Press Release
May 1, 2019
Contact: Jennie Buchanan
Museum of the Western Prairie, Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 580-482-1044
jbuchanan@okhistory.org
www.okhistory.org/westernprairie
“Apron Strings: Ties to the Past” Exhibit at the Museum of the Western Prairie
ALTUS, Okla. — Visitors can explore the history of the apron through the exhibit “Apron Strings: Ties to the Past” now through May 25 at the Museum of the Western Prairie in Altus. Although taken for granted by many social and art historians, the apron is the subject of a fascinating reevaluation in this popular ExhibitsUSA exhibition. Featuring vintage and contemporary examples, the exhibition chronicles changing attitudes toward women and domestic work. It surveys the wide range of design and craft techniques apron-makers have used to express themselves, while still working within creative venues traditionally available to women.
Elaborately embroidered aprons were worn by well-heeled women in the 1920s. In contrast, the Great Depression and war years of the 1930s and 1940s inspired sturdy, calico bib aprons. The post-war 1940s and 1950s—the June Cleaver era—stand out as the acknowledged heyday of the apron, when intricately hand-decorated aprons flourished as symbols of family and motherhood. “Apron Strings: Ties to the Past” compares examples of aprons from these time periods, and includes contemporary samples.
The Museum of the Western Prairie is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located at 1100 Memorial Drive in Altus. For more information, please call 580-482-1044.
The Museum of the Western Prairie is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.
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