Fashion Meets Illustration at the Eric Carle Museum
Visitors gather for a photo inside the museum during Through the Lens, at the Eric Carle Museum, reflecting the intergenerational audience that attended the event. Photo: Rishav Chakravarty
After-hours Runway, Karaoke, and Collage Draw Families and Students
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst hosted on the evening of Feb. 5, Through the Lens, an after-hours event combining fashion, live piano karaoke, photography, and interactive illustration. Part of the museum’s Carle After Dark series, the evening brought together museum staff, members of the UMass Fashion Organization, performers, students, and local families in a shared gallery space.
Guests moved through the museum in winter coats and evening wear, pausing to sing at a grand piano, walk a central runway, or pose in front of enlarged picture book art installations. Rather than transforming the galleries into a separate performance venue, organizers integrated the program into the museum’s existing layout.
Setting and Background
The museum is located on the former orchard site of Hampshire College in Amherst. Snow covered the grounds that evening, reflecting light from the building’s glass façade. Designed by architect Earl Pope of Juster Pope Frazier, the 43,000-square-foot structure features wide walkways, high ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows that connect the galleries, shop, and gathering spaces.
Founded in 2002 by author and illustrator Eric Carle and his wife Barbara, the museum was inspired by picture book art museums in Japan. Carle, known for The Very Hungry Caterpillar and more than seventy other titles, established the museum to elevate picture book illustration as a recognized art form while remaining accessible to children and families. The collection includes more than 20,000 works by over 300 artists, along with galleries, a studio, a theater, and dedicated picture book libraries.
A Shared Space
By the end of the evening, guests gathered their coats and exited into the snow. Families, students, musicians, organizers, and staff had occupied the same galleries for four hours, moving between illustration, performance, and fashion.
Museum staff integrated programming into the gallery environment, while student organizers coordinated styling, logistics, and media. The event demonstrated how performance-based programming can function within a museum context without displacing the artwork itself.Information about future Carle After Dark events is available through the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art’s website. The next Carle After Dark event will be “Splashes and Spells” on Thursday, March 5 from 4 to 8 p.m.
Interactive Installations
Large-scale reproductions of artwork by Nina Crews, Walter Wegman, and Walter Wick served as interactive backdrops. Guests stepped into illustrated scenes for photographs, while children gathered at a magnetic collage wall labeled “Arrange” and “Layer,” echoing Eric Carle’s cut-paper technique. A sculptural fox positioned inside a star-shaped alcove marked “Library” attracted younger visitors.
Live Music in the Galleries
A grand piano anchored one side of the main lobby. Composer and performer Joshua Sitron led live karaoke throughout the evening. Sitron, whose credits include work for Nickelodeon, Disney, PBS, CBS, and Showtime, and who served as musical director and composer for Dora the Explorer, alternated between accompaniment and improvisation as guests approached the microphone. Applause carried through the open galleries without overwhelming conversation..
Runway in a Museum Corridor
The runway unfolded within the museum’s central gathering space rather than on a raised stage. Audience members lined the walkways, creating open sightlines between the models and surrounding artwork. The route extended through a glass-lined corridor, where natural light filtered into the space. The absence of theatrical lighting and amplified music placed emphasis on pacing, posture, and coordination.
Models move through the museum’s windowed corridor during the runway presentation. Photo: Rishav Chakravarty
Student Collaboration
The UMass Fashion Organization, a student-led group that produces runway and creative showcases during the academic year, collaborated with museum staff to adapt the presentation to the gallery setting. Committees overseeing styling, media, marketing, and coordination worked with staff to ensure the event functioned smoothly within the museum’s layout.
The lineup featured varied silhouettes and textures, including satin dresses, lace-trimmed overlays, structured shorts, knitwear, and layered tulle. Rather than following a single theme, the presentation emphasized contrast and interpretation.
Rishav Chakravarty
Members of the UMass Fashion Organization gather at the museum’s central installation. Top row, from left: Ashley Lam (Marketing Committee Member), Mervedie Ntenda (Head of Styling), Kinjal Pandey (Model), Lizzy Mackenzie (Model), Onaome Ekelemu (Model), and Keira Schey (Model). Bottom row: Elissa Romero (Model Coordinator) and Paransha Tajwani (Model). Not pictured: Sonia Wong (Vice President), Jacob Wilson (Social Media Manager), Jack Mckenna (Treasurer), Bouasavanh Keomorokot (Creative Director), Mason Zhang (Events Coordinator), Arthur Danh (Media Committee Member), Loi Bui (Administrative President), and Aksh Mannem (Treasurer). Photo: Rishav Chakravarty
Model Perspective
Among the models was Kinjal Pandey, a first-year graduate student in computer science at UMass Amherst. She described the setting as distinct from traditional runway environments.
“It felt like such a natural intersection of art, fashion, and performance,” she said.
Pandey noted that the quieter tone of the galleries and the presence of families influenced her pacing. “It didn’t feel overwhelming,” she said. “It felt thoughtful.”
Editorial Shoot
Following the runway, Pandey participated in an editorial-style shoot within the galleries. The photographs focused on garment texture, posture, and composition within the museum setting.
Pandey was styled in a blush blouse with vertical detailing and a ruffled placket, paired with wide-leg brown trousers and an asymmetrical pastel blue and cream overlay featuring floral prints and lace trim. Champagne-toned heels completed the look.
