April 10, 2026 – February 26, 2027
Human Ecology Building (HEB)
Corner of 89th Ave & 116 St NW
University of Alberta North Campus
Opening reception on April 10, 2026, from 4:00 to 5:30 pm
Co-curated by Dr. Megan Strickfaden and students from the Material Culture in Practice (HECOL 469) course
No one gets dressed everyday in public, but everyday we get dressed to be viewed by the public. The objects and textiles that inhabit private spaces are crucial components of dressing, even if they are rarely displayed, because they work as the scaffolding of the external individual. Our bodies mediate our physical experiences and our understanding, aided by the private dressing practices and tools which we rely on. In the art of getting dressed we navigate the politics of our bodies, in which we intentionally or unintentionally blend influences. Through this process, we negotiate a private dressing sequence culminating in a public appearance. By acknowledging the material objects that conceal the secrets of the self, we seek understanding of the public version we present. This exhibit invites you to dive into the stories told by the objects and spaces illuminated or hidden to others. As the light falls upon us, the careful negotiation of our public and private selves begins.
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