Wearing Your Art on Your Sleeves!

INSIGHT STAFF

It's not that unusual to make your own clothes, right? But you may think it's unusual to make them out of garbage bag twist ties, Sweet'n Low packets or inflatable pieces of plastic. That is unless you've ever seen one of Richmond's Wearable Art shows.

Assuming all goes well, this will be year seven for the event. In the show, professional artists as well as VCU students create and model their unique clothing creations for a typically sold out audience.

Wearable Art 6 was held at Richmond's 1708 Gallery back in October. Judges chose "Inflatable Metamorphosis" by VCU sculpture student Charlie Roberts as best-in-show. Roberts' creation was made of clear sheets of plastic that he gradually inflated using a portable air pump. Roberts received a $1,000 scholarship as the show's big winner.

A $500 scholarship went to Katelyn Brehony's "Black Tie Affair." The little black dress was constructed of 3,000 four-inch-long garbage bag twist ties.

Wearable Art was created as a benefit for the 1708 Gallery and every year the show gets bigger. In 2003, there were 80 pieces submitted for the competition and about 400 guests showed up to watch the funky fashion show. Plans are already underway for a Wearable Art 7 in the fall of 2004.