Hats Off
A top hat seems extremely formal and proper and, in fact, is rarely worn today. Women donned bonnets to church and pill box hats to weddings. Even so, taking one’s hat off is seen as a formal gesture when an introduction is made, during the dinner hour, during prayer, as we sing our national anthem or when a person of high status enters the room. We can also say “hats off” to someone in recognition for their outstanding achievement. Here we look at several different individuals and groups of people who deserve our “hats off” recognition.
There is a “Hats Off: Salute to African Headwear” exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art in Washington DC. Adorning the body with creative crafts has been a longstanding tradition in African culture that expresses pride, individualism and cultural ideals. Some hats are meant to represent certain skills, as farmers and blacksmiths will wear different mens hats, for example. Different hats also indicate different status, as chiefs and royalty have their own special head-dresses. Materials used in hat-making are from the local landscape and additions like teeth, claws or hide are believed to give the wearer special powers. Imported shells, glass beads and buttons indicate wealth. At the exhibit, people can see Kongo hats dating back to the 15th century, 19th century Zulu tribe hats and a number of other special artifacts.
“Hats Off” is also a 2008 documentary about 93-year-old actress Mimi Weddell. According to filmmakers, Mimi has “the style and grace of Katharine Hepburn” and “the smoky wit and wisdom of Dorothy Parker.” At age 90, she was named one of New York Magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People in New York.” Upon the passing of her husband, Mimi’s acting career started at age 65. This film follows the hat wearing icon throughout her quest to redefine America’s perception of aging. She’s appeared in several movies, like Across the Universe, Dracula – Last Rites, Hitch and The Purple Rose of Cairo; TV shows like Law & Order, as well as Sex & the City; photo spreads in Vogue and Vanity Fair; and fashion print ads for Louis Vuitton, Burberry and Juicy Couture. This inspiring story looks at relationships, dreams and motivation, filmmakers say. More information can be found at www.hatsoffthemovie.com.
Furthermore, Hats Off is the name of a nonprofit children’s performing arts theatre in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Here kids aged 4 to 16 can participate in fun classes and camps that involve storytelling, screenplay writing, acting, improvisation comedy, puppetry and pantomime. Children may come to the theatre after school or during the summer for their 45-minute educational workshops. They also travel to various schools to spread their passion for drama. According to their Hats Off mission statement they are “devoted to building community through theatre and aspire for our students to understand drama and its significant role in society.” They want to share their belief that the arts are for everyone, whether they’re performing, working behind the scenes or seated in the audience. More information on this camp can be found at www.hatsofftheatre.com.
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