Fashion Meets Chess Alexander McQueen World Chess Hall of Fame Exhibit
The World Chess Hall Of Fame hosts classes, workshops, tournaments, and exhibits about all things chess. Can you imagine visiting and finding a compelling fashion exhibit that is receiving world-wide press and attention? That is exactly what you’ll find when you pay a visit to their exhibit: A Queen Within: Adorned Archetypes Fashion and Chess, which features designs from Alexander McQueen and other designers.
I’d been looking forward to the exhibit since the St. Louis based organization’s executive director Susan Barrett previewed it on “Resale Royalty,” the reality television show based on Women’s Closet Exchange resale shop. I was not disappointed.
The queen on a chess board has more options for movement than any other piece, which makes her powerful. In the game of chess, as in real life, the game is won or lost by the moves a queen chooses to make. Combine this with the house of McQueen’s ready to wear Spring 2005 collection that was inspired by the game of Chess, and the exhibit was born.
Designs by McQueen and more than 20 other designers are used to explore the archetypes of real life queens from the Renaissance to modern times. These include the: Sage, Mother Figure, Magician, Enchantress, Explorer, Ruler, Mother Earth, Heroine and Thespian.
The galleries, on two floors, are intriguingly lit and staged. The curators use the designs to illustrate the qualities of the archetype they represent.
Each gallery is staffed by enthusiastic well trained young docents who are eager to explain why each piece was chosen for each archetype. No matter how obscure, they bring the curator’s vision to life, and each chosen piece makes perfect sense.
The World Chess Hall of Fame:
Location and Phone: 4652 Maryland Ave., St. Louis, MO 63108 314-367-9243
Hours:
Tuesday & Wednesday – 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thursday & Friday. – 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Saturday – 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday. – 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Exhibit Dates and Tickets:
Thru April 18th, 2014
Adults $10, seniors, students, and military $5, children under 5 and members are free.
Only a limited number of visitors are allowed in the gallery at one time, buy advance tickets on the website or call before you go to check availability.
