The Friends monthly meeting was held on Thursday, February 16 at the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas. Our featured speaker was Karan Feder, President of Entertainment Exhibitions, and an icon of the fashion industry in Las Vegas. Karan has written 7 books, with her most recent due out this November, “Barbie Takes the Catwalk: an Icon’s Fashionable History”. Karan entertained the attendees with a colorful, picture history of Pete Menefee and his contributions to shows like “Jubilee” in Las Vegas. Karan referenced several times that the most complete exhibition of Menefee’s drawings and costumes exists at our own Nevada State Museum. The presentation was enjoyable and informative. Thank you Karan!
Prior to Karan’s discussion, the members held their monthly business meeting. Key items discussed were:
- We currently have a checking account of $34,203 and a savings account of $5,005.
- Our internal audit of our financial records was successfully completed.
- Amended By-Laws and Friends Handbook are now available on our website.
- The 2023 budget was approved. Our budgeted revenue is $46,650 and our expense plan is $42,050.
- The board approved the following fundraisers for the year:
- Four Pinot Palette painting events
- Summer Campaign
- 32Club Fall Gala
- Silent Auction
- Two book fairs
- Giving Tree (meeting activity only)
- The Board approved the purchase of name tags for all dues paying members.
WHAT: Friends Members’ Meeting
WHEN: Thursday, February 16 at 2:30 pm
WHERE: Nevada State Museum – 309 S. Valley View
WHO: All are welcome: members, Friends, visitors – no admission
The Friends of the Nevada State Museum Las Vegas welcome local historian and author Karan Feder to our February 16, 2023 meeting. Please join us for her fascinating program about the Museum’s unique collection of artworks from famed costume designer Pete Menefee.
Karan is an historian specializing in the study of performance costumes and fashion. She has authored seven published books. Her research explores and documents the iconic stage costumes of celebrities like Liberace, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis Presley. Inspired by the museum’s Folies Bergere collection, Karan’s book titled The Folies Bergere in Las Vegas provides the definitive examination of the legendary cabaret production. Her latest publication, Barbie Takes the Catwalk, An Icon’s Fashionable History is a dazzling coffee table book that visually draws direct links between popular culture, couturiers, and the fashion created for the Mattel Barbie doll. Karan assists private collectors and public institutions with the preservation, exhibition, and interpretation of their performance costume and fashion archives. Locally, Karan’s work is on display at The Mob Museum and David Copperfield’s the International Museum and Library of Conjuring Arts. Karan served as the State Museum’s volunteer guest curator of costume & textiles from 2013-2021.