Shoes at the Shipley Art Gallery
Shipley Art Gallery, Old Durham Rd, GatesheadSept 2nd, 06
After a few days recovering from jetlag and a head cold, and having consumed mass quantities of tea I was able to get out. One of my favourite places as a child and a teen was the Shipley Art Gallery. They had a great exhibit called " The Agony and the Ecstasy". What made it particularly interesting is that they didn't break down the shoes into periods and label the age, but had them displayed mixed together. At times you couldn't tell if you were looking at a shoe style from the past or the present. I thought it clever really, as it made your really examine the shoes. One shoe in particular seemed like an old shoe until you really examined the materials. It is 2006 and I am still seeing some girls wearing these vintage styles LOL!
Here is a link to the The Bata Shoe Museum which has some great pics of shoes from around the world.
Looking at the beautiful but tiny lotus shoes it is hard to imagine anyone's foot being able to fit in.
Comments
Since then I have seen shoes in art alot and just an increase in interest in them in general. Kind of makes me think we were ahead of the curve. But that seems to be the way it goes, either ahead or behind, never spot on! Sigh. :-)
Where does one go to find that spot?
Jan, that sounds like it was fun, would have enjoyed seeing that. Not sure why the radio show would bash the museum for putting the show on. Looking at shoes there is a whole history behind them that is more than just about fashion, but then maybe some people are just too narrow to understand that. The art of making a shoe and what culture it spring from is fascinating really.
as for the spot on jan, I wish I knew LOL!
Glad you enjoyed the Shipley, I adore shoes and I'm afraid it's even spread to my daughters now! LOL
Have a Blessed Week
That Madras Curry was hot:)
See you looked up the cultural history of the lotus shoe!!
Looking forward to your updates.
Loving you and missing as always
your sis aka ThE PHoEnIx
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I know what you mean about always being ahead or behind. When we bought our house 6 years ago, I was looking for a certain style chair...they are just coming out with them now!
Great post today!
Did you know Steve Wadzinski? He passes away about a month ago...he was my art teacher at UWGB and was involved in all sorts of art shows.
Very interesting post...can't imagine foot binding, anymore, I need super comfortable shoes for my sanity.
The feet binding article was very interesting. It is just amazing to me what women will do to make themselves "beautiful"! Personally, I love shoes, but I prefer to go barefoot as much as possible.
Thanks for visiting my blog and for the kind comments about my paintings!
Welcome back!
You left just in time for the weather to go pear-shaped, anyway!
The shoe art was interesting. Once, many years ago, my brother had me paint his Keds paisley. That was my first shoe art. He was always a little different.