Bauhaus Costume Parties (1920s)

The Bauhaus was a German art school (1919 to 1933) well known for its influence on design and for pioneering the way art schools are structured today. The Bauhaus is remembered as a major influence on modern design, but like many other schools, it was also known for its parties, celebrations, and festivals. A large part of the Bauhaus education was being immersed in art. This immersion extended to partying and nightlife. The school would host festivals on random occasions. If there was a windy day there was suddenly a "Festival of Aerial Games", students would construct kites, planes, and other flying devices. Other events included: lantern festivals, boxing, jazz, swimming during the summer, and dancing during the winter. These activities kept students immersed in creativity and kept them lively and alert. Bauhaus professor Johannes Itten often used the phrase "locker sein" (loosen up), since enjoyment and spirit were just as important as education and training.

The largest events of all were costume parties. These theatrical events featured custom costumes made with innovative techniques and appearance. Costume parties were also a spectacle. Students would make their costumes to fit the theme of the party. These bizarre costumes were often quite confusing playing with form and the human body often abstracting the wearer. Themes could range between all kinds of crazy things. One party was a metal party where costumes consisted of tin foil, silverware, pots, and pans. Attendees to the party slid down a chute into a room filled with silver balls and the sound of bells. Even the faculty participated in the costuming. A translated account from From Between Two Worlds: A Sourcebook of Central European Avant-Gardes describes the professors' costumes as "a rather grotesque menagerie." Kandinsky often dressed as an antenna, Itten's costume was an amorphous monster, Feininger dressed as two triangles, Moholy-Nagy as a segment transpierced by a cross, Gropius as Le Corbusier (a Swiss-French architect), Muche as an apostle of Mazdaznan, and Klee as the song of the blue tree. These parties and festivals formed a sense of community and collaboration. Students could network and exchange ideas at these events helping strengthen bonds and better their work. This fun culture built around Bauhaus helped challenge the students to be creative and experimental outside of their studies.