On Tuesday, February 26, during regular hours, the Museum of Early Trades & Crafts will open the new exhibit “The Work of Play.”
On view until September, the exhibit seeks to examine the relationship between trades and leisure time. Historians of early American economics already understand the interdependency of various trades; for example, the farmer needed the distiller to turn his apples into hard cider so he can transport them to market. The distiller needed the cooper to make the barrels for holding the cider. The cooper required the blacksmith to forge his tools and so on.
But rarely do economic historians examine the trades that flourished due to the leisure time of early Americans. For example, musical instrument makers were able to support themselves producing instruments for use by the working class at social gatherings, and the middle and upper classes for use at social gatherings and for daughters to demonstrate proper social graces. Ultimately these uses would help to support not only the makers, but poet-composers, music teachers and musicians.
Taking a topical approach, the exhibition will demonstrate these multilayered connections between the leisure activities of early Americans and the trades they helped to support. The topics of Toys and Games, Print Culture, Music, Fashion and Taverns will be explored throughout the exhibit.
Throughout the exhibit’s duration, various public programs will take place.
The Museum of Early Trades & Crafts is at 9 Main Street. For additional information, www.metc.org or 973-377-2982, extension 10.
