Wearable Art Show - The Match Up!

Okay, okay, I know, lots of posts about the Wearable Art Show, but it's the major thing happening in my life right now, so that's the way it is!

Last week I was the day I got paired with a local business!

I was excited and a little nervous for the pairing up.  Actually, I am a little bit nervous about the whole thing really. I mean, I am super excited to be chosen and to be participating, but putting something on a runway is a bit nerve-wracking! It's like people are seeing into my brain, and I don't want them to find it unappealing. It's a messy place up there, my brain, (aren't they all?) and all of us are choosey about what we share with others when it comes to our creations. I want to share my ideas, my creations, (my talent? my creativity?) but I want people to like it. I am not sure this feeling ever goes away... I also feel a bit like a phony, like I don't belong here. I have moments of confidence as well - I know I am creative and talented and that I have good ideas (although it feels weird to admit that to others).

So the pairing... I felt like I was on a blind date, nervous, excited, and nothing to do but accept who ever I got! Unlike online dating though, I feel that I can do wonderful things with this match, no matter which business it is! So ends the dating comparisons...

I am paired with..... (drumroll)... The Night Kitchen! Initial thoughts - cardboard and shiny things - yay!!!

The back of my car - cardboard and all sorts of shiny goodies in the garbage bag!

Shiny happy metal things after being washed!

I met the owner and was shown where the recycling is, and then I let the ideas percolate. The model is up on stage for the length of a song (my choice) and so the song is playing a large part in shaping my ideas. I Now have and idea for something that I hope will turn out well. I really want to wow people, like blow them away, but I think I put too much pressure on myself... a few people have pointed this out to me, and it's actually very helpful that they do that. I really do put too much pressure on myself, and at the same time I undervalue my skills and talent. I think I just need to do my best and have faith it will turn out! I also have post-show drinks to look forward to :)

Overall, what are my main hopes for this challenge? Well, to challenge myself, to grow as an artist and designer, and to have fun. I can't deny that I also hope for a little exposure! And also to not cut myself on the metal too much!

Wearable Art Show - the 2015 Creation

The Wearable Art Show is coming up soon, and this year I have been chosen to be a Runway Challenger! That means that myself and five other artists will each be paired with a local business and challenged to create a piece of wearable art using only items from that business. Last year I was a participant in the Open Call portion of the show, where anybody could choose to participate by making a piece of wearable art from anything, and get a model to wear it down the runway. Although most people chose to work with recyclables, I chose fabric since that's my thing, but I consider it wearable art since it is more of a show piece than something one would actually wear.

I wanted to do a sky-earth thing, but not in a mother godessy way (although it may come across as such). I made the top first, starting with a fitted bodice using a blue fabric... I think that's the only new fabric I used in this whole thing. Then I made strips of old green coloured bed sheets and then pieced them below the sky. I didn't want a harsh line of transition between the two, so I took long strips of bedsheets and braided them together and stitched them to the bodice in a sashing kind of way. Some braids are tight and some are loose, more noticeable up close.

The skirt is the dirt or the earth. I pieced it with old wool yardage and corduroy from large pieces, old pants, and also tweed from old coats. I love texture, so I also stitched it so that it tucked up and under in some places, just like how the earth is bumpy and uneven. I made braids of the wools and cords as well here. In between the grassy lower bodice and brown earth, I draped braids I made by combining green bedsheets and brown wool and cord.

The cloudy shoulder topper is something I needle felted. Despite several stabbing instances, it turned out fine!

And coming out from the bodice are little felled wool sweater birds that I attached to wire, so they are "flying" out from the piece. I think from far away they are not noticeable, but I needed to add that detail!

I truly enjoyed making this piece so much! I would love to display it somewhere but my house is so tiny and I would not be happy to see it gathering dust as it hangs up here (since I am lacking in the dusting department). So it hangs protected in my closet. Maybe I need to do some more fibre art and eventually have a show and I can display this piece with it?