The Kentucky Museum – Upcoming Exhibits

This exhibit explores the significance of early white embellished textiles that have been largely ignored, undervalued, and misinterpreted. It also explores how whitework holds a “special place” within the cultural geography of textile making, connecting regional textile making with broader narratives of American women’s lives, political participation, and self-expression of identity during the formative years of the new United States.

Co-curated with Laurel McKay Horton, Margaret Ordonez, and Dr. Kate Brown, this exhibition explores and contextualizes whitework in American history and culture.

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History suggests that as “big business” started to take hold in the late 1800s, women became more involved in business and working outside the home. However, few women owned companies. Those that did were in industries centered on women, such as home goods, apparel, or personal care.

Today, women own only 40% of businesses in the U.S., making Carrie Burnam Taylor’s business of the early 20^th century that much more impressive. Curated with Dr. Carrie Cox, this exhibit will explore Taylor's life and work, displaying three of her dresses, two coats, two bodices, and various undergarments recently conserved thanks to our Adopt-an-Artifact program.

Learn More & Adopt a Garment