By Dale Peers,
Now that the (chalk) dust has settled – back-to-school is always busy and exciting – it is time to return to my blogging. The new, academic year always seems a bit like the January New Year feels – a time for fresh resolutions, and embarking on new plans or at the very least, new to-do lists. (I once came across something that was called an “Accomplished List” rather than a to-do list, don’t you think that is so much more positive?). Let me share with you what we have accomplished to-date and what we intend to do.
While folks may think everyone who is in an educational or academic role is “off” for summer vacation that is not the reality. Summer is certainly quieter at the college but we are by no means “closed.” In fact, the Fashion Resource Centre continued to be used by our summer faculty teaching the Evolution of Fashion subject and enjoying the use of our fabulous garments in our History Lab.
Our large window in the “Fashion” hallway – aka 4th floor D building had a display of truly contemporary design work. Four of our students who have now entered their third and graduating year of the Fashion Arts program were featured with some of their proposed design concepts, target customer boards, colour/mood boards and sewing samples for their final collections. All of these will be officially shown in April 2015.
In July I was pleased to attend a day- long planning session for the Fashion History Museum (FHM) which our long-time friends Jonathan Walford and Kenn Norman have been working so hard on for the past decade. Light is appearing not just at the end of a tunnel but in Hespler, Ontario (formerly a town and neighbourhood within Cambridge) where we hope to be recommending everyone interested in all things historical and fashion related to visit. Dates and program information are on our list to bring to you once we receive confirmation.
The FHM opened, “Street Style: Fashion and Architecture in Waterloo County 1853 to 1973 at the end of May. The exhibit runs until January 4th 2015 and presents historic scenes of Waterloo County situated behind era appropriate fashions.
The FHM will also collaborate with Toronto’s Design Exchange on an exhibition entitled: Politics of Fashion – Fashion of Politics. The exhibition, guest curated by Jeanne Beker with Design Exchange curator Sara Nickelson will explore how fashion and politics have not been such strange bedfellows from the 1960s to the present. One item sure to be on display is a 1960s era paper dress with Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau’s face on it. The Seneca Fashion Resource Centre also has one of these fragile paper dresses!
Our great Fashion Digital Photography project continued during the summer months and we spent one day filming segments we hope to air over the coming year. These “vlogs” (video blogs) are intended to bring you closer to elements of our Fashion Resource Centre collection. We have a bit of editing to take care of first and filming a few more segments over the coming year are both on our “Accomplishments” list. If there are topics you would like us to focus on or items you would like a closer view of please send us a comment.
Also on the list – plans are underway to work with Elise Dintsman and Ainsley Bateman from the Faculty for Continuing Education on a display for Women’s History Month in October. More details to follow.
And last, but not finally – (I for one find this fact very hard to believe) this year marks the Silver Anniversary of our collection. The Seneca School of Fashion faculty officially launched the Seneca Fashion Resource Centre during the 1989/1990 academic year. Thus 2014/2015 makes 25 years! Exciting opportunities exist to celebrate this, not the least of which will be our annual display in May. I have some ideas about how we might celebrate this milestone and welcome your requests.
As is generally the case with the lists I make they are always longer than I anticipate. And, I have no doubt that for each item checked off as “Accomplished,” this year we will add twice as many.