(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The Field Museum is diving deep into the world of African fashion with a new exhibit opening this weekend.
"Africa Fashion" at the Field Museum highlights the "magnificence of African creativity."
It starts by transporting visitors back to the African cultural renaissance in the mid 20th century.
"The music, the soundtrack to liberation and independence. And that's become the soundtrack of parts of the exhibition here," said Christine Checkinska, the lead curator of the exhibit.
"What we wanted to do with this show was to give audiences a glimpse of both the glamour and the politics of the African fashion scene."
She says the exhibit presents a "timeline of independence."
"You'll move through into a section of studio portraits, black and white portraits of that moment of independence… And then you'll move through to the contemporary fashion section."
The “African Fashion” exhibit originated in London and has been touring different venues since 2023.
"I think with every venue, there's been a strong emphasis on local stories. So in Chicago, for example, spoiler alert, however, the last piece that you'll see in Africa fashion is a beautiful gown worn by Michelle Obama," Checkinksa said.
That piece is one of more than 180 works in the exhibit. Checkinksa said she hopes they resonate with visitors.
"I'd love the idea that people feel inspired to carry on engaging with African fashions and maybe make their own garments, buy their own garments, but just to kind of open up people's creativity."
Checkinksa hopes in the exhibit, audiences of color see themselves.
"We want this to be a place of pride. We want this to be a place of joy. We want local African American audiences, everyone, but particularly African American audiences, to come and feel at home in the Field's exhibition."
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