Fashion and Function: Uses of Animals

Event Details

The Charleston Museum continues its Kidstory mini-exhibition series for children with a two-part exhibit called Fashion and Function: Uses of Animals. From peacock feather fans to ivory bracelets to beaver skin hats, the first part of Fashion and Function: Uses of Animals (January 18 - June 18, 2012) shows how animal skins, feathers, teeth and bone were incorporated into clothing, accessories and home décor, as well as the impact of their use in terms of poaching and the endangerment of animals. Fashion and Function concludes with a look at the functional uses of animal parts, including those practiced by Native Americans (June 19 - December 31, 2012). For more information, visit www.charlestonmuseum.org or call (843) 722-2996.

Fashion and Function: Uses of Animals was guest curated by a group of local home school students. This past fall, the Museum's Education Department conducted a special exhibit design workshop which culminated with the creation of this exhibit. Along with Museum educators and curators, eight families explored the museum's collections and developed a theme. Over the next three months the group determined exhibit content and title and wrote the exhibit labels for Fashion and Function. "The children participating in this program had the opportunity to go behind the scenes and learn the ins and outs of putting together a museum exhibition," explains Education Coordinator Stephanie Thomas. "Working at a museum is more than just putting stuff on display, there is a lot of behind the scene work that no one thinks about!," says workshop participant Josie Goff, age 14. The next exhibit design workshop for home schoolers will begin September 18; information will be posted at www.charlestonmuseum.org.

About Kidstory:
Kidstory is a hands-on, educational exhibit that teaches children of all ages the rich history of Charleston and the South Carolina Lowcountry. Interactive components and wall-length murals of the Museum's Dill Sanctuary and Heyward-Washington House, as well as other notable Charleston scenes, captivate children and promises to spark their love of history for many years to come. Admission to Kidstory is included with general Museum admission (free for members; $10 for adults, $5 for children 3-12, under 3 free)