Over the years, our studio has expanded to focus on a wide variety of exhibition installations and preparations. This includes handsewing velcro or sleeves for free hanging textiles, or customizing mannequins and creating bespoke undergarments for 19th to 21st century clothing, designing invisible rigging for contemporary fiber art, or rising 20 ft in the air to fasten a tapestry corner. Installations are active, collaborative and fun, and often span weeks.
Women in Contemporary Fiber Art, morphed into Subversive, Skilled and Sublime,
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington DC, 2024
One of CFT’s favorite projects of all time. Honored to be part of every step of this monumental exhibition.
Over 6 years, Covid pandemic, conservation survey of 75 fiber artworks, months of treatment and mount preparation, change in venue and curators…..the resulting show at the Renwick Gallery was visually stunning, happy and tactile, and historically encompassing in its representation of the early elders of explorative fiber art. Sheila Hicks, Olga de Amaral, Faith Ringgold, Lia Cook, Leonore Tawney, Consuela Jimenez Underwood, Kay Sekimachi, Catherine Westphal, Joyce Scott, Claire Zeisler, Neda Al-Hilali, Marguerite Zorach…..to name a few.
Grace of Monaco, Princess in Dior, Hillwood Museum, Gardens and Estate, Washington DC, 2022
40 exquisite fresh ‘modern’ ensembles by Christian Dior, from Princess Grace Kelly’s personal collection in Monaco displayed in an intimate gallery, for the first time in the US. Covering a range of daily wear to sumptuous evening dresses, each one is a couture masterpiece and reflects the importance of Princess Grace as a muse and iconic client of the house of Dior. This show became an international sensation!
Working in the gallery, over 2 months, the CFT team built and customized each mannequin to accentuate and celebrate the features of each outfit. Delicate laces, voile, silk charmeuse, satin, A-lines, fish tail hems were all carefully supported with customized undergarments and padding. At the end of the show, CFT reversed the scope of work, carefully undressing and dismantling each form and packing for shipment back to Monaco.
Olga de Amaral, Inter-American Development Bank
Limestone Cliffs, Riscos calizos, 1988, by Olga de Amaral, is a powerful landscape evoking the majesty of nature over man, and beauty of her native Columbia. A commissioned artwork for the IDB, the conservation process was guided and enhanced by direct communication with the artist herself. The monumental textile, made up of wool, cotton and horsehair strips, was carefully cleaned, repaired and reinstalled with conservation appropriate lighting.
Folger Shakespeare Library
Pride and Prejudice fans will recognize the iconic shirt worn, famously soaking wet, by Colin Firth, in the BBC’s classic 1995 film series. A dry mannequin stood in for the heartthrob at Folger Shakespeare Library’s exhibit, Will and Jane, drawing Shakespeare and Austen fans alike. The wedding bonnet, worn by the character Jane Bennet and whose exquisite detailing was seen in the opening credits and the finale of the film, accompanied the shirt.
The Warhol Look: Glamour, Style, Fashion
The quintessential show of Andy Warhol’s world of art, fashion, and glamour was toured internationally from 1997 to June 2000. Textiles ranged from couture to wearable art – clothing worn by Warhol, a thirty-foot long camouflaged cape by Stephen Sprouse, hand-painted leather jackets and a diamond dust encrusted t-shirt.
This comprehensive project entailed close collaboration with curators and designers for the flat and 3-dimensional display of over 100 garments, as well as the selection, customized preparation and installation of each mannequin. Conservation of the collections included cleaning, stain removal, repair and preparation for shipping.
