The local community has been buzzing about Worcester Art Museum's lively event, Tableaux Vivants, which means “art coming to life.” College of the Holy Cross theatre students dressed up in costume and makeup as characters from the treasures in the museum’s permanent collection. These tableaux vivants came to life before guests’ eyes, sharing knowledge about the works of art that they embodied.
Holy Cross’ costume designer Kurt Hultgren and his staff created all the costumes for the event, which celebrated the museum's director, Jim Welu, who stepped down after 25 years of service. Annie Le ‘13, who modeled the work of Itō Jakuchu, a Japanese painter, says it was exciting to hear people's reactions when she told them she made and painted her kimono costume. She says that she was ready to answer any and all types of questions about her character. “One can never be over-prepared when in character,” she says.
Shannon LoCascio ’14, who modeled the oldest Benson daughter from Portrait of my Daughters by Frank Benson, said the night flew by, “Catherine and Abby (who played my sisters) and I kept in character as the Benson daughters, and many people stayed to listen to us talk to each other as the sisters,” she explains. “People seemed positively euphoric about the event.”
View recent headlines:
- NECN/Channel 3: Living art at the Worcester Art Museum
- Telegram & Gazette: ‘Tableaux Vivants' marks departure of Jim Welu from WAM
- Telegram & Gazette: On the job: Kurt S. Hultgren
This “Holy Cross in the News” item by Cristal Steuer.
