"The feeling of the rain on you is sweet. It seems to bring feelings you had when you were a baby. It carries you back into the dark, before you were born."
Photograph of Willa Cather's green coat by Betty Kort.
Willa Cather grew up on the Plains of Nebraska to become a Pulitzer Prize winning author who introduced the Nebraska prairie and its diverse people to the world. While her memorable characters resonate across generations, Cather's iconic image still leaves an impression on readers and scholars. At an early age she began to carefully manage her appearance for the public, using clothing as a symbol and statement. While still a teenager, Cather rebelled against conventional Victorian ladylike dress and shocked classmates and neighbors by cutting her hair short, wearing masculine clothing and renaming herself "William Cather." As a grown woman who loved culture, she indulged in beautifully crafted textiles and fashionable, yet comfortable clothing when she dressed to attend the opera.
"Willa Cather: A Matter of Appearances" uses clothing and textiles owned by Willa Cather, her friends and family to tell the story of a woman who made her own rules in fashion and literature. Photographs of Willa Cather and copies of her books help weave together the story of a woman and a legacy that continues to inspire writers, artists and others who choose to make their own, individualistic way in the world. The exhibit opens at the Nebraska History Museum in Lincoln on October 9, 2010 and will be on display through August 31, 2011.
