Stockton, California

The Haggin Museum's historic clothing collection will be the focus of this summer's special exhibition Bustles & Balustrades: The Link between Victorian Dress and Architecture, on display May 20 through August 15.

Bustles & Balustrades will investigate the relationship of Victorian clothing to architecture and decorative arts, compare elements of their construction and showcase a variety of objects from the museum's fine art and history collections.

Bustles & Balustrades is guest curated by Jonathan Singer, a former instructor at Delta College’s Fashion Design Program. Currently working at the University of Pacific, he is also costuming two operas and begins a master’s program in Minneapolis in Fall 2010.
Jonathan said his inspiration for the exhibition was "mostly the understructures of clothing and my curiosity with how they support themselves. How do you achieve that shape/that look through structure and engineering.

Vignettes featuring clothing and objects from the museum’s collections rarely seen by the public will be staged throughout the gallery highlighting the similarities of their design. One such gem is the collection of watercolors by local artist Mabel Rubin who meticulously rendered many Victorian homes in Stockton. While many of these grand homes have been torn down, a few remain as testimony to the taste of the day.

Museum Hours:Wednesday - Friday 1:30 - 5:00 p.m.Saturday & Sunday 12 noon - 5:00 p.m.1st & 3rd Thursdays open unitl 9 p.m.

Admission:$5.00 for adults; $2.50 youth 10-17, seniors and students; Free children under 10 and museum members.

For disabled access, please call the museum ahead of time at (209) 940-6300 or 940-6317.