Here’s a rare opportunity—for just 14 participants—to work beside curator Elizabeth Lay, collections manager of the Montgomery County Historical Society, as she prepares beautiful vintage gowns for display in an upcoming exhibition focusing on Prohibition and the Roaring Twenties.
Begin the day by putting on a pair of curator’s white gloves as you join Lay in the conservation lab to examine a collection of 1920s beaded gowns destined for display.
Participants get a close-up look at stunning period beadwork as they assist Lay in carefully examining each dress, searching for damage, and generating a condition report. As you work, Lay discusses each gown, its style and construction, and its place in the history of 1920s fashion. She also offers an overview of her work as a curator, and the specialized role of a textile conservator. Afterward, the group repacks the dresses for storage.
Take a short walk to intimate French bistro Ev and Maddy’s in Rockville Town Center, where a special lunch prepared by chef Patrick Pak is waiting. The meal includes a charcuterie platter with pickled vegetables from the restaurant’s garden, followed by seasonal lunch selections.
The afternoon focuses on exhibition preparation, as Lay discusses layout and lighting, covers display issues related to the gowns, and talks about the special challenges in mounting an exhibition in the circa-1815 Beall-Dawson House, the headquarters of the Montgomery County Historical Society. The group helps prepare mannequins for the dresses, using the day’s knowledge to consider how to best support the vintage textiles and limit stress on the fabric.
Lay is a graduate of the Smithsonian-Mason master’s degree program in the history of decorative arts.
Program limited to 14 participants
One 5-hour session
Comfortable shoes and clothing is recommended; keep jewelry to a minimum. The location is four blocks from the Rockville Metro station.
