The RHS Facebook page is a rich archive of history-related posts by Carol Flynn, RHS Facebook admin and writer until mid-2025. Carol prolifically wrote a wide variety of meticulously researched local history articles for RHS. She continues to write for the Beverly Review and other media sources with articles particularly focused on local Ridge history.
Threads of Imagination Exhibit
The Ridge Historical Society will host a special exhibit this fall/winter.
"Threads of Imagination" – an exhibit exploring the intersection of art and fashion through the creativity of past and current artists on the Ridge – will open for the Art Walk on September 21, 2019, and run through mid-January 2020.
The exhibit will feature a historical look at Madame Alla Ripley (1867-1948), a famous fashion designer who lived on the Ridge in the early 1900s.
The work of four current Ridge artists involved in various aspects of fashion art will be on display.
Judie Anderson will show the fashion illustrations she created for the Chicago American newspaper in the 1960s. This work covers period fashion shows as well as advertisements.
Nicole Burns will display accessories and unique items she creates from vintage fabrics. Her collection of vintage sewing implements will also be on display.
Sandra Leonard will loan us some of her sculptural clothing, costumes she has created for performance art and other events. Photos of her art in use and samples of her hand-painted fabrics will also be on display.
Maggie O'Reilly will share with us her MaggyMay girls' clothing line, and items from her MAYTA collection, her designs created in Peru and Morocco through Fair Trade agreements.
Here are important dates to remember for viewing this show:
– Saturday, Sept. 21 – The Beverly Art Walk
– Fri., Sat., and Sun., Sept. 27, 28, 29 – The Annual RHS Garage and Better Book Sale
– Sat. and Sun., Oct. 19 and 20 – Open House Chicago
– TBD in early December – RHS Open House and Reception- Meet the Artists, who will have items for sale
– TBD, early January – RHS Champagne and Sweets Reception
More dates will be added as open times are arranged.
Since the 1870s, when artists came by train from downtown Chicago to set up their easels for a day's sketching and painting, there has been an arts community on the Ridge. This exhibit looks at one of the most famous "modistes" of the Chicago, indeed the entire U.S.A., fashion scene, who made the Ridge her family's home.The quartet of current fashion artists who live and create on the Ridge contribute to keeping the arts community alive.
Photo: Madame Alla Ripley, 1916. Photo from her great-niece, Lanora King.
The new RHS exhibit "Threads of Imagination" is really shaping up thanks to our four guest artists – Judie Anderson, Sandra Leonard, Maggie O'Reilly and Nicole Burns. All have been over to the historic Graver-Driscoll House (RHS HQ) this week to arrange their space. Each artist brings a unique perspective to the theme of "the intersection of fashion and art" and it all ties together with the legacy of Alla Bryan Ripley Bannister (1867-1948), who lived in Beverly for over 30 years during her career as a nationally recognized fashion designer.
For example, consider the work of Sandra Leonard. Sandra creates "sculptural clothing" to transform the human form into sculpture. Her amazing costumes are used for performance art and other projects.
Interestingly, before Alla Ripley became a fashion designer, she briefly experimented with the stage. There is one historic "show biz" picture of her with her first husband Harry Ripley in which her costume is evocative of today's performance art costumes. There is a definite possibility she designed the costume herself.
That picture and a picture of Sandra's costumes which will be on display at RHS are included here.
During the coming weeks we will also look at the other artists and their connections to Alla Ripley.
The exhibit will open for the Beverly Art Walk next Saturday, September 21, and run until January 2020 so there will be plenty of opportunities to get over to RHS to take this in.
Mark your calendars for Friday, October 11, 7 to 9 p.m., when we will have the official opening reception for the exhibit and an opportunity for you to meet the artists in person.
RHS is located at 10621 S. Seeley Avenue in Chicago.
Tomorrow is the "soft" opening for the "Threads of Imagination" exhibit at RHS. Sometime – date to be confirmed based on the availability of our four guest artists – in the next month we will have a reception and our grand opening before Open House Chicago on October 19 and 20. Stop by tomorrow to see this interesting exhibit!
There were a lot of dressmakers in Chicago in the early 1900s, but there was only one Madame Ripley, and she lived in Beverly. Society women did not buy "off the rack." The wives of Chicago's rich businessmen could easily spend $75,000 -$100,000 each year on designer clothes – outfits created especially for them. We're talking about 1910 – think about the value in today's dollars. It could take months to create one special outfit – these outfits were works of art.
This exhibit explores the intersection of art and fashion through the eyes of Madame Ripley and four talented contemporary women artists who live on the Ridge.
Yes! "Threads of Imagination" is indeed up and open to the public today from 12 to 6 for the Beverly Art Walk. Please stop by!