February
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
Costume sketch for "Carnival of
Venice."
Dress worn by Mary Lee Campbell, 1949. |
|
Costume sketch for "Brazil."
Dress worn by Alice Campbell, 1949. |
|
Medieval-themed Mardi Gras Costume sketch. Designed
for Saralin Barclay, Galveston Princess, 1938. |
During the month of February, the Rosenberg Library
exhibited a selection of vintage Mardi Gras gown sketches. The
colorful sketches, dating from 1938 through 1949, were prepared by
fashion designers at the Emile Robin studio in San Antonio, Texas. Robin
was a well known interior decorator, set designer, and float
manufacturer in San Antonio during the first half of the twentieth
century. In addition to creating spectacular costumes for Galveston's
Mardi Gras, Emile Robin and his brother, Marcel, designed and built many
of the parade floats used for San Antonio's famous Fiesta celebrations.
The French-born brothers trained at the illustrious Ecole des Beaux-Arts
in Paris.
Galveston's first Mardi Gras celebration was held in 1967. Events
included lavish masquerade balls, elaborate theatrical performances, and
grand parades. Mardi Gras was discontinued during the time of World War
II, but it resumed in 1949. City-sponsored Mardi Gras celebrations ended
after the mid-1950s because they were too expensive to continue.
In 1985, Galvestonians George and Cynthia Mitchell launched a revival of
Mardi Gras, and it has been a great success for the past twenty years.
The twelve-day event still includes the traditional street parades,
theatrical performances, and galas. However, art exhibits, live music,
and sporting events have also become part of the Mardi Gras celebration.
Today, more than a dozen krewes participate in the festivities.
|
| |
|
