Digital Exhibits

This page includes digital exhibits from the School of Art, DI Hub, KSU Museum, University Libraries, May 4 Visitor Center, as well as individual faculty curated projects. If you would like to submit a digital exhibit for inclusion on this site, or if you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact Anderson Turner, Director of Exhibitions & Collections at the School of Art or fill out this Qualtrics survey with the pertinent information ().

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Double Happiness — As the World Weds: Global Wedding Traditions

**Friday, September 16, 2022 to Sunday, August 27, 2023, Rockwell Hall - Broadbent Gallery**

This exhibition draws from the KSU Museum’s rich holdings of wedding dresses and associated materials as well as personal collections of treasured pieces.

A celebration of contemporary fashion designs of South Africa and Namibia. The ��ɫ��ҹ University Museum presents Fashions of Southern Africa, an exhibition that brings together the work of fashion designers currently active in South Africa and Namibia. The display of over thirty ensembles and accessories explores the ways that people in southern Africa dress, make clothes and think about fashion. The exhibition looks beyond a simple binary between “western fashion” and traditional African dress to see that there is original distinctive fashion in Africa.

��ɫ��ҹ student photojournalist Lafayette Tolliver (BS '71) documented Black campus life, from 1967-1971. The exhibit provides viewers an array of subjects he documented and includes selected editorials he wrote in the Daily ��ɫ��ҹr. The goal is to generate interest in and further exploration of this amazing body of work that Tolliver has shared with ��ɫ��ҹ and the world.

Photographs in the Tolliver archive are fully digitized and available for viewing online. See our Feature Page for more information:

A look beyond the quintessential beaded dress to explore the range of influences on fashion of the Jazz Age.

The exhibition began with conversations between the co-curators, KSU Museum Director Sarah J Rogers and Professor Linda Orn-McDaniel in the School of Fashion Design and Merchandising. Both are hand knitters and Ohrn-McDaniel is the force behind the School’s KnitLAB which has a 10-year partnership with industry leader Stoll by Karl Mayer. KnitLAB serves as one of the few such studios in the country at a state university and is located on the first floor of Rockwell Atrium.

A close examination of the secret inner-workings of custom made clothing that are usually out of sight when the garments are worn.

The Vocal Majority: 1969 is an exhibit of the May 4 Visitors Center. The exhibit was created by Skylar Wrisley, designed by Ariel Bradford and Jennifer Goubeaux, and was temporarily on display in the May 4 Reflections Gallery in the Spring and Summer of 2023.

This exhibit is meant to complement ��ɫ��ҹ's story of May 4, 1970 by presenting some of the preceding events in the Fall of 1969. While the Vocal Majority highlights the experiences of ��ɫ��ҹ students, this story has national significance and massive participation in a series of the largest antiwar demonstrations in U.S. history. These experiences are captured in photos, newspaper articles, flyers, posters, and artifacts. The protest in the Fall Antiwar Offensive in 1969 can be used to better understand what prompted the following events in the Spring of 1970.

A look back at the fashionable excesses of the 1980s

In telling the stories of our clothing and accessories, we often focus on who bought, owned and wore them. But what about the stores where they were sold? This collection of shoes was given to the KSU Museum in 1986 by Dick and Isabel Kertscher, owners of the longtime Ravenna shoe store that bore their name. First opened in 1881 by Rumbaugh and Chapman, the store passed through the hands of a succession of owners before Dick Kertscher took over the store when his father died in 1932. The younger Kertscher ran the store until his retirement in 1987.

An exploration of costume designs from 18 different productions of Mozart's Magic Flute. Magical Designs for Mozart’s Magic Flute is an exhibition conceived and curated by distinguished theatrical and opera designer Judy Levin to compare scenic and costume designs of this much loved opera. These selected productions, extolled for their remarkable visual achievements, speak to the many interpretations given to the opera by scholars over the years, as well as the role of the creative teams in shaping each production.

Clothes are an expression of who we are. This exhibition tells the personal story of James Mulholland through a selection from his wardrobe. It is a reflection on how clothes are incorporated into a life. The influences on his style range from film references, favorite fashion shows, a love of fine craftsmanship and playful reinterpretation of classic menswear. The pieces on display span decades and show the evolution of how he dressed as well as how he assembled looks out of pieces from different designers even from different years. Mulholland’s personal style emphasizes attention to proportion and contrasting textures. Rather than rigidly following rules or trends, his outfits reflect a spirit of fun, experimentation and humor.

A selection of clothing, accessories and online business models that utilize cutting edge technology. The exhibition is divided into four sections; Generative Technology, Democracy of Preference; Technology and Expression and DIY.

Visitors will enjoy three exhibitions that highlight outstanding objects from the museum's permanent collection. Hats, coats, and shoes are essential garments that shield our bodies from the weather and concurrently speak to the fashion and traditions of the period in which they are worn, while reflecting our personal style.

This exhibit focuses on the lives, not the deaths, of Sandy Scheuer, Bill Schroeder, Allison Krause, and Jeff Miller. They were brothers, daughters, students, friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, and much more in between. We hope that everyone can see a little bit of themselves in them.

This exhibition brings together recent work of six creatives, each of whom is defining their own pathway amidst the ever-changing industries of fashion, social media, and design. Their experiences reveal a rich array of experiments, trials, multiple jobs, and networking, all underpinned by hard work, determination, and imagination. All are also alumni of the KSU School of Fashion and have at least 6 years of experience beyond graduation.

This virtual exhibit showcases ephemera made by students in response to Alma Flor Ada's work, who inspired and touched countless lives over her career. This exhibit highlights letters and artwork created in response to three of her novels and her visits to various classrooms. All items in this exhibit were donated by Alma Flor Ada from her private collection to the Reinberger Children's Library Center.

Videos of children reviewing children's books.

Dazzling Day and Night celebrates the creative legacy of the KSU Museum’s founders, Shannon Rodgers (1911-1996) and Jerry Silverman (1910-1984). The exhibition highlights over 30 ensembles from the late 1950s, when Rodgers began designing in New York City, through the 1970s. The selections of stylish daywear and elegant eveningwear also provide a time capsule of American ready-to-wear styles during these decades. Rodgers and Silverman were able to translate the latest designs from the Parisian runways into looks their American clients would want. This exhibit also includes Rodgers’ sketches, photographs, and advertising—especially their famous New Yorker Magazine ads “Just show me the Jerry Silvermans, please.”

The intent of this body of work is to study the effects of contrasting colors, textures, and shapes. While approaching the sculptures, viewers begin to notice internal structures appearing and disappearing with each step. Sharp angles allow the transparent lines to merge and overlap - only to separate and become invisible. These illusions are created using a tedious process of assembling blocks with colored adhesives. Then, cutting the blocks into sections, the grain is revealed by the paper-thin lines of color. Alone, the patterns are amazing, but the shapes remain extremely geometric. Wedging the patterns between castings, I can create drastic color gradations melded within the translucent beauty of the glass.

A contemporary metals exhibition inspired by tragedy, trauma and violence that celebrates the resiliency of the human spirit. Curated in response to a Commemorative Medallion made by Philadelphia College of Art students (now University of the Arts) in honor of the students who perished at ��ɫ��ҹ University on May 4th, 1970.

An exhibition celebrating the distinct vessels of Sanam Emami, Adam Posnak, Hannah Thompsett, and Brooks Oliver.

Fifty years ago, one of the most influential artists of the last hundred years did a short artist’s residency at ��ɫ��ҹ University at the behest of students who were interested in his work. This exhibition is an exploration of the work created and the legacy of this historic work of art.

American printer, book artist and papermaker best known for social and political commentary, particularly in printed posters.

Into the Wind, the Veils is a survey of photography, digital collage, and performance/videos by Franco-Moroccan artist Mehdi-Georges Lahlou whose themes include religiosity and queerness.

In the aftermath of the shootings of May 4, 1970, ��ɫ��ҹ University Libraries sent letters to colleges and universities across the nation requesting campus strike newspapers and related documents to be archived for future research. This virtual exhibit highlights a selection of the responses that are found in the Campus Strike papers in Special Collections & Archives.

This exhibition features posters, flyers, and other items created by the May 4th Task Force, a student-run organization founded in 1975 to raise awareness among students, faculty, administrators, and the general public about the ��ɫ��ҹ Shootings of May 4, 1970.

An online exhibit featuring selected highlights from major collections in Special Collections and Archives in celebration of our 50th Anniversary.

This exhibit features the photographs of Lafayette Tolliver, a ��ɫ��ҹ University alumnus who attended the university from 1967-1971, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in photojournalism. Tolliver served as one of the founding members of Black United Students (BUS). His photographs document Black student life in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

This exhibit highlights social activism occurring in and around three state universities during the years leading up to the shootings at South Carolina State (Orangeburg), ��ɫ��ҹ (Ohio), and Jackson State (Mississippi). Showcased here are selected key events in each of the three institutions' immediate environments indicating a growing level of Civil Rights actions, anti-war protests, and the development of a Black Power movement occurring from 1960 through 1967.

Immediately following the ��ɫ��ҹ shootings, President Robert White ordered that the University close and an injunction was then granted to that effect. However, the faculty voted to complete their courses by any means necessary. This exhibit features legal documents, news clippings, letters, and oral histories surrounding the effort to keep ��ɫ��ҹ open.

This exhibit was part of the May 4th 50th Commemoration Events at ��ɫ��ҹ University. It focuses on student activism at three campuses: South Carolina State College (now University) in Orangeburg, South Carolina, ��ɫ��ҹ University in Kent, Ohio, and Jackson State College (now University) in Jackson, Mississippi. Showcased in this exhibit is the activism of those Black students at all three campuses and images of the shootings which occurred there.

In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the May 4 tragedy, the Wick Poetry Center, with its partners, developed an interactive exhibit, encouraging visitors to explore the history of student protest and the timely themes of peace and conflict transformation.

Poets for Science is a participatory exhibit exploring the connection between science and poetry, curated by Jane Hirshfield.

On the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, we launched Earth Stanzas, eight poems that engage the beauty, depth, and interconnectedness of the Earth and invite readers to respond with their own poetic voice.

A Community Poem to Celebrate the ��ɫ��ҹ University Florence Center.

The May 4th augmented reality experience is designed to engage and immerse users as they journey through the events of May 4th, 1970 and reflect on its meaning for today. The experience invites users to view multiple perspectives of the ��ɫ��ҹ shootings through the lens of augmented reality using historical imagery, audio, and related experiences that highlight past and current humanitarian struggles.

A community poem, “Some Days,” to honor the vital work of our caregivers during this unprecedented time of crisis, created in partnership with ��ɫ��ҹ University College of Nursing.

Experience an immersive digital 3D 'walkthrough' of the Design Innovation Hub at ��ɫ��ҹ University. This experience can be viewed in a web browser or with a VR headset and it includes a wealth of intro videos and information about the spaces, tools and programs supported through Design Innovation and the DI HUB.

A community poem inspired by Gary Snyder's "For All" meant to inspire allegiance to the broad scientific community or to the land we occupy.

This is a brief video 'fly-through' of the "Listening To Liberty" exhibition that was installed in the DI HUB at ��ɫ��ҹ University in November of 2020. The exhibition showcased the range of technology innovations that ��ɫ��ҹ provided to create deep audience engagement as part of the "Sisters In Liberty" exhibition that was installed in the National Immigration Museum on Ellis Island, NY in 2019/2020. The original exhibition was proposed and conducted in partnership with the Cathedral Santa Croce in Florence, Italy.

A global community poem in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of ��ɫ��ҹ University’s May 4 shootings. We invite people from around the world to contribute a line or stanza to a Global Peace Poem titled “My Voice.”

TEXTURES synthesizes research in history, fashion, art, and visual culture to reassess the “hair story” of peoples of African descent. Long a fraught topic for African Americans and others in the diaspora, Black hair is here addressed by artists, barbers, and activists in both its historical perceptions and its ramifications for self and society today. The exhibition is organized by the KSU Museum with KSU faculty and co-curators, Dr. Joseph L. Underwood (Art History) and Dr. Tameka N. Ellington.

An interactive map of stories about what happened across Kent on May 4th, 1970 and the days leading up to it.

The Digital Green Book Project collects the oral history of Northeast Ohio barbers and salon artists, with video interviews and related exhibition materials. Create and share your own response to the TEXTURES exhibition in the Digital Green Book.

A study of designs under the Chanel label by both Coco Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld reveals a story of invention and reinvention.

The Reinberger Children's Library Center's collection of limited edition prints and original picturebook art represents the shared commitment to the art of the picturebook and its everlasting impact on the world of children. The collection, which is housed in the Marantz Picturebook Collection for the Study of Picturebook Art, is made up of donations from Guy and Carol Wolfenbarger, Alma Flor Ada, Isabel Campoy, Will Hillenbrand, Rosemary Wells, Yuyi Morales and more.

A look at how the generational divide between the Baby Boomers and their parents shaped the fashions of the 1960s and '70s.

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