THE ART MUSEUM OF GREATER LAFAYETTE IS HAVING A HAT EXHIBIT

The exhibit, that opened this month, is called “Her Crowning Glory: Hats of the African American Community.”

The Art Museum, the Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette, Black Cultural Center and Tippecanoe County Historical Association are honoring the African American tradition of wearing elaborate hats to church every Sunday.

The exhibition features 29 hats worn by African American women to churches in Greater Lafayette. The Art Museum is at 102 S. 10th St., and will continue through April 12.

"We are thrilled with it," said Renee Thomas, director of Purdue University's Black Cultural Center. "This show is touching a very broad audience, patrons of the BCC, Civic and numerous others whose passion is in the arts."

The hats range in style from 1960s pillbox to new, original designs that defy traditional pre-existing forms of headwear. The hats are from women in their senior years to younger generations.

Each hat is accompanied with a printed story. Lafayette's Elizabeth Young wrote that her love for church hats started when she was a college student in Texas. Young’s mother did not encourage such hats, but after trying some on in a shop she couldn't resist the way she looked with a fancy, well-crafted hat on her head. "Hats can make a lady look sophisticated, make her look classy," said Young, “I find hats finish out the rest of the attire."

BCC program supervisor Jolivette Anderson Dounoning researched the origins of church hats worn by African American women. She found that women's hats in church go back to the Bible. In the book of Corinthians, 11:5, it is written " ... And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head ... ."

Kendall Smith II, art museum director, is proud to host a unique exhibit such as "Her Crowning Glory" as well as to be a part of a large-scale collaborative effort in the Greater Lafayette arts scene. "That's very important to me, to work with other organizations," Smith said. "It helps the arts and helps all the organizations."