On April, 19th Russian State Art Library (RSAL) took part in the second Russian National Action to support reading – BiblioNight.
People who came to the Library that evening became participants of a real performance - Biblio-Art-Fashion-Show “Give me Old Jeans”.
The first visitors were met on Kuznetsky Most where they could see the exhibition of RSAL publications: conferences and seminars information materials, bibliographical references and other publications. Everyone could take as a souvenir Library’s leaflets, copies of the unique “fashion lists” from the early 19th century and lithography from the collections of the Library, and also souvenirs with the logo of the Library.
The team of the Library kindly invited everyone to visit BiblioNight Action in the building of RSAL – a cozy city mansion of the late 18th century, architectural monument.
The most spectacular event that evening that gathered the biggest number of visitors and loudest applause was Art-Jeans Fashion Defile. Unique models of stylish jeanswear – coats, jackets, skirts and hats – were shown by the ladies working in the Library together with the authors of the show – members of the club-atelier “Red Sarafan”. Each model received a comment about its special characteristics and ways that helped the authors turn old wear into beautiful garments that can fit every woman’s wardrobe. In the end the authors were presented with souvenirs from RSAL and from the sponsors of BiblioNight.
The jeans theme got its further development at “New Life of Old Jeans” workshop lead by patchwork master from Red Sarafan Club J.F. Schwarz. The guests learned how to use old jeans for making clothes, home decoration, bags, toys and accessories, tried to make hand-made souvenirs. J.F. Schwarz gave her practical recommendations to work with such all-time modern and universal material that is easy to find in almost every family.
The visitors of BiblioNight could purchase hand-made souvenirs, such as bags, dolls, toys, accessories, hats and many more.
Fashion found its reflection again at the exhibition “Fashion in free access: from the first lists to Fashion House Catalogues”. The exposition contained Russian and foreign fashion magazines of the late 19th-end of 20th centuries, “fashion lists” that served as prototypes of fashion magazines, publications on history of costume and fashion. More than 100 publications, and most of them - bibliographical rarity, were in access to be read and thoroughly examined. The exposition was a great success and the last visitor left at 11pm.
Those who came to the Library for BiblioNight got not only a wonderful opportunity to experience the world of fashion but also learned many interesting facts about the Library itself. The staff of RSAL held exciting excursions introduced the visitors to the exposition of the Reader’s Museum “The Bolshoi Theatre and the Library”, the “Unknown Romanovs” exposition, talked about the history of the Library, its collections and famous readers.
The first experience of our Library was a success that can be seen in many positive responses from the visitors who thanked us and our team for interesting ideas, unique collections and exhibitions and for warm welcoming.
