Wearable Art, Aaacckkk!

Sorry, I just think the term is a very hackneyed phrase.What does it conjure up for you?

A couple of different things come to mind, all of this philosophizing being spurred on by a snoop shopping trip and a possible interpretation of some RTW I saw.

The first thing I think of when the term "wearable art" is heard between these two ears are visions of patchwork vests with Ohio Stars pieced on the back. Don't get me wrong here. I love quilters. I love quilting fabrics. I was a quilter for many many years. (blush) I even made one of those vests, well, mine was a jacket. But some how in quilting magazines and guilds across America  this use of traditional quilt patterns and 100% cotton came to be called wearable art. Is it? No, it is a quilted vest. JM2cents FWIW.

The next thought I have, and more to my way of thinking, is the work of the likes of Lois and Dianne Ericson, Marcy Tilton, etc. I like their work. It shows a reintrepretation of garment lines. Seams are creatively used. Closures come forefront. Books were published and patterns were made. I read the books, found them very inspiring. I bought the patterns and loved those too. This work definitely was hatched from an artistic mind that found inspiration in nature, architecture, ect.  I sure have made a few of these too. At this age of mine, however, I am finding many of the styles really are not that flattering to me. They are great canvases, and tell the world what I am capable of, but do they look good on me? Not often, at least at this stage. They look fabulous on some and there are great examples of that. They just never really worked for me and now I finally admit it. Maybe I am just too small to carry of some canvasses. That doesn't mean their wonderful work won't seduce me again at some time. And I need to give thanks here, too. My interpretations of their inspirations made me think out of the box and taught me a lot. I am so thankful for that.

Thought three is just amazing wearable art. This is the stuff of fabric challenges, national competitions, and the studio of Summerset Banks. Those who make this type of wearable art are artists, skilled artists. They bring to the table tremendous sewing and drafting skills. Their creativity bounds in their interpretations of themes. This is no holds barred sewing, the stuff of fantasies. I love this work. I am inspired by this work. I am very impressed by those who practice it well. But alas, I can't wear fantasy either.

So here I am trying to find my expression of wearable art. First, I would like to call it something else. I just haven't thought of what yet. It would be truly wearable. It may turn a few heads but not look out of sync with its environment. It is more than just line and color. It is the employment of textures, embellishments, paints, technique to die for. It is way thinking out of the box for a garment that could actually be worn shopping, to church, to a wedding. It is the coat felted with polka dots by Shams. Actually it is a lot of stuff by Shams. She is really good at making truly wearable art. It is the painted lining Caroline, the Sewing Fanatic, did for one of her TNT garments. Whoodathunkit? She did and her lining was fabulous. It could be one of Sivje's, aka Goose Girl's, interpretations of childrens clothing. Sivje thinks sooo creatively to make original very wearable gorgeous clothing for children. No fluff and stuff here. Her "Olivia" dress, all from her hands and mind is the stuff of dreams and I think she could launch a career on that dress alone.

So we are talking more than color, line, fabric, and drape here. And above all, it is truly wearable. Can we not think up a new name for this? It's bugging the crap out of me......Bunny