University Open Air: The Politics of Pockets
During this workshop, we will trace the historical evolution of pockets in clothing, examining how their presence—or absence—has been influenced by societal norms and gender roles. The lecture delves into how women's clothing reflects broader issues of gender inequality and societal expectations. Through an analysis of fashion trends, cultural narratives, and feminist perspectives, the session invites participants to rethink everyday clothing details and how they reflect and shape gendered experiences in the modern world. We will also learn how to add pockets to garments as as a form of resistance to patriarchal and capitalist ideas embedded in our everyday clothing.
Pockets and small bags are a microcosm of complex political history. In their book The Pocket: A Hidden History of Women’s Lives, published by Yale University Press in 2019, Burman and Fennetaux explain that “there is more to pockets than meets the hasty eye, and that, mundane as they may appear, they engage us with wide issues and open new and arresting ways of looking at women’s lives in the past.”
Hilla Shapira is a Fiber artist, costume designer and educator. Originally from Tel-Aviv, Israel, and is currently based in Brooklyn, NY. Her work deals with the relationships between common design and body regimen. By making functional mundane objects she questions design norms and the political aspects of things. She has presented her work in Israel, Europe, and the USA including: Art Basel (Miami, FL), Philadelphia Museum of Jewish Art (Philadelphia, PA), NY Textile Month (NYC, NY), Jerusalem Design Week (Jerusalem, Israel), NY Jewelry week (NYC, NY), Little Berlin Gallery, (Philadelphia, PA), Depo2015 (Pilsen, Czech Republic), Neve Schechter Gallery (Tel-Aviv, Israel), Hansen House (Jerusalem, Israel), Textile Arts Center (Brooklyn, NY) and Wasserman Projects (Detroit, MI). She was AIR in Carrizozo residency (Carrizozo, NM), Popps Packing (Hamtramck, MI), Makerspace (Brooklyn, NY) and Neve Schechter center (Tel-Aviv, Israel). She received her BFA in Fashion from Bezalel Academy, Jerusalem, Israel and her MFA in Fiber from Cranbrook Academy, Bloomfield-Hills MI, USA. Shapira's work had been featured in different publications including: Hyperallergic Magazine, NY Jewish Week, Metalsmith Magazine, Portfolio Magazine, Haaretz, and the Jerusalem Post.
Check out all of this semester's UOA programs here.
*In cases of rain, classes will be either moved to the Prospect Park Boathouse or canceled. Registered patrons will be notified by email on the morning of each course day and are also encouraged to check the UOA webpage and BPL Presents’ Facebook and Twitter pages for updates.
University Open Air is generously supported by The Morris & Alma Schapiro Fund.
101 East Drive
Brooklyn, NY 11225
During this workshop, we will trace the historical evolution of pockets in clothing, examining how their presence—or absence—has been influenced by societal norms and gender roles. The lecture delves into how women's clothing reflects broader issues of gender inequality and societal expectations. Through an analysis of fashion trends, cultural narratives, and feminist perspectives, the session invites participants to rethink everyday clothing details and how they reflect and shape gendered experiences in the modern world. We will also learn how to add pockets to garments as as a form of resistance to patriarchal and capitalist ideas embedded in our everyday clothing.
Pockets and small bags are a microcosm of complex political history. In their book The Pocket: A Hidden History of Women’s Lives, published by Yale University Press in 2019, Burman and Fennetaux explain that “there is more to pockets than meets the hasty eye, and that, mundane as they may appear, they engage us with wide issues and open new and arresting ways of looking at women’s lives in the past.”
Brooklyn Public Library - Central Library MM/DD/YYYY 60