookmarks made by CRLG members and, I think I saw some machine there as well....) and lace books and, well you get the picture. I'd say this was a must-see for anyone who can possibly make it. Really it IS worth a trip to Baltimore. I may go back again. Photography of the lace is permitted with out special equipment and without a flash. The Piper installations are original art work and cannot be photographed, but there is a book in the gift shop with some of the Piper pieces in it. I had a fabulous day and would like to congratulate the CRLG on an astounding coup in the art world. I understand this was the idea of Aurelia Loveman, who deserves as many kudos as we can heap upon her. Extremely visible for me (as an outsider, I'm sure there were many other contributors) as well was Cynthia Comeyne (Happy Anniversary, Cindy) and Mary Tod (who was so integral as someone said, "Ask Mary, she'll know. If she doesn't know, no one will." I'd like to personally thank Betty Ann Rice who generously gave me her registration when her plans were changed. Lace in Peace, Laurie ------------------------------------------ Laurie J Hughes Metro Boston, Massachusetts Bobbin lace, social history, gardening "When I grow up I want to be a housewife." ------------------------------------------ - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
