The Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising at Colorado State University plans to host three exhibitions in Spring 2024. These will feature tie-dye art, Mary Frances Handbags, and the unseen details of clothing. The exhibitions, sourced from the Avenir Museum’s collection, will be open from February to July.
The Resist exhibition, open from February 13 to July 30, will display over 50 items showcasing the art of tie-dye. Curated by Paula Alaszkiewicz, the exhibition will present tie-dye practices from various regions including India, China, Japan, Peru, Guatemala, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, and West Africa. It will also cover popular DIY methods.
Alaszkiewicz describes tie-dye as a technique where patterns are created on cloth during the dyeing process. This is done using different methods to stop the dye from spreading on the cloth. The exhibition will include explanatory text and show the links between the items and their dyeing techniques.
The Fancy Flourish exhibition, open until May 4, will display 99 handbags by San Francisco-based designer Mary Frances. Curated by Megan Osborne, the exhibition will present Frances’ love for nature, travel, and music through her designs. The handbags, collected by local resident Cecilia Stevens, feature various textures and patterns, such as flowers, peacock feathers, and fish scales.