Wearable Art Blog

Judith Hoyt at The Society of Arts and Crafts in Boston

A fun way to usher in the new year might be to see the "From Minimal to Bling" show that's on display until January 2nd at The Society of Arts and Crafts in Boston. This biannual show features the 'best' of American contemporary studio jewelry from artists at various stages of their careers.  

One artist in the show whose work caught my eye is Judith Hoyt from New York, who has been making jewelry for over 20 years. A 'collagist', Hoyt fastens found metal directly onto a wooden structure and uses tiny metal rivets to hold the metal in place (you can see the rivets on the perimeter and center of the brooches shown here). Hoyt's brooches look deceptively simple, even primitive, but they're compelling, too. 

  
Hoyt says this about her work: "My collages are about old materials used to create new work depicted in scraps of paper, fabric, and found metal. I rescue metal from alongside the road, pages from old books, and discarded fabrics...."

I love that you can see the barcode on the brooch (above) or the fat content on the nutrition label (below) and even the corrosion of the metal. This combined with the close up of the faces or the bird and the lively colors make the brooches very engaging. You can see more at Facèré Jewelry Art Gallery.

Happy New Year and best wishes to you for an inspired, creative, and productive 2010! 

  

 

Art Shoes by Tetsuya Uenobe

 

Duck Shoe

Tetsuya Uenobe refers to his playful shoes as "wearable art." Originally from Japan, Uenobe left there to attend the London College of Fashion and learn how to make shoes the old fashioned way, by hand. Back in Japan now, Uenobe answered some of my questions about his artful shoes. 

Please tell me about what led you to become a shoe designer?

It's been like a Janapese proverb, "The mummy-hunter himself becomes a mummy." I was not interested in fashion at all before getting a job at a men's clothing catalog. As the merchandiser for men's footwear and leather accessories, I had to choose designs, colors, sizes and so on. I met lots of craftsmen during that time and was getting immersed in their world. But now I am in the middle of it as a shoe designer. This is why I mention the proverb.

Did anyone inspire you? 

The Japanese shoe designer Tokio Kumagi was amazing. He made unusual shoes in the 1980s with a mix of materials that were playful and hand-painted. Sometimes, his shoes were inspired by animals, like his "Swan" or "Mouse" shoes or by the works of artists like Dali or Kandinsky. Another designer who inspres me is the innovative Dutch designer Jan Jansen. His shoes are like sculptures. High heeled womens' sneakers or the bamboo shoes that are on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York are two of his best-known examples.

 
Vicious Foot

You offer regular shoes for sale and 'wearable art' shoes. Do you make all the shoes yourself?    

I make all of my shoes by hand. I use only hand tools except a sewing machine for the upper part of the shoe.

What made you decide to make shoes by hand?

At the beginning, I tried to find a factory to make my ideal shoes, like commercial shoe companies. But I could not find any. So, I decided to make my shoes by hand. I went to London to learn how to make shoes from a bespoke shoemaker for two and a half years.

 
Cling Shoe

What is the inspiration behind the 'art' shoes?

It may be taking a rest and getting refreshed. If I do only commercial design, I will get bored and frustrated. The ideas for the art shoes often occur to me when I see shoe-lasts (shoes on the wooden form). Then I start to sketch some rough designs and look for a theme on which to build a collection for a show. Also, I have to make a clear distinction between me, who knows the art of shoe making, and other artists, who design shoes but don't know how to make them.

Do people buy your 'art' shoes to wear?

Yes, I sell my "art" designs. All of my work is wearable.

 

Your work has already been displayed in two museums. What's next for you?

I would like to participate in an exhibition outside of Japan if I have the opportunity.

 

Aren't these shoes fun and inventive? You can see more at Uenobe and the Virtual Shoe Museum.

 
Wholecut boots

Claudia Schultz Hats

It's cold and snowy in many places right now, so it's time to think about  warm hats. Check out the sleek, wool-felt, "urban" hats by Claudia Schulz of Vancouver, Canada. Schulz's hats are inspired by graphic prints. Schulz says, "It was important to me to create a collection of hats that are approachable and understated; a modern accessory, something you can wear with jeans and a t-shirt, but still make heads turn." Maybe it's the curves or the colors or the embellishments, but this hat has a distinctive simple elegance. How do you like it? I discovered Claudia Schulz on Ecouterre.

On a separate note, to those of you who celebrate Christmas, I send you my best wishes for a very happy holiday!

Brooches by Breit-Band Design

Germany-based jewelers Kathleen Taplick and Peter Krause refer to their brooches and rings this way: "They represent a game of deception. The transitions between natural materials, such as precious metals and gemstones, and the synthetic plastic material disappear." Their colorful brooches, like this one, remind me of flower cukoo clocks with their round shapes and long stems with small round objects at the end. I can't tell what's in the middle but it doesn't matter because the total effect is so pleasing. What do you think? 

You can see more of the duo's creations at their website Breit-Band-Design. I discovered them at The Carrotbox. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Recycled Dresses of John Petrey

John Petrey is an artist from Chattanooga, Tennessee who makes sculptural dresses from a variety of cast off materials, including old barn board, asphalt shingles, and even used bottle caps (below). Here is what Petrey says about his amazingly creative "Dress Series" collection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bottle cap bodice, belt, and skirt

I see that you've been an artist since the 1980s. What kind of art did you start out making?

I began my career as a photographer, shooting commercial work, which also included set designs. All the while, I also created fine art furniture to feed my imaginative mind.

When and why did you start making these dresses?
I began "The Dress Series" in late-2006. I grew up in the 1960's watching a lot of afternoon television, like "Father Knows Best," "Ozzie and Harriet," "Leave It to Beaver," and, of course Lucille Ball. In those shows, the women appeared perfect, always dressed to the nines, very pressed, and of course wearing pearls as they prepared breakfast. "The Dress Series" personifies the woman of that era yet interrupts the static through the choice of the materials.
 
Why do you use recycled, building and other unlikely materials for the dresses?
I love the unexpectedness of these materials and being able to manipulate them into something they weren't originally meant for. The combination of textures, colors, and substance allows me to create a nostalgic look that carries emotion for the viewer, almost in even more of a personal way than if it had been cloth. If I had to use fabric, my sculptures wouldn't exist. It's the unexpected materials that I love working with.

 

Green Patina Copper Bodice, Rolled Collar, Nepalese Paper Skirt

Where do you find your materials?

Actually in a variety of places. I travel the country for shows and I'm always on the lookout for new materials. I've found them in the strangest of places, but many of the pieces come from buildings that have been torn down. I'm fortunate to have a good friend who is in the urban salvage business, "Estate of Confusion" here in Chattanooga. Greg Ross, the proprietor, he's the guy who gets called before a building is getting torn down. He's always on the lookout for possible materials I could use, like vintage ceiling tin, unique bead board, or anything that comes in bulk.

What kinds of reactions do people have when they see the dresses for the first time?
Very often a soft look comes over their face as they pause, then a big smile emerges, then the stories begin. People speak of a bygone era, or a childhood outfit, or a memory of their youth. Conversation begins instantly around the pieces. I like that.

Some are just amazed and begin calling off the materials as though they had won the contest of, "what's this made of?" Look, that's roofing tile! Playing cards! Bottle tops! Always with a sense of wonder and excitement. It's very nice to have people respond so positively to the sculptures.

Can the dresses be worn?
You could wear them but it would be very, very painful. Actually they are not made to be worn, just enjoyed as art.

Aren't these dresses incredible as works of art? Catch "The Dress Series" at the Lois Lambert Gallery in Santa Monica, California through January 4th, 2010. Or go to John Petrey to see more.

 

 

 

 

Copper bodice and roofing tile skirt