Regalia Rueful
Fri, November 6, 2009 at 6:28PM EDIT: Nov 7th---REGALIA had nothing to do with Make It, in the previous post. TWO different shows.
Mmm, quite a production.There were at least 40 models and the place was packed to the gills. Art Central has an inner atrium that is 3 stories with stairs going down through in 5 levels and the models strutted their stuff up and down to a roaring soundtrack, shouts of approval, flashing lights, video and camera. Dee was the MC and wearing one of her infamous Birthday Bras was visibly excited and proud of both her students and Art Central's fifth birthday. (Photos that turned out tomorrow in follow up post, maybe some video...)
BUT, and this is a BIG but--where was the cutting edge, the unexpected, the experimental????????? While using and recycling plastics, bags, silk flowers, duct tape and yards of cheap tulle may result in a few pleasant moments, there was no edginess, no OMG moments, no real art. I may make local enemies with this, but i was quite disappointed in the end. Oh the music and the crowd and the posturing made the show involving, but the "regalia" was not Regalia. "....feature some combination of precious materials, artistic merit, and symbolic or historical value." Are the schools here simply too conservative, the lesson plans too narrow, the reference and research too rural? Are we afraid we will offend the teachers, or would we rather make our course scores than art?
When i first started using a computer, one of the first things i spent hours on-line "cruising" was wearable art, in all its permutations. I found everything from just plain wierd role playing costuming and historical re-creation, computer electronics to wear (the precursors of ipods and hands-free technology), boxy patchwork sweatshirts and then stunning painted silks, Carter Smith shibori dresses, Fraas and Slade coats and Australia and New Zealands WOW (World of Wearable Art). For stretches of 8 hours at a time, i found things that amazed me, horrified, amused and awed me, gave me feverish plans and a crowded brain--and that was 10 years ago. Where's the stretching that could compete now with what's out there???????? Aren't these kids exposed and introduced to any of this?
Where are this generation's ShaSha Higby (my own personal favourite from waaaaaaaay back!), Estelle Akamine, Nick Cave, Barbara Setsu Pickett and Billy Bowery, Zandra Rhodes and Kaisik Wong? Admittedly, a lot of these artists have progressed from their performance artwear of the 60's and 70's (will have to post photos in older books i have--follow-up tomorrow ) to new directions and mediums/media, (and Kaisik Wong has passed on to the Great Runway in the Sky) but still....archives do exist, people! Thank god for people like Danny Mansmith, Lori Marsha and Outsapop!
Now fer petezake, google wearable art!
Educating R.i.t.a. in n0v/09 
Reader Comments (4)
So maybe they play safe to make sales?