Wearable Arts
The Council for the Arts presents an exhibit of wearable art as an investigation into how items worn on the body transcend functionality, becoming an expression of individuality, intention or perception.
Andrea Finch
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
An artist working primarily in fiber, with no fear of color, using the sewing machine as a pen and the fabric as paper, the creations call to be touched and observed from many angles. Her work can also be found at the Foundry Art Market, 100 South Main Street, Chambersburg.
Annika Dowd
Annika studied Art History at Wilson College and Applied History at Shippensburg University where she spent much of her time at the Fashion Archives. She enjoys exploring different forms of creativity, in particular knitting and silk painting.
Bradley Ray
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slayerbraxuscosplay
I am Braxus of SlayerBraxusCosplay. I have been a prop and replica builder for most of my life. In the last 12 years I was introduced to cosplay and have been using my skills since then to create awesome works of art for myself and fellow fans.
While the pieces in the show are custom and not for sale I do take commissions.
Brittany Shade
Website: www.etsy.com/shop/MirabellaTook
My Instagram: @mirabellatookcreations
Facebook: Mirabella Took Creations
Brittany Shade has been creating fantastical creatures, costumes, and artwork since she was a child. Attending Virginia Commonwealth University (BFA '09) and specializing in Sculpture created the foundation for the artistic endeavors that would follow. In the years since, she has been a professional set/prop designer for theatrical productions, escape rooms, and other attractions across the globe. Leatherwork is a skill that was self-taught in 2011 after wanting to make a set of leather armor for the Renaissance faire which has since become a primary personal artistic focus for this artist. Focusing mainly in the genres of fantasy, science fiction, steampunk, and historical drama; cosplay and wearable artistic pieces became an avenue to showcase her varied skills and aesthetic interests.
-Hawkgirl/Nike Costume - leather, foam, fabric, pvc, and ballistics material
Based on an illustration done by Sharon Berger (Sharon Rose Cosplay) for a group of cosplayers to depict the Justice League characters as Greek Gods/Goddesses. Each superhero was paired with a Greek God/Goddess that shared character traits and design elements. My mashup was of Hawkgirl and Nike who is the Goddess of Winged Victory, Nike is also the symbol of the Ancient Olympics which is why there are motifs of olive branches carved into the belt and why the costume was originally presented with a torch prop. (Prop not exhibited with the piece).
Emily Moglia
My name is Emily Moglia and I am a sophomore Psychology major and Art minor at Shippensburg University. My favorite medias are ink and graphite but whenever I'm not drawing, I'm painting. This is the 2nd time my art has been part of an art exhibition and I look forward to any future exhibitions.
The dress I made was a reference to the comments made toward Marilyn Monroe; she was only beautiful because of the clothes she wore in her photoshoots. In response to these comments, she did a photoshoot wearing an empty potato sack and still won the hearts of many. I wanted to recreate the feeling of those photos. I also wanted to create a sense of optimism in the time of the pandemic. Elegance can come from the darkest parts of our lives, making us stronger than we were before- building our character. This dress is made from a garbage bag, paper towel rolls, coffee filters, soda labels, and paper packaging. To most, these items are nothing more than pieces of trash we take for granted in our lives. To me, they are items that had yet to reach their full potential.
Erin Gillespie
Erin Gillespie (Casey) is a Chambersburg native and local elementary Art Teacher with a Shippensburg University degree. She enjoys creating in her spare time and her hobbies range from jewelry design, to painting, to repurposing furniture with her side business Junk & Disorderly. Her pieces for this collection draw their inspiration from nature. The shapes, textures, and colors in her work find balance while demanding consideration.
Ernest Frazier
My name is Ernest Frazier. I am an English Professional/Creative writing major with a minor in Art at Shippensburg University. I am a cartoonist at heart, whose artistic movements in style pays great nods to Fleischer, rubber-hosed animations. As an artist, I pride myself on ensuring that all works under my name are both timeless and showcases evolved quality with each successive piece. That said, with endless remarks of a potential purge due to unforeseen circumstances of 2020, I decided to construct a purge outfit that I would wear should said event come to pass. In the end, I birthed a beast rather than articles of clothing.
Kaitlyn Durff
My Instagram: n.i.c.c.r.e.a.t.e.s
I’m an artist who strives to make art that is both visually pleasing and thought provoking. I enjoy creating illustrations but work in a variety of media including ceramics, sewing, painting, digital, and more. What remains consistent among the majority of my work is a simplistic and illustrative style focusing on inclusiveness and representation, presenting themes that are considered difficult to discuss by American society.
Piece description: My 3D design class was assigned to create a wearable garment made of non traditional materials, but I was limited to using plastic bags and basic art supplies. I wanted to create a piece that was both aesthetically pleasing but also thought provoking, so I decided to create a skirt and top with an elegant silhouette and to cover it with dark hand prints. This piece represents how past traumas can create permanent mark on the victim but doesn’t make them any less beautiful, but also brings attention to a difficult topic that needs to be discussed more as it is so prevalent in so many people’s lives.
Size: roughly US 8-10
Katherine Grahl
Through her artwork, Katherine Grahl searches for personal, tactile encounters with history. She explores historical methods of sewing and painting as a way to develop understanding and empathy for lost generations and cultures. She holds a B.A. in studio art and works in her studio in Western Maryland.
Kimberly Braet
My Instagram: @scribblesofanawkwardnug
My name is Kimberly Braet and I am a sophomore at Shippensburg University. I study drawing and sculpture and intend to get my art teaching certification. I hope to create art that utilizes unique processes and materials which end in aesthetically pleasing and thought-provoking works. In the process, I want to contribute to the welfare of our environment by using recycled materials, like the repurposed jeans and buttons used in my “Cute as a Button” piece.
Typically I do charcoal and graphite drawings, but since it’s still early in my college journey I intend to branch out to new mediums.
A brief description of the history behind the work: This piece was a project for my 3D-design course taught by Professor Dolbin. He continues to push me and my peers to get creative about what we consider traditional materials, and encourages recycling and repurposing. My goal was to create a traditionally elegant garment out of fabrics not typically seen as elegant and beautiful. I want to challenge viewers to see everyday items that may otherwise end up in landfills as things to be kept and loved.
Mary Seay
Facebook Art Page -https://m.facebook.com/maryseay98/
Instagram - @primary319
Art Shop - https://maryseaycreations.bigcartel.com/
Email - jazzgurl_10@hotmail.com
Mary Seay has been creating wearable art for about 5 years now. She has been best known as a visual artist/painter. She has been expanding her creativity and creations to more of a wearable art form. She hand paints unique pieces of clothing items and creates one of a kind neck art pieces. She currently lives in Shippensburg,Pa, but has lived in Franklin county most of her life.
“To be a walking pieces of art is a powerful and extravagant energy”. She wants people to feel good, powerful, energized, and enlightened when wearing her art.
She is available for customizations and you can even bring your own clothes for her to create with!
Marianne Herr-Paul, D.O.
I am a Biodynamic Cranial Osteopath and have used my hands to treat people for nearly 30 years. About 15 years ago, while recovering from an illness, I was taken with the healing world of art, leading to a whole new use of my hands.
First, giant needles with fuzzy yarn, then water-coloring, and finally FIBER, and COLOR, and TEXTURE emerged as the most compelling tools and teachers for me. And so I became a fiber artist.
Melanie Ryan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cryptic_cat_art/
Melanie Ryan hails from New Jersey and is currently residing in Perry County, Pennsylvania. Starting at a young age, it was crayons and pencils as an artistic outlet. As her study of art became a focus, she learned to use acrylic, oil, and watercolor while exploring different mediums including; abstract art, cartoons, pet portraits, cosplay, scale miniature building, painting, and digital art.
Shippensburg University served as a catalyst for her career studying for and earning her Bachelor's of Arts in Art. It is her love and curiosity for the many forms of art that lead her to the cosplaying community and the guiding hand of fellow student and now great friend, Liz Miller. The cosplaying world has grown in popularity the past few years and it is the process of bringing fiction to reality that really captured Melanie's imagination.
Melanie serves the Commonwealth full-time as her day job. Her free time is where you can find her at her art table working on commissions, exploring her own ideas, and exercising other creative muscles. Melanie is accepting commissions at this time if you are looking for a talented artist to work with.
Michelle Little
Michelle Little MS, LPC
Sewing, cooking, creating and learning my way through the world! Mental Health Therapist by day @the_walkingtherapist and wannabe sailer/explorer @alittlesailing and creator most other times.
This collection was created over the last 15 years and represents growth in skills, designs, and my philosophy about textiles and the fashion industry. We are all drowning in fast fashion and the textile industry is the 3rd largest polluter of our worlds waterways. The idea of couture recycling and repurposing inspired me to use what I already have, find vintage and dead stock fabric, and shop at thrift stores for materials.
Pamela Bartl
Website: www.jesamiehandwovens.com
For more than thirty nine years, my creativity has been focused on designing, creating and marketing my handwoven cotton clothing line. “Jesamie Handwovens”, at juried art shows.
Rebecca Marotte
Rebecca works with a wide variety of media and and enjoys sharing this knowledge through teaching. Unable to choose one media to work with she often experiments by combining as many of them as possible.
How I made a sweater from start to finish.
First, I ordered raw wool fleece, preferably Romney or Leicester. Next, I wash it a little at a time in my sink with dawn dish soap, hang it out to dry on my porch on screens, and finally I brush it with hand carders. After watching YouTube I learned how to spin with a Turkish spindle that creates a pull bell that is the easiest to work with. Then I pull the yarn out of the ball from the center pull string and wrapped it around my hand to elbow and then tied it at two places with yarn.
Once I’ve decide what colors I wanted, I put about 7 of those into a stainless steel pot with ½ to 1 cup of white vinegar and either easter egg tablets or food coloring and fill with hot water. I leave in simmering pot until the water comes clear about an hour or more and then wash with dawn using hot water and a little hair conditioner. I then let it set 20 minutes followed by a rinse always using same temperature or it will felt. Hang out on a broom stick or whatever to dry.
Next, I spindled it again for pull balls. I do not use a pattern for the sweater I just knit and or crochet what I think will fit just about anybody. Sometimes if it is for me, I will crochet my angora bunny hair around anywhere it may touch my skin like neck or wrist.
I have been knitting or crocheting all my life and find it peaceful especially when my life had traumas, I would find a difficult pattern like a pineapple string tablecloth that took almost a year, so my life isn’t wasted in tears and regret. Then and now I look at that tablecloth and feel so good about myself. Like wow I did that and believe me when making one of those with all those intense directions you cannot think about anything but that.
I could never sit still and do nothing. I always keep my fingers going in something. Love to all and everybody should learn to spin.
Vera Mackey
Want to be a sponsor for this fantastic project?
As a entrepreneur or business, being involved in your community is a vital element of authentic engagement with your community and showing your customers that you care! We’d love to offer you the chance to be a community partner with the Council For The Arts. Contact us to find out how we can work together to make our community better.
gallery@councilforthearts.net
(717) 264-6883
103 N Main Street, Chambersburg, PA 17201