Thursday, August 5, 2010

Fashioning Kimono


Yesterday I was very fortunate to be able to photograph our newest exhibit at the Birmingham Museum of Art for this blog. My thanks to Director of PR, Nick Patterson, who kindly arranged the photo shoot.

This fascinating exhibit titled FASHIONING KIMONO: ART DECO AND MODERNISM IN JAPAN, opened last week and will run through October 10, 2010. The 97 stunning kimonos include formal, semi-formal, and casual kimono, haori jackets, and undergarments worn by men, women and children. They are drawn from the * Montgomery Collection in Lugano, Switzerland and are featured along with a selection of period photographs on loan from the International Hokusai Research Center in Milan.

As a photographer the colors patterns, and the striking way these beautiful garments are displayed makes this a must see. I plan to go back and have a very close look at each one as well as the wonderful black and white photography.

*This exhibit was organized and circulated by Art Services International, Alexandria VA.

( And just for the record, my first title for this post was......KIMONO TO THE BMA!)


18 comments:

Olivier said...

joli patchwork de couleur avec tous ces kimonos

steviewren said...

I've already been making plans to see this exhibit. Thanks for the preview.

B SQUARED said...

Sushi, anyone?

brattcat said...

I wish I had one or two of these hanging in my closet.

Daryl said...

Lovely.. now you made me wonder where the kimono my dad had, which he never wore, it was a gift, went ...

Nick Patterson said...

I should mention that Fashioning Kimono is organized and circulated by Art Services International, Alexandria Virginia.

And please come see for yourself what inspired Virgina so much!

Virginia said...

Thanks Nick, I'll add that to my text!
V

claudine said...

Quelles jolies couleurs ! Les kimonos sont tous différents et les tissus sont magnifiques! J'en achèterais bien un orange !

Virginia said...

Steviewren,
You must go!

Daryl,
These aren't your typical kimonos. They are so modern and fabulous.

B2,
NON! :)

BC,
I wish I had one hanging on my wall!

Olivier,
Oui!

Claudine,
Je comprend......tous!!! :)

Anonymous said...

How elegant.

WV: Reekt. No they didn't.

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

Virginia, I am so glad that you were able to photograph these. Tell Nick "thanks from me" and perhaps I will be able to get to B'ham to see this beautiful exhibit.

Chattahoochee Valley Daily said...

Kimono are really beautiful and you took some wonderful shots. I forward to seeing the rest.

We may have to run to B'ham to see the exhibit ourselves.

Bob Crowe said...

Sugoi!. (Japanese for amazing.) You know I'm a Nipponophile and we're going back next year. I would LOVE to see this show.

Virginia said...

B,
Kimono down here to Dixie!!! I'd love that.
V

Virginia said...

Genie,
You too Sistah!

Judy - So California said...

V, These are beautiful and I love how they've displayed them! Maybe we could have a group "meet up" and you could tour us around....good idea, huh?

Unknown said...

What a great collection! The patterns are fantastic.

TheChieftess said...

I love your first title choice!!!...Oh...and the kimonos are spectacular!!!