Catching God’s Eye: The Language of Hats — An Interactive Fashion Show!

475 Valley St,Providence RI 02908

21 August, 2021

Description

The Grand Tradition of the Black Church Women's Hats A Celebration of Style, Leadership and Righteous Rebellion Designer Everett Hoag and Yemi Sekoni of Donahue Models will be your tour guides through the event-filled decades of the 20th Century’s changing styles in fashion and hats. Early on African American women wore flamboyant hats made from beautiful, brightly colored materials. While they wanted to revere God, obey the scriptures, and complement their Sunday’s wear, they also intended that the exquisite design of their hats would catch God’s eye. It was a silent prayer they hoped would reach heaven and God. Many black women of a certain age still do not enter a church for Sunday services dressed, as the elders might say, "any ole way." And that means wearing a proper hat. Wearing a crisp-cut outfit and matching hat may make you feel more powerful than you think. Not only does it change the way you feel… the way you see the world, it also changes how other people perceive you. Wearing a hat subtly conveys key priorities. It shows that you care about how you present yourself and your priorities of rebellion, independence, and self-expression. Till this day, African American women compliment on beautiful hats with the phrase ‘trying to catch God’s eye’. Hats are fun and there is more to a stylish hat than pure function. Even if you are not aware, your hat is revealing a tale. Consequently, whatever you place on your head can change your view of the world and how the world views you, more than almost anything else you might wear. Please wear your favorite hat to our lively, interactive fashion show! Share your hat story with us! This WFAC program is part of exhibition related programming presented by WaterFire Providence in association with the current exhibition at the WaterFire Arts Center, “EYE TO EYE Photographs and Projects MARY BETH MEEHAN” and “ANNYE RAYE PITTS: WITNESS” an installation by Mary Beth Meehan and Jonathan Pitts-Wiley, open until August 22, 2021. For a full listing of programming visit, waterfire.org/eyetoeye-programming. The program is funded in part by the Rhode Island Foundation. Presented in cooperation with Leadership Rhode Island. ABOUT THE EXHIBIT WaterFire Providence presents EYE TO EYE Photographs and Projects Mary Beth Meehan at the WaterFire Arts Center (WFAC), an exhibition of work from all four of Mary Beth Meehan’s most recent in-depth projects – from Brockton, Massachusetts, to Providence, Rhode Island, to Newnan, Georgia, to her newest project and book on Silicon Valley, California. A collaborative installation, ANNYE RAYE PITTS: WITNESS an installation by Jonathan Pitts-Wiley and Mary Beth Meehan will be on display in the Visitor Center Gallery. This exhibition will be at the WFAC from Wednesday, June 30 – Sunday, August 22, 2021. (exhibition photograph above by Jared Winslow) The WaterFire Arts Center is available for your next event! From Galas and Weddings to Business Lunches and Town Hall Meetings, we can make your event in Providence a success. Initially built in 1929 for the US Rubber Company as a multi-purpose manufacturing facility, WaterFire Providence completed renovation of the WaterFire Arts Center in the summer of 2017.