Lady Gaga's meat dress in 'Women Who Rock' museum exhibit
A visitor to the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington looks at the raw meat dress once worn by singer-composer Lady Gaga. (Sept. 7, 2012) Credit: Getty Images
A new exhibit centered on women's political contributions to music history includes Lady Gaga's meat dress, among 250-some other iconic artifacts.
"Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power," from Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, is now on display at Washington, D.C.'s National Museum of Women in the Arts.
Curator Meredith Rutledge-Borger told The Associated Press the exhibit spotlights "first ladies of rock" -- 70 total, including Ma Rainey, Cher, Tina Turner, Loretta Lynn and Madonna -- who have injected politics into their music.
"This really is the center of our political life," Rutledge-Borger told the AP during the Washington opening. "Bringing this exhibit here kind of redefines what's important in our history and political life . . . at a time when there's talk of women being under attack in politics."
In addition to Gaga's meat dress, which she wore to the 2010 MTV Music Video Awards, the exhibit includes Lynn's song "The Pill," released in 1975.
The touring "Women Who Rock" remains in D.C. through Jan. 6 before moving to Omaha, Seattle and, finally, Phoenix.
For more information, and a listing of the many (especially teen-focused) programs connected with the Washington exhibit: nmwa.org.
