A new art exhibit at Historic Smithville Park is showcasing fashion during the turbulent 1960s and the career of a local fashion model.
The Pose: A Sixties Silhouette is on display at Smithville Park’s Workers House Gallery through Jan. 13. The exhibit is a collaboration by Burlington County-based fashion illustrator Lisa Steinberg and photographer Lisa Ingui. It pays tribute to 1960s fashion styles and Ingui’s mother, Cheryl Marie Desch, a Philadelphia-based fashion model of that era.
The exhibit consists of vintage photographs and advertisements featuring Desch that Ingui compiled, plus modern drawings created by Steinberg for this exhibit, who was inspired by the era.
“The arts are a major contributor to the high quality of life residents enjoy here in Burlington County and we’re proud of the support Burlington County provides to local artists and arts groups through grants, classes, special events, concerts and galleries,” said Burlington County Commissioner Director Felica Hopson. “This exhibit is an example of the creative talent that is flourishing in Burlington County and we’re thrilled to help showcase them.”
Steinberg resides in Delran and works as a professor and director of the fashion department at Rowan College at Burlington County. She is also a visiting assistant professor in fashion illustration at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, and the author of “Beginners Guide to Sketching the Fashion Figure” from Bloombury/Fairchild Publications.
Ingui is a professional photographer and operator of Lila Ingui Photography. She is also a longtime adjutant professor of photography at Rowan College at Burlington County.
Her mother grew up in Warminster, Pennsylvania, and she was crowned Miss Warminster in 1963. She became a commercial fashion model soon afterwards and worked steadily in the industry until the late 1960s.
Desch married singer Richie Ingui of The Soul Survivors and the two moved to New Jersey to raise a family. The Medford resident later started an online business that sold vintage clothing, jewelry and accessories. She also refinished antique furniture for sale and continued to work until her death last year.
Burlington County Commissioner Allison Eckel said the exhibit would hopefully inspire more residents to take an interest in fashion design, photography and other creative enterprises.
“This exhibit showcases fashion, design, drawing, photography and the 1960s and its influence on modern artists today,” said Eckel. “It’s a great example of the thriving and diverse artwork being created here in Burlington County, and we’re excited to support the artists who created it.”