Covington's Behringer-Crawford Museum has basically found a way to turn back time by displaying four of superstar singer/actress Cher's detailed and glittering beaded costumes from the 1960s and 1970s.
Worn by the mononymous Goddess of Pop during concerts and appearances on the Sonny & Cher Show, the outfits were designed by the legendary Bob Mackie — the fashion icon who has created looks for seminal divas of stage, screen and song including Bette Midler, Diana Ross, Liza Minnelli, RuPaul and Elton John.
The dazzling vintage numbers, which will be exhibited as part of the museum's new From Rituals to Runways: The Art of the Bead, were created by the tambour beading process, says a release (tambour beading uses a small hook instead of a needle to attach the beads to cloth).
The exhibit opens Feb. 4 and — if your eyeballs haven't already been singed by the fabulousness that is Cher look-alike mannequins donning original Cher outfits — From Rituals to Runways: The Art of the Bead also examines "the art and integral roles that beads have played in society over the centuries, from prayer and devotion, to art, fashion and décor."
In addition to art and fashion vignettes, the museum is hosting a slew of special activities to accompany the show, including a Sonny & Cher karaoke and look-alike contest on April 3 and a tambour beading workshop series starting Feb. 22.
It's the perfect Mermaids-style appetizer to Cher's Cincinnati stop of her "Here We Go Again Tour," which is coming to downtown's Heritage Bank Center on April 7. She'll be joined by guitarist Nile Rodgers and Chic for the show. (Tickets are on sale now.)
The Telegraph recently described the GOAT and almost-EGOT-winner's tour stop in the U.K. (someone give Cher a Tony) in a five-star review: “Backed by a slick seven-piece band and ten dancers, Cher paraded around in skimpy clothing and ludicrous wigs, sang duets with her dead ex-husband, rode an animatronic elephant, cavorted with muscular gladiators and spanked lithe burlesque dancers, gossiped about life in Hollywood and belted her lungs out on a succession of crowd-pleasing hits.”
From Rituals to Runways: The Art of the Bead runs through May 10 at the Behringer-Crawford Museum (1600 Montague Road in Devou Park in Covington). Admission is $9 adults; $8 seniors; $5 children; free for members. For more info, visit bcmuseum.org.
