Sense of Drama, Creativity Rule at MICA's "Eclectic" Fashion Show; DC Event Set for June
Seventeen young and emerging designers, along with a large contingent of fresh-faced models, strutted their stuff at the 15th Annual Benefit Fashion Show at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) on April 19.
The event, held in Baltimore at Brown Center's Falvey Hall, was organized around a central theme of fashion's influence on personal identity. In keeping with that theme, a recurring motif was the mask rendered in a variety of media, such as painting and fiber work. Masks served to both obscure and reveal identity in a variety of ingenious ways.
There was never a dull moment as the models glided, swirled, and danced their way through the program. Influences ranged from retro, to the prairie, to sadomasochism.
Jewel colors alternated with earth tones. The audience was treated to human forms with and without faces; a giant piece of pizza, complete with broccoli and sunglasses; Middle Eastern- and romanesque flowing tunics, robes and veils; and an evocative/provocative, irreverent rendition by Katie Coble of what appeared to be a suicide martyr who turned his weaponry into a seat and thus turned the tables on expectations.
A show-stealer was Christina Kaputsos' spectacle of prancing mythological creatures, rendered in red and white,
beginning with a figure best described as Li'l Bo Peep meets Cleopatra, and culminating in a giant giraffe. In this photo, we see a big cat's head, perhaps that of a cougar or cheetah, on a man with a body to match.
Kaputsos explained that "I hand make all of the paper used in constructing each garment and individually dye and decorate each piece. I also incorporate found items such as tissue paper and newsprint. I drew inspiration from Indian, Tibetan, Japanese, Chinese, and Middle Eastern cultures and their portraits of women and women in myth. With my collection I tell the story of the goddess within every woman."
Another show-stopper was a series of sugary, carnival-like confections by Hayley Griffin, who seems to be making a point (often lost in more conventional, cliched fashion shows featuring nonstop angst-ridden, anorexic, angry heroin-chic models schlepping unenthusiastically down the runway): that fashion should be fun. 
Griffin's models wore confetti shirts in vibrant colors and handed off balloons to each other.
The show was sponsored by MICA's Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Programs and benefited the college's Mentoring Network, a support program for African American students.
Proceeds from the annual benefit show provide scholarships for network participants.
Under the direction of Dr. Frankie Martin, Director of Multi-Ethnic Student Programs, this year's show was organized by two MICA students, Kenyatta Hinkle, a junior painting major with a minor in culture and politics, and Phylicia Ghee, a sophomore photography major.
Individual designers and designer teams included Karen Boyer, Ashley Charit, Katie Coble, Jillian Coratti, Avelina Dougan, Brandy Godsil, Hayley Griffin, Kendra Lee Hebel, Gabrielle Jolly, Christina Kaputsos, Melody Lin, Sam Margherita, Erin McAleavy and Kaelie Barnard, Lotfy Nathan and Cole Shapiro, and Candace Steiger.
Additional information about the designers and the MICA fashion show is available at MICA's Web site (scroll down for statements from the artists).
In other news, on Saturday, June 14, 2008, the first-ever "Art in Fashion" show will be held at Artomatic, the largest DC-area visual and performing arts multi-day nonprofit event. "Art in Fashion" will combine the creative efforts of artists and the sense of style of designers in a unique independent artistic extravaganza. Artists are invited to contribute ideas and to participate in this event as a textile/fabric designer, model (various categories), make-up artist, photographer, design consultant, or in any artistic area that can be displayed in movement on a catwalk or runway. Costume and fashion design, performance art, dance, mime, hair design, body piercing, body paint, tattoo art, and others will be featured. Wall art and standing displays are also being sought. There is no charge for participation in "Art in Fashion."
For more information and/or to discuss your ideas and talents, e-mail producer Mac Traore at dcmusicforrelief@aol.com.
Photos by MCN Entertainment, Inc.
Tags: fashion, Maryland Institute, Artomatic
The event, held in Baltimore at Brown Center's Falvey Hall, was organized around a central theme of fashion's influence on personal identity. In keeping with that theme, a recurring motif was the mask rendered in a variety of media, such as painting and fiber work. Masks served to both obscure and reveal identity in a variety of ingenious ways.There was never a dull moment as the models glided, swirled, and danced their way through the program. Influences ranged from retro, to the prairie, to sadomasochism.
Jewel colors alternated with earth tones. The audience was treated to human forms with and without faces; a giant piece of pizza, complete with broccoli and sunglasses; Middle Eastern- and romanesque flowing tunics, robes and veils; and an evocative/provocative, irreverent rendition by Katie Coble of what appeared to be a suicide martyr who turned his weaponry into a seat and thus turned the tables on expectations.
A show-stealer was Christina Kaputsos' spectacle of prancing mythological creatures, rendered in red and white,
beginning with a figure best described as Li'l Bo Peep meets Cleopatra, and culminating in a giant giraffe. In this photo, we see a big cat's head, perhaps that of a cougar or cheetah, on a man with a body to match.
Kaputsos explained that "I hand make all of the paper used in constructing each garment and individually dye and decorate each piece. I also incorporate found items such as tissue paper and newsprint. I drew inspiration from Indian, Tibetan, Japanese, Chinese, and Middle Eastern cultures and their portraits of women and women in myth. With my collection I tell the story of the goddess within every woman."
Another show-stopper was a series of sugary, carnival-like confections by Hayley Griffin, who seems to be making a point (often lost in more conventional, cliched fashion shows featuring nonstop angst-ridden, anorexic, angry heroin-chic models schlepping unenthusiastically down the runway): that fashion should be fun. 
Griffin's models wore confetti shirts in vibrant colors and handed off balloons to each other.
The show was sponsored by MICA's Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Programs and benefited the college's Mentoring Network, a support program for African American students.
Proceeds from the annual benefit show provide scholarships for network participants.
Under the direction of Dr. Frankie Martin, Director of Multi-Ethnic Student Programs, this year's show was organized by two MICA students, Kenyatta Hinkle, a junior painting major with a minor in culture and politics, and Phylicia Ghee, a sophomore photography major.
Individual designers and designer teams included Karen Boyer, Ashley Charit, Katie Coble, Jillian Coratti, Avelina Dougan, Brandy Godsil, Hayley Griffin, Kendra Lee Hebel, Gabrielle Jolly, Christina Kaputsos, Melody Lin, Sam Margherita, Erin McAleavy and Kaelie Barnard, Lotfy Nathan and Cole Shapiro, and Candace Steiger.Additional information about the designers and the MICA fashion show is available at MICA's Web site (scroll down for statements from the artists).
In other news, on Saturday, June 14, 2008, the first-ever "Art in Fashion" show will be held at Artomatic, the largest DC-area visual and performing arts multi-day nonprofit event. "Art in Fashion" will combine the creative efforts of artists and the sense of style of designers in a unique independent artistic extravaganza. Artists are invited to contribute ideas and to participate in this event as a textile/fabric designer, model (various categories), make-up artist, photographer, design consultant, or in any artistic area that can be displayed in movement on a catwalk or runway. Costume and fashion design, performance art, dance, mime, hair design, body piercing, body paint, tattoo art, and others will be featured. Wall art and standing displays are also being sought. There is no charge for participation in "Art in Fashion."
For more information and/or to discuss your ideas and talents, e-mail producer Mac Traore at dcmusicforrelief@aol.com.
Photos by MCN Entertainment, Inc.
Tags: fashion, Maryland Institute, Artomatic
posted by Christine M. Hanson | 6:54 PM
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