August 8th – October 7th
The ArtsCenter Hallway Gallery
Opening celebration: 2nd Friday Art Walk August 8th 6-8:30 pm
The History of the Folding Fan Talks: August 23rd from 1-4 pm
1:00 Presentation by Caroline Haller on “Late 19th Century Autograph Folding Fans”.
2:30 Presentation by Kathryn Hanna on “Contemporary Fan Makers.”
2nd Friday Art Walk: September 12th 6-8:30 pm
“The Folding Fan Club: Centuries of Collecting” is an exhibition dedicated to showcasing the art of collecting folding fans throughout the centuries. For this show, more than thirty historical and contemporary folding fans ranging from 1730 – present will be on display at the ArtsCenter.
Folding fans were first used in Japan during the fourth and fifth century B.C. In Europe, the folding fan became extremely popular within the court of Catherine De Medici (1519-1589). Under her influence it became an elaborate decorative object, with up to fourteen sticks, two guards, and a large hand painted mount. Over the next several centuries, the popularity of the folding fan waxed and waned but remained a staple in the female wardrobe. It fell out of favor in the 20th century due to the advent of technology.
Today, there are a handful of fan collectors that wish to showcase and celebrate the folding fan and its importance to history. This exhibition is sponsored by FANA, the Fan Association of North America, which has endeavored to bring the art of folding fans to the public through exhibitions as well as provide opportunities for other likeminded individuals to collect and exchange information about folding fans.
