It was a delight to be an audience participant, out from the judge’s seat this year, and to enjoy the vibrancy and energy that this wonderful show represents.
With a clatter of chairs and excited kids, support people, anxious parents and chaos of the inevitable last minute stitches and glitches, Art to Wear to0to3, like the nine shows before it, begins with another sold out, packed house.
A slowing hum, lights down, judges and audience ready. The glitter, glam, nerves and wonderful diversity and creativity in our small community is on display and celebrated by all of us, as the first entrant steps up to the catwalk. Wow!
This year marks a turn; Jean Carbon, along with Lara Sweetman and others, steps down from her lead role in Art to Wear. She hands the reins to Liz Hosking who’s also been a long term participant, exhibitor, hard worker behind the scenes. Last night’s wonderful performance is a tribute to Lara’s early work in the area of Wearable Art and Jean’s continuing vision for a community wide event, which she began with her textile and fabric technology background, and as a way to both develop and become part of Raglan community.
With a large team of volunteers, judges, keen creatives, schools, parents and children over the years, the continuity of Art to Wear is now ensured. Everyone wants to be at the shows, always sold out. Art to wear goes from strength to strength and another generation begins their creative journey from kindergarten and onwards.
Children’s Section – Wing It (under 13s)
Inspired by ideas taking flight winging their way to fantastic formations. Feathers of thought. Let your ideas fly.
This section was a testament to imagination and fantasy and a universal love of the winged world. The children, nervous and excited took the audience into forests and oceans with an array of insect and bird forms, fae dragons, dryads, taniwha, and wonderful collaborations of recycled, animated and flickering lights. Many beautiful costumes created, glued and stitched entirely by the children, a credit to their hard work and support from whanau.
Open Section – Forest Flora – Kaitiakitanga
In the undergrowth amongst the moss and mushrooms. Mysteries growing from the ground up into creations of nature.
I was struck by the raw beauty and overriding sense of responsibility for our wider world in these stunning costumes, representing guardianship, stewardship, care for the planet, and other species. Many created from elements found in the Ngahere, featuring bark, twigs, lichens, moss. I imagine a lot of gluing and stitching behind the scenes. Mushrooms and mycelium spreading spores, revisiting forest creatures from ancient myths to remind us what’s at stake. Gorgeous goddesses dancing, beckoning, inspiring us always to think of the bigger picture.
Kaleidoscope Open Section – colour.
Prisms of exploding light. Riots of psychedelic shards, endless patterns. A cacophony of colour repeating in optical illusions. Bend it, break it create it.
We were treated to a colour bomb, a rainbow dance along the runway, endless patterns form other patterns, dissolving, reforming as models sashayed and strode along the catwalk. Some simple forms, once moving showing another and another layer of complexity. Rainbows shifting, moving. Nothing was what it seemed. A blast of colour. Even some gold kaleidoscope glasses doing the rounds in the audience to add to the wonder and illusions.
Open Section – Suit-able – Recycling a Suit or Coat
Does this suit me? Is it suitable? A suit of armour or suitable attire? If the suit fits…own it!!
Suits in all their forms, their formal structures disrupted, deconstructed, becoming something else. Back to work? Or off to the party in matching pants and jacket. A skirt of ties. Impressive ways a suit could be re thought and worn. Some remade from treasured jackets, repurposed. This section encouraged some original, clever and surprising design elements, carefully and cleverly crafted. From a monkey on a back, to a suit made of soft toys, from ties, old jackets, patches. All wearable and some fun hats, crossing the lines between formal and outrageous.
Choosing the winners and place getters from all of these innovative entries is always a challenge.
What’s next for Art to Wear?
To let go of a big inclusive project that is loved and keenly awaited by the community biannually, is always a big ask for the main players like Jean and her team, and for Liz stepping up to coordinate and celebrate as a new vision emerges. As Liz said, ‘these are big shoes to fill.’ However Jean is happy to be going on new adventures, ‘it’s time to move on.’ She’s off to Paris on Thursday for a well earned break and confident the Art toW ear event is in good hands. It will evolve and become imprinted by those who organise and support it in future years. A wonderful event and a well earned rest for everyone associated with it. Until next time.
By Wanda Barker | Images Mark Hamilton
