Material Girl in a Disposable World

Material Girl in a Disposable World...that's the title of my most recent piece, which was presented today at OCAD's UNDERCOVER show at the Great Hall. Five classes from sections of Creative Process and Research and Experimental Production (including photography, material arts and design and sculpture/installation) displayed their work by wearing their creations and struttin' it on a catwalk in front of an audience, live dj and panel of jurors. It was OCAD's version of PROJECT RUNWAY, with a fine arts twist. People had to make wearable structures that addressed issues of transformation, sexuality, identity, social/political issues, etc. I have to say, IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!! I really hemmed (no pun intended) and hawed about this project over the last 2 weeks b/c I was sick, not able to put the time into it that I wanted, and yet it all turned out to my surprise. So, to raise the stakes and to make it fun for all of us, there was prize money involved...about 5 gift bags from Aboveground Arts Supplies, 5 $25 gift certificates to Aboveground and 7 $100 cash prizes for the best pieces. It was a total inspirational gong show...everyone's right brains at their finest and our class really rocked it hard. I think our class had the highest percentage of wicked pieces AND awards.

So my piece, inspired by a modern day Marie Antoinette (thanks Sofia Coppola) was a french courtesan gown circa pre French Revolution and full period head piece, all of which were made from recycled plastic grocery bags and plastic kitchen garbage bags. My idea was to juxtapose extreme indulgence, over the top decadence and absurd consumption with the idea of recycling common materials in a present day world where it seems we are moving more and more towards disposable everything. I just went at it...starting with the collection of plastic bags over time, making sure to recycle rather than to ask for more from the grocers, then cutting them up and sewing layers upon layers of frills, gathers, tucking here, putting a dart there. My years of sewing really came in handy because I didn't even draft a pattern, just cut and sew, eye-balling it the whole way through. In the end, I was delighted with the result and excited about presenting in the show. Needless to say, I got on that catwalk and danced and pranced like nobody's business.

And the payoff....I WON!!!! I took home a Juror's Prize, chosen by the Dean of the Faculty Design himself....for $100!!!!!!! And that's just the sweetest recognition and validation that a girl can ask for. YAY!!!!!!!!!