"Taylor Swift's Speak Now tour was one of the most successful tours in all of music, and she has been an ambassador for country music, raising awareness of our genre literally around the globe," alisema Museum Director Kyle Young. "We are delighted to be able to bring our visitors up close and personal with many of their inayopendelewa elements from the show, from the colorful and elaborate stage costumes and beautiful instruments, to the magnificent 'Juliet balcony' that Taylor entered near the conclusion of each onyesha and 'flew' around the circumference of each venue.
"Taylor is a dynamic live performer whose open moyo and engaging personality allow her to make even the largest stadium shows an intimate experience," Young continued. "Touring has always been a key element connecting muziki artists with their fans; those interactions help forge and strengthen the artist-fan relationship, and this exhibit speaks to that. And the opportunity came to us out of discussions we were having with Taylor related to our expansion-serendipity is a wonderful thing!"
Earlier this month, mwepesi, teleka pledged $4 million to fund a new education center at the museum. Swift's gift, the largest capital contribution kwa an individual artist in the museum's 45-year history, prompted the museum to name the new space the Taylor mwepesi, teleka Education Center. The center will open in early 2014. The gift was made in conjunction with the museum's expansion capital campaign, Working on a Building: Country muziki Lives Here.
mwepesi, teleka has for years been a generous supporter of the museum's exhibitions, loaning the institution dresses, stage costumes and instruments for display; a free-standing, Taylor mwepesi, teleka multimedia exhibit has been one of the museum's most maarufu attractions since its debut in May, 2010.
The Speak Now exhibition will recreate 10 vignettes from the tour, including the following artifacts:
Taylor's Roberto Cavalli ombre dhahabu bugle-beaded dress and shimmering red Gibson Les Paul model electric guitar, featured during Swift's performance of "The Story of Us"
Taylor's vintage ecru lace dress and Deering six-string banjo with rolled steel drum; fiddle player's Marc kwa Marc Jacobs moss green crepe dress; male dancer's soft-shoe costume including Brixton tartan plaid newsboy cap, shirt, pants, vest and oxfords; and numerous heshima including the 6' x 8' switchboard
Taylor's pale blue silk Marchesa kanzu, gown with rhinestone bodice; and a white kinanda bench with tufted leather upholstery, both featured in "Back to December"
Taylor's red, sequined Jenny Packham slip dress and knee-high leather boots, worn during "Better Than Revenge"
Taylor's vintage purple silk halter dress; dancers' costumes including a chiffon bridal kanzu, gown with pearl- and bead-encrusted bodice, tulle veil and silk rose bouquet; two cotton-candy pink bridesmaids' dresses with lace bodices and ruffled tulle skirts, and bouquets; groom's ivory tuxedo and black pants; cleric's vestments; and heshima including retro microphone, all featured during "Speak Now"
Taylor brand koa wood ukulele with mother-of-pearl inlay, whose "happy sounds" mwepesi, teleka elicited during her acoustic performance of "Fearless"
Taylor's sleeveless, flesh-colored Reem Acra kanzu, gown with sequin overlay; female dancer's ballerina costume, comprised of a dhahabu and ivory brocade bodice and pastel tulle tutu, embellished with pastel tulle flowers, seed pearls and beading; male dancer's tunic and leggings; and heshima trees; all featured in "Enchanted"
Taylor's re-worked vintage dress, featuring leather corsetry; and the mallet she used to ring the bells during her performance of "Haunted"
Taylor's black Jenny Packham flapper-style slip dress with rhinestone embellishments; black knee-high leather boots; and Taylor brand "sparkle" guitar, gitaa encrusted with Swarovski crystals and featuring a headstock outlined in crystals and embellished with a crystal "13," featured during "Long Live"
Taylor's golden Valentino ball gown, featuring layers of tulle and a sequin overlay; dancers' and aerialists' costumes; and the "Juliet balcony" in which mwepesi, teleka soared above the crowd during each performance of "Love Story."
