1958 "Blowing a Kiss" photo of actress/model Barbara Mullen by photographer, Lillian Bassman
An exhibition that focuses on the social rituals of cocktail hour? Highballs and high art.
Count me in.
The upcoming exhibition "Cocktail Culture" at the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach is one of the first exhibitions to explore the cocktail hour as an art form - and an American phenomenon. The exhibiton debuts on Dec. 15 - just in time for the holiday party season. I wish I were in West Palm Beach to see this exhibition which features more than 150 objets d' art. But I will just have to visualize (and hope that others capture and blog) all of the chic fashion and art on display. "Cocktail Culture" will feature everything from clothing and accessories to decorative arts, illustrations and photography from the 1920s to the present. And it relates it to modern culture by highlighting iconic moments on the big screen such as the Audrey Hepburn's party du jour on 'Breakfast at Tiffanys,' and the cocktail hour as popularized by 'Sex and the City' and most recently 'Mad Men.' Recall my Chic Style Tips Q&A with Janie Bryant? With clothing by legendary designers such as Cristobal Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Jeanne Lanvin, Yves Saint Laurent, Tiffany & Co. Norman Norell, Valentino, Elsa Schiaparelli, Christian Dior and Van Cleef & Arpel it will most certainly be a fashionable affair. Think Tiffany’s sterling silver cocktail sets and cigarette cases. And cocktail hour fashion that ranges from 1920's sequin flapper dresses to ethnic chic caftans and hostess pajamas of the '70s, Christian Lacroix’s '80s pouf skirts and minimalist looks of the early '90s. For more info, SunSentinel.com has a great indepth article or check the museum's site Norton.org
“Cocktail Culture”
Norton Museum of Art
West Palm Beach, Florida
Dec. 15, 2011 - March 11, 2012
1925-30 Tiffany's cosmetic set with cigarette case
1964 fashion illustration by Fred Greenhill for Saks Fifth Avenue
1925-28 sterling silver cocktail set by Erik Magnussen for Gorham Manufacturing Company
1961 fashion illustration by Larry Salk titled "Summer Cocktail Party with English Butler."
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