Keeler In The Community

Buy Tickets Now for Cheyney McKnight’s “Designing the Black American Cultural Costume”

June 13, 2024

Ridgefield, Conn.— On Sunday, June 23, Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center (KTM&HC) will host Cheyney McKnight for “Designing the Black American Cultural Costume.” Tickets are on sale now – don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from one of the most innovative public historians in our area!

Join us in the Garden House on June 23 at 3 p.m. as artist and historical interpreter Cheyney McKnight explores her creative process in designing garments in 18th- and 19th-century European American silhouettes, using fabrics that speak to experiences from throughout the African diaspora. McKnight – a longtime KTM&HC collaborator – will share with audiences how the clothing she designs helps to tell the stories of Black Americans in the past, present, and future. Various garments will be on display to help bring McKnight’s work to life at an event that compellingly combines history, fashion, textile design, and futurism.

McKnight is the owner of Not Your Momma’s History, a public history consulting business that aids museums and historical sites in talking about the African experience in 18th- and 19th-century America. Not Your Momma’s History also runs a YouTube channel with over 200,000 subscribers and four million views that shows the day-to-day lives of Black people throughout American history. In 2021, she was chosen to be an African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund Fellow for the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Parking is available onsite at 152 Main Street, Ridgefield. General admission is $25/person, with discounts available for KTM&HC members and students. Purchase tickets now at www.keelertavernmuseum.org/events.