During the 1936 Berlin Olympics Jesse Owens, an African American competing for the United States, won four gold medals and became the winningest American Olympian to that date. There’s a sidebar to that story many don’t know. While at those Olympics German shoemaker Adi Dassler, boldly offered a pair of bespoke Modell Waitzers athletic shoes to Owens. Owens tested out the shoes. Dassler eventually became the founder of Adidas.
Here’s another story: Once upon a time a Portland State University student name Carolyn Davidson earned $35 for designing a logo for a new company. She later got an undisclosed amount of company stock for her Nike Swoosh.
These facts and how sneakers influence culture, fashion and art is revealed in Out of the Box: The Rise of Sneaker Culture a new special exhibition at the Speed Museum. The national traveling exhibition, organized by American Federation of the Arts and the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto, is the first museum exhibition in the United States to look at the complex social history and design evolution of the sneaker.
Out of the Box includes more than 150 sneakers (including Modell Watizers), plus film footage, photographic images and design drawings that illustrate the social history, technical innovation, fashion trends and marketing campaigns that have shaped contemporary sneaker culture.
While you may not remember British Knights, and you probably want to forget your pink hi-top Reeboks, there’s no doubt that you will wish you could still fit into some original Air Jordans (Chuck Taylors or Stan Smiths), all of which, are on display. As you walk down memory lane be sure to take in the vibrant graffiti of artist Braylyn Stewart, which tags the space.
Many of the designs in Out of the Box have rarely, if ever, been exhibited publicly. Exhibit highlights include an 1860s spiked running shoe, a 1923 Converse All Star/Non Skid, a pair of 1936 track shoes, the original Nike Air Force 1, early Adidas Superstars and contemporary sneaker collaborations with Damien Hirst, Christian Louboutin and Kanye West. Regional icons John Wall, Rajon Rondo, and shoes from the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky are also showcased.
“We understand the legendary love Kentuckians have for sports in this state,” says Scott Erbes, Chief Curator, Speed Art Museum. “We want to have fun with this, as well, and draw in crowds who might not normally visit the Speed. We are including many events, special tours and some surprises along the way that will be a draw. There will truly be something for all ages.”
A wide variety of events, films and family activities will also focus on the exhibit. Be sure to check out free outdoor showings of classic old-school hip hop films Breakin’ (September 15, at Dusk), Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo (September 22, Dusk) and Beat Street (September 29, Dusk).
Out of the Box: The Rise of Sneaker Culture runs through November 27, 2016. “Out of The Box” is a special exhibit carrying an additional $8 entry fee, or $6 for members. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, noon-5 p.m.
