The Springfield Art Museum will host the inaugural “Box of Ghosts: The 99 Times Party” to support preservation of a historical textile collection discovered during the museum’s recent inventory. Staff discovered a number of exceptional dresses and other textile pieces, some dating back as far as the late 1700s. The Art Museum hopes to raise money to help preserve and provide better storage for these textiles. Museum Director Nick Nelson says the dresses "were given to the Museum by families. Some of these things were given in the 1930s and '40s. They were handed down from mother to daughter. Items that are this old need special care, special storage." The “99 Times Party” will take place Saturday Sept.27 from 6:00 to 9:00pm at the Art Museum, 1111 E. Brookside Drive next to Phelps Grove Park. The evening will include appetizers, beer, and wine provided by local restaurants, along with musical performances, a fashion show, and a one-night-only display of one of the historic evening gowns in the collection.
Nick Nelson says this is intended to be the FIRST annual "99 Times Party." The Museum came up with the name to refer to the idea that, if they hold this event annual for the next 99 years, "then we'll have preserved the museum's collection (of textiles) for another 100 years.
Tickets are $25 each and available by calling the Springfield Art Museum at 837-5700, or in person at the museum. For more information email artmuseum@springfieldmo.gov.
The Springfield Art Museum's current exhibit is "Maquette: The Sculptor’s Tool," continuing through through November 9. "Maquette: The Sculptor’s Tool" is based on the museum’s extensive collection of Ernest Trova maquettes, or working models, and is supplemented with work by contemporary artist Larry Young as well as work by Richard Hunt and John Henry. This exhibit explores the maquette, or model, as a sculptor’s tool and will compare a number of models with their finalized work. Visitors will be encouraged to view work both in the galleries as well as on museum grounds. The museum has installed a temporary outdoor bronze sculpture by Young in the front of the entrance for the duration of the exhibition.
For information call the Art Museum at 837-5700, or visit www.sgfmuseum.org.
