Two exciting and colorful exhibitions will delight visitors of all ages at the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma this fall.
Art of the Aloha Shirt: Keoni of Hawaii, 1938–51 is on view through September 11, exploring the history, artistry, and production of Hawaii’s enduring fashion statement, the aloha shirt. See original design sketches and paintings, fabric swatches, and beautiful vintage shirts while you learn the story of John “Keoni” Meigs (“Keoni” is Hawaiian for John).
Although the exact origins of the aloha shirt are unknown, there has been no more innovative merchandiser than Keoni of Hawaii. Meigs was a self-taught painter whose talent inspired the early shirt manufacturers in Honolulu. In 1938, he created his first designs, concentrating on Polynesian tapa patterns inspired by the originals he had studied at the local Bishop Museum.
In Meigs’ words, “In a sense, aloha shirts put Hawaii on the map. The first thing people did when they arrived was make a beeline for a department store to buy one . . . I always tried to be a purist when it came to using motifs from Hawaiian sources.” Art of the Aloha Shirt was curated by Dale Hope, a Hawaiian native and second generation veteran of the garment industry, and organized by ExhibitsUSA, a program of Mid-America Arts Alliance.
Beginning October 6, leap into the magical world of animation with a traveling show from Stage Nine Entertainment Group! THE ANIMATION ACADEMY: From Pencils to Pixels will be at the History Museum through January 12, 2023. Immerse yourself in the wizardry that goes into animated movies and television, and get unprecedented access to archival examples from the top animation studios. See 3-D models and collectibles from the industry and films that have made history, along with original artwork from the classics. Interactive stations and hands-on activities will bring out your inner animator!
A dazzling six-foot zoetrope, a pre-film animation device, shows classics such as The Simpsons, Felix, and Gumby. Theories of animation past and present are explained, from 2-D peg board animation to 3-D stop motion, claymation, model work, and computer-generated imagery. There’s a sound experience where you can listen to audio effects in a traditional cartoon too.
Washington State History Museum
washingtonhistory.org