Remaking the Renaissance offers a fresh take on this iconic period of textile and fashion history, transforming the way we think about and see the cloth and clothing of the early modern period.
Looking at key textile innovations in the era c.1400-1700, Remaking the Renaissance suggests that objects and their histories can be restored and recreated through conservation and research. The material and technical innovations of the period, such as rich crimson velvets, elegant silk knitted stockings, delicate lace trimmings, and highly sculptured tailored garments, are refashioned through reconstructions and hands-on research. Rethinking the Renaissance anew, it also widens our understanding of the early modern textile world – showing how fashions were made, imitated, and disseminated among the wider population.
Demonstrating that remaking is an academic and creative research method, this exhibition shows how material loss and survival bias can be overcome through conservation, scientific testing, hands-on experimentation, and material and digital reconstructions. Remaking the Renaissance draws on the significant textile holdings of the Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection and new works from UW researchers, as well as key loans from across UW campus and from the European Research Council-funded Refashioning the Renaissance project.
This exhibition was developed with generous support from Susan J. and Harry C. Engstrom as part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring the Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection is ready for the next generation of students and scholars. Additional support comes from the Anonymous Fund.
Related Programs:
- February 22 – Harris 2024 Lecture – Mending in the Museum: The Professionalization of Textile Conservation
- February 22 – Opening Reception
- March 5 – Curator Gallery talk with Dr. Sophie Pitman
- March 7 –Remaking Lace: Gallery Talk with Elena Kanagy-Loux
- March 25 – Remaking Objects in the Classroom and the Museum: A Panel Discussion
- April 3 – Curator Gallery talk with Dr. Sophie Pitman
- April 6 – Plants Make Color!
- May 9 – Curator Gallery talk with Dr. Sophie Pitman
In the News:
- ‘You won’t see anything like it anywhere else’: UW-Madison exhibit showcases Renaissance textiles
- WKOW 27 News ‘Remaking the Renaissance’: An extended interview with the curator
- WKOW 27 News ‘Remaking the Renaissance’: Sustainability and conservation of artifacts
- WORT 89.9 8 O’Clock Buzz with Brian Standing
- WORT 89.9 Radio Chipstone with Gianofer Fields
