View Bard Graduate Center’s COVID-19 policies below.
Laura Jacobs of the Wall Street Journal wrote, “Handmade lace has been called ‘white gold,’ and the BGC exhibition … shows us why.” Apollo magazine’s Eve Kahn concurred, writing that it “dazzlingly conveys not only how wearers of lace climbed social ladders, but also how they financed the careers of the women who stitched it with bleary eyes.” Roberta Smith of the New York Times noted that Threads of Power “gives New York its first in-depth look in nearly 40 years at the history of this intricate, fragile and costly textile.” Stephanie Sporn of ADPro remarked that the Isabel Toledo-designed ensemble worn by Michelle Obama for the 2009 presidential inauguration is one of the exhibition’s standouts, and Airmail’s Yona McDonough raved that Threads of Power “offers more than enough to ignite the heart and mind of any lace-lover.”
Exhibition Description
Lace—delicate, sumptuous, enigmatic—has been used in fashion and décor for centuries to project power and wealth. Trace the development of European lace from its sixteenth-century origins to the present day in Threads of Power. See more than 150 examples of lace from the renowned collection of Switzerland’s Textilmuseum St. Gallen, including some of the world’s finest examples of handmade needle and bobbin lace that were favored by the wealthy and powerful of Bourbon France and Habsburg Spain. Learn about the women who crafted this sought-after status symbol by hand and about the evolution of Swiss chemical lace, known as guipure lace, made on embroidery machines. Explore new innovations in lace production, like laser-cut and 3D-printed lace, used in contemporary haute couture.
Visitor Policies and COVID Safety
Bard Graduate Center (BGC) Gallery’s policies reflect our commitment to create a safe environment for everyone who visits our buildings. We require all visitors to be fully vaccinated, to wear a mask, and to follow the safety guidelines and policies outlined below. BGC reserves the right to ask visitors who do not follow these guidelines to leave.
Stay home if you feel sick
Please do not visit BGC Gallery if you have a fever or any COVID-19 symptoms, have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 14 days, or have had close contact with anyone who is confirmed to have or suspected of having COVID-19.
Masks are required, even if you are vaccinated
CDC-recommended face coverings that cover your nose and mouth and fit snugly against your face are required in the BGC Gallery.
Social distancing is encouraged
Keep at least six feet from others not in your party when possible. Adhere to the capacity limits posted on each floor. To maintain social distancing, you may need to wait to enter parts of the exhibition.
Follow signs and directions from BGC staff members
Follow the guidance of BGC staff, who are monitoring visitor traffic throughout the building. They are there to help keep everyone safe and comfortable. Visitors who do not follow posted capacity limits, safety guidelines, circulation routes, and instructions from our staff will be asked to leave.
Risk of exposure
While BGC Gallery is implementing enhanced health and safety measures for our visitors and employees, an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public space where people are present. By visiting BGC Gallery, you acknowledge and voluntarily assume all risk to any potential exposure to COVID-19.
Stay home if you feel sick
Please do not visit BGC Gallery if you have a fever or any COVID-19 symptoms, have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 14 days, or have had close contact with anyone who is confirmed to have or suspected of having COVID-19.
Vaccination required
Bard Graduate Center requires up-to-date vaccination against COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control defines up-to-date vaccination as all primary series doses for people 6 months to 4 years of age; all primary doses PLUS the CDC-recommended booster dose, if eligible, for ages 5 and older. Visitors must show a physical vaccination card, a legible photograph of the card, or a digital app/certificate, such as New York State’s Excelsior Pass, along with a photo ID that corresponds with the name on their vaccination card to enter.
Masks are required, even if you are vaccinated
CDC-recommended face coverings that cover your nose and mouth and fit snugly against your face are required in the BGC Gallery.
Social distancing is encouraged
Keep at least six feet from others not in your party when possible. Adhere to the capacity limits posted on each floor. To maintain social distancing, you may need to wait to enter parts of the exhibition.
Follow signs and directions from BGC staff members
Follow the guidance of BGC staff, who are monitoring visitor traffic throughout the building. They are there to help keep everyone safe and comfortable. Visitors who do not follow posted capacity limits, safety guidelines, circulation routes, and instructions from our staff will be asked to leave.
Risk of exposure
While BGC Gallery is implementing enhanced health and safety measures for our visitors and employees, an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public space where people are present. By visiting BGC Gallery, you acknowledge and voluntarily assume all risk to any potential exposure to COVID-19.
Interested in bringing Threads of Power to your museum?
Threads of Power: Lace from the Textilmuseum St. Gallen is organized by Bard Graduate Center and the Textilmuseum St. Gallen. The exhibition will open at Bard Graduate Center Gallery in New York in September 2022 and will be available to tour after closing in January 2023. If you would be interested in touring the exhibition to your institution, please fill out this form and the curatorial team will be in touch with more information.
