Contact: Maridith Geuder
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Costumes, sketches and memorabilia spanning a three-decade career will be formally donated to Mississippi State during a Friday [Nov. 10] ceremony featuring Myrna Colley-Lee of Charleston.
The acclaimed theatrical designer also will speak during three university events launching an exhibition of her works titled "Glad Rags: Sketches, Swatches and Costume Designs."
The diverse collection, which includes costumes from the 1920s forward, will be on display in the university's Mitchell Memorial Library through Jan. 26. The traveling exhibit is sponsored with support from the Mississippi Museum of Art.
Colley-Lee will give "behind-the-scenes" talks to MSU and area students in
During a 3:30 p.m. public reception in the same location, the university will receive works that include Colley-Lee's antique clothing and costume collection accumulated since the artist first began designing in the 1970s.
"I have bought many of the pieces at vintage and thrift stores over the years, either for my own wardrobe, for costumes or for research," Colley-Lee explained. "Through my donation to Mississippi State, I wanted to share my love of theater and give students exposure to the intricacies and opportunities in that world."
Some of the wearable collected pieces will be available to the MSU communication department for Theatre MSU productions mounted by students.
"We're very excited about this generous donation," said John Forde, communication department head. "It will allow numerous theater programs to have access to these unique costumes to enhance their productions and will help us demonstrate the quality of our program."
Colley-Lee holds a master's of fine arts degree in scenic and costume design from Temple University. She began building her portfolio during graduate study, when she designed in great detail knowing that the costume would never be realized.
"The value is the exercise of learning to design and the process of design through rendering," she said. "It's a chance to develop your skill."
The sketches will be on display, along with costumes from productions that include "The Wedding Band," a play produced by Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Co.
"My favorite part of the exhibit is that it gives a wide range of techniques for costume design, a wide range of shows, and different ways to accomplish the rendering process," said Colley-Lee. "The costumes from 'The Wedding Band' add a third dimension to the exhibit by allowing viewers to see the finished product."
Dean of Libraries Frances N. Coleman said the collection will provide a rich archival heritage for students of theater, theatrical production, costume design, and other areas.
"This will be a valuable repository for theater ranging from classical myth to contemporary drama," Coleman said. "We are thrilled that Mrs. Colley-Lee has entrusted the works to us."
Colley-Lee's most recent work has been "Relativity," for the Black Rep (St. Louis, Mo., Black Repertory Co.). She also is working on the premiere of "Till," a new work by Ifa Bayeza in conjunction with Rites & Reason Theatre at Brown University.
In addition to her continuing work in theater, Colley-Lee serves as a commissioner for the Mississippi Arts Commission, participates in the Charleston Arts and Revitalization effort, and is on the board of the MSU art department, among others.
She and her husband reside on a farm in Tallahatchie County.
For more information, telephone Stephen Cunetto at 662-325-8542.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.