UnDressed: An Exposé of Conceptual Garments and Accessories

EXHIBITION:
UnDressed: An Exposé of Conceptual Garments and Accessories
LOCATION:
PVAC, 37 Sudden Street Watsonville, CA 95076
SCICA, 1050 River Street, #127 Tannery Arts Center Santa Cruz, CA 95060
DATES: PVAC – May 7 - June 22, 2014 
Reception: Sunday, May 18 2:00 - 4:00pm

SCICA – May 7 – June 29, 2014
Reception: Friday, May 16 6:00 - 8:00pm


Tanniversary
Tannery Arts Center 5th Year! June 21, 12:00pm - 9:00pm

HOURS:
PVAC, Wednesday – Sunday, 11:00 – 4:00pm
SCICA, Wednesday – Sunday, 11:00 – 5:00pm
CONTACT:Rose Sellery, 831-227-1149 • [email protected]

PVAC: 831.722.3062 https://www.pajarovalleyartscouncil.org
SCICA https://www.scica.org

UnDressed explores the realm of apparel beyond the conventional limitations of fabric, needle and thread. Expect the unexpected in this exhibit of curious, intriguing, narrative garments and accessories that utilize traditional methods, as well as experimentation with unusual materials, tools and techniques to create surprising, witty and thought provoking conceptual pieces and installations. The exhibition, curated by Rose Sellery, will be held simultaneously in two galleries, Pajaro Valley Arts Council Gallery (PVAC) and the Santa Cruz Institute of Contemporary Art (SCICA).

Over forty artists are included in the two exhibits. A number of artists were invited to exhibit and a “Call for Entries” brought artists from around the world, across the country and from our own backyard applying to participate. Artworks shown at PVAC include Cassandra Straubing’s cast glass, toddler sized overalls, Chicago artist, Ellen Greene’s painted, tattoo inspired gloves, and a knit garment for conjoined twins by New Mexico artist, Laura Stanziola, as well as work by Jody Alexander, Andrea Borsuk, Victoria May, and Jane Gregorius, among others.

One artist, Charlotte Kruk of San Jose, labors over candy wrappers and packaging with the same intensity and craftsmanship as a haute couture seamstress. Her art pieces are made of hundreds of wrappers, each carefully stitched side by side, evolving into a new textile, creating garments of both wit and substance. Her pieces Traje de M&Matador and FlaM&Menco, made from M & M candy wrappers will be on view in the exhibition at PVAC. Among the other works at PVAC are the eerily, seductive garments constructed with hair by Stephanie Metz and the delightfully quirky examinations of stereotypes and clichés of womanhood by Virginia metalsmith, Alison G. Pack.
Renee Billingslea’s powerful installation commenting on lynching in America can be seen at the SCICA along with the serenely, disturbing video installation, Stitch Your Body by Scottish artist, Nina Faulk. Other works include the photographic documentation of the Tent Dresses by international artists, Robin Lasser and Adrienne Pao, as well as work by Shelby Graham, Roslyn Ritter, Dora Lisa Rosenbaum, Lynda Watson and others.

Each day we make a decision on what to wear. Whether consciously or unconsciously, the choices we make define us; the blue or the red, lavish or sedate, powerful or submissive… what to wear? There is something readily accessible about the nexus of clothing and art. From the de Young in San Francisco to the Metropolitan in New York to the Victoria and Albert in London and beyond, museums all over the world are embracing fashion art, and with enormous success. In this exhibit with needle and thread, paper, glass, hair, plastic and countless other media, the artists in UnDressed use the premise and metaphor of clothing to explore passions, identities, memories, and the very essence of being human.