In conjunction with Art Central’s third annual birthday bash being held as part of First Thursdays the Alberta College of Art and Design’s wearable art class presents the innovative fashion performance Art: New Vogue opening November 1.
Instructor Dee Fontans works with 18 interdisciplinary students who have come together to create the exhibition. The class focuses on the professional logistics of producing a public performance as well as designing and constructing conceptual clothing. Concepts explored in this year’s performance deal with issues of gender nature disease and the use of alternative materials and garments.
Artist Julie Baratta a fourth-year fibre major introduces ideas of printed fabrics and their relationship to the body by incorporating her prints with disease-inspired motifs. “Like disease printed fabrics and garments can latch to the body invade the body and ultimately transform the body” she says. She emphasizes her point by creating removable bustles from her printed fabrics that literally latch onto and transform the shape of the body. Baratta’s printed repeat patterns will also be featured in the November-December Fiberarts magazine for the third annual student showcase.
Sculpture major Janet Mader also brushes up against the theme of disease with a garment composed of feathers and medieval masks worn by doctors who treated the bubonic plague. The costume exaggerates aspects of the body giving a humorous glow to objects whose original intent was to inspire despair. Mader’s work can also be seen at Swirl Fine Art and Design located in Art Central.
The evening will also feature music from Heather Rose Johnson alongside classmates Alexandra Burdeyney and Michelle Sparks.
