Barry Kay’s mother in her wedding dress, 1924
Gelatin silver photograph
15.1 x 26 cm; 5.95 x 10.24 ins
mounted on card
board Author: Spencer Shier, art photographer
Backing board blind embossed recto, lower right: Spencer – Shier, Howey House, 246 Collins St., Melbourne

Ruby Kay, née Kemelfield

In creating costumes, Barry Kay’s mother and his aunt Dolly, both extremely fashion-conscious ladies, were an endless source of inspiration. The way they dressed provided him with a wealth of ideas. They keep recurring in a great number of his character costumes in a variety of ballets he designed.