Mattatuck Museum Part 2

Riverside Reflections Exhibit at the Mattatuck Museum

Photo credit to Pixie Rosa Del Rio

I love to make meetings for my EGL fashion community, and secretly, my favorite meetings to make are ones with a gothic theme. There is nothing like spending an hour putting on dramatic eye makeup and dressing in prints, colorways and cuts of fabric that evoke a gothic style.  Wearing gothic fashion by yourself may be more difficult, as the general public can be a little alarmed by it all; but wearing gothic fashion with a group is empowering and fun. 

The Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury had a photography exhibit called Riverside Reflections in February. It was actually a photo contest between the local Riverside Cemetery (which is also a National Historic Site) and the Mattatuck Museum in which locals of all ages and experiences were encouraged to submit photographs of the cemetery in all seasons of the year. Some photographs focused on wildlife at the cemetery, while others focused on an interactive aspect with the architecture and grounds.  I really loved the triptych by Lulu Roche, specifically the angel holding the babies, which is behind us in the photo of Barbara, Pahl, and I, above. To view the exhibition in better detail, see the online version here. 

Gothic themed meetings need not be only reserved for Halloween. I put out a call to anyone in my community who was interested in closing out the Riverside Reflections Exhibition (on the last day of viewing). In my statement, I implored them to dress as if they were in mourning (because the exhibit was closing), and to wear prints or colors that evoked symbols seen in a cemetery. 

Now was the time to unveil my recently acquired piece, Transilvania Moonlight by Krad Lanrete. (Please note, the link refers to JSK style 1 and my piece is JSK style 2). Who is Krad Lanrete? It's actually Eternal Dark spelled backwards, and is a Chinese Indie brand focusing on Classic style. The concept of the brand is the coexistence of light and darkness in the form of reincarnation, and a longing for time. Absolute perfection paired with the theme of this exhibit. 

I wore the black Long Sleeve Halter Neckline Chiffon Blouse with a black half bonnet (which I added black bows and black roses to), black over the knee socks with silver print, black tea parties (mary janes), a black choker that looks like fake rosary beads, several silver rings (a bat, a cat, a rat, and a dark blue jewel), and my Book of Spells and charms cross body purse. I have two wonderful gothic backpacks that would have worked, but most museums will not allow them in the galleries. Cross body bags are just better suited for the location.  

Selfie of my look before I left the house

Pahl and Danielle, professional mourners at your service. Pahl wore his great coat over an elaborate amount of layers (a red tail coat, a black waistcoat, white shirt, red cravat) with a short top hat, spectacles, and rings that evoke serpent, skull, and eye imagery. Photo credit to Pixie Rosa Del Rio

Detail of Pahl's rings. Photo credit to Pixie Rosa Del Rio.

Barbara went for an all black Victorian gothic look for her outfit. She wanted to evoke the idea that she had recently passed, so she used makeup to make herself look dead and had her handbook for the recently deceased with her.

Pixie, third from the left, went for a simpler black dress paired with edgy tights and black boots. She looks truly in mourning with the black veil and head halo. Photo credit to Pixie Rosa Del Rio

The actual Riverside Reflections exhibit didn't take too long to peruse, as only just so many framed photographs could fit in the gallery.  Several of the ones you can view in the online exhibition remained in a virtual only format.  So we took ourselves out of the gallery and into...an 80th birthday party?! Yes, across the hallway from the exhibit, a friend of Barbara's was hosting an 80th birthday party for her mother in a former small Masonic temple now owned by the museum and used for events. The birthday girl was delighted to take a group photo with us despite our morbid choices of dress and makeup. 

After that little side quest, we went into the permanent collections on the second and first floor. There we were able to take some fun photographs with the paintings and sculptures housed within. 

Me and this statue were having a conversation about appropriate dress for a public setting. Photo credit to Pixie Rosa Del Rio

Barbara must have said something particularly funny. She is full of wit and vigor.

Pahl is thinking about going on a journey to visit this wondrous place

Oh I was so excited to see a skeleton! Photo credit to Pixie Rosa Del Rio

The museum is both Lovely and Amazing! Photo credit to Pixie Rosa Del Rio

Honestly we had such a fun time with this meeting. Pixie took so many amazing photos, and we all had fun posing and pretending with guidance from her photographic eye. Truly, I love finding art exhibits that speak to my EGL fashion choices. It's where art meets life, or death, you know?