Queens Tribune

Upon entering the gallery at the Central Library in Jamaica, one cannot help but be impressed by the extraordinarily unique costumes on display. In this multimedia exhibit called “Cultural Redress: Reinterpreting Fashions from the Index of American Design,” eight contemporary artists give a new and fresh interpretation of the social, historical, and cultural aspects of fashion from the library’s permanent collection of watercolor drawings.

The Index of Design was created in 1935 and was part of the nation’s Federal Art Project, of the Works Progress Administration. This project hired unemployed artists during the Depression era to document the cultural history of the U.S. from the colonial period to the end of the 19th century. The Library’s own collection includes many works from these artists during that era, but its main concentration focuses on costumes, drawings, and furniture.

Among the new works of art displayed include: Elizabeth Sturges Llerena’s beautifully designed linen dress inspired by the framework of “Ruggiero Pierotti’s dress of about 1750.” Llerena’s work “What ‘s Hidden Underneath,” depicts her ancestry’s involvement with the slave trade. Photo transfers of her ancestor James DeWolf are printed all around the outer layer of the dress, and as you peel away to the inside layer, you see the images of the people who suffered through the hardships and pain of slavery. This powerful and strong piece is representative of Llerenas shame of her ancestors being a part of the slave trade, the truth being hidden away and the after effects of “slavery’s legacy”.

Anne Polashenski piece Bourgeoisie Obliteration (18th c. Brocade Dress) inspired by the watercolor drawings “A Dress of Cream Colored Brocade Silk Worn Between 1770-80,” and “Fragment of Block Printed Cotton 19thCentury,” explores the idea of how an individual’s identity is erased from the picture and merges with the pattern.

The exhibit includes photography by Kambui Olujimi, and works by Selma Karaca, Jody Culkin, Juana Valdes and Stefany Anne Goldberg. Curator Juliana Driever and the eight participating artists should be commended for putting together an educational, inspiring exhibit that encourages one to reinterpret fashion in a new and enlightened way.
The exhibit runs through Jan. 14. The hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday from noon too 5 p.m. It is closed on holidays. For further information call (718) 990-8665, or visit the Web site at queenslibrary.org/gallery.