The Caryatid Hairstyling Project, led by Dr. Katherine Schwab at Fairfield University in Connecticut, aimed to recreate the hairstyles of the caryatids—the six female figures that support the temple porch on the Acropolis in Athens—on student volunteers. The project sought to understand if the elaborate hairstyles depicted on the sculptures were realistic representations of ancient Greek hairstyles or artistic conventions. Dr. Schwab and her students worked together with a hairdresser to replicate the styles, which included both crown and fishtail braids. They also discovered that, although the styles could be replicated on all types of hair, it was much easier to braid wavy, Mediterranean hair.

The event at DVAA will occur in two parts. It will begin with a screening of a short, 20-minute video about Dr. Schwab’s project, followed by a hands-on demonstration of crown braiding by Stephanie Manzi. This workshop is organized by Virginia Maksymowicz, as part of her solo exhibition at DVAA in November, Comparisons. Join us to learn a more in-depth perspective of the work on view and a new skill!

Workshops at DVAA, unfortunately, now cost money after years of being offered for free due to decreased funding. If you are unable to attend due to a cost barrier, please reach out to us and we will find a sponsor to cover your ticket.