HAT CITY: The Hat-Making History of the Oranges

The West Orange Public Library invites artwork submissions for HAT CITY, a group exhibition inspired by the Oranges’ history as a global hat-making hub in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Artists, artisans, designers, milliners, and other creators are invited to submit works of art in any format or media, including three-dimensional works, wearable art, and–of course!–hats. 

Apply here: tinyurl.com/HatCityArt

Key Dates:

New, extended deadline: Friday, January 24, 2025
Installation: Feb 27-Mar 4, 2025
Exhibit dates: March-April, 2025

Exhibition Scope:

From 1852-1921, the Oranges were home to as many as 50 hat factories, over 30 of them concentrated in the Orange Valley, located in present-day Orange and West Orange. In its peak period, these factories had capacity to make 30-40,000 hats per day. In 1892 alone, nearly 4.8 million hats were produced for global sale. These included some of the biggest hat manufacturers of the era, like F. Berg & Co. and the Stetson family’s No Name Hat Company. 

The hat-making sector shaped the labor market and social fabric of the Oranges. When the industry thrived, business owners prospered and employed thousands of workers, many of immigrant origin. But when the industry suffered, the community suffered alongside it, leaving workers unemployed and households in poverty.

Even prosperous times came at a cost: exposed to toxic chemicals like mercury used in the felting process, many workers developed severe neurological damage in a condition that came to be known as “mad hatter syndrome.” 

Hat City will incorporate contemporary works of art by regional artists into a historical exhibit spotlighting this local history. We invite art that connects to any strand of this story. Whether your work features hats–worn today or in the past, made locally or across the globe, famous from literature or art, fantastical hats of your own imagination–or whether your inspiration comes from the materials and processes used to make the hats, the lives of the people  who made them, or the structures and landscapes of the era, we invite you to dive into this history and interpret this theme expansively.

Rules & Eligibility

• Works in all formats, mediums, and styles will be considered.
• Open to professional or amateur artists, artisans, designers, milliners, and other creators of all experience levels and ages. 
• Creators may be based anywhere geographically, but are encouraged to highlight any ties to the Oranges, Essex County, and New Jersey where applicable.
• All work to be hung on walls must be wired for hanging using the Library’s STAS cable hanging system. 

To Apply:

The submission process consists of two steps: 

Step 1: Complete the Hat City Exhibit Online Submission Form.

Step 2: E-mail image files of the art listed in your submission form to: dpopowski@westorangelibrary.org

Image files should be attached in JPG or PNG format and clearly labeled with the artist's last name, artwork title, and artwork dimensions, e.g. LastName_Title_Dimensions

example:  Kahlo_TheTwoFridas_68x68

Include in the body of your email the following information, as listed on your form:

• name
• email
• telephone number
• title(s) of all works being submitted for consideration 

** Both Step 1 and Step 2 must be taken for applications to be considered complete.

Questions? email Deborah at: dpopowski@westorangelibrary.org