Wearable Art by Mary Gywneth Holland

Fiber artist Mary Gywneth Holland told me that the inspiration for the elegant Willow and Stream Gown (below), made out of hand-dyed silk, is a very nostalgic one. 

 
When she was a child in Potsdam, NY, she lived near the Racquette River, which was lined with ancient, majestic weeping willow trees leaning over the river banks. One tree had a big trunk and curved branch where Mary and her friend used to sit for hours and watch the river run underneath them. Mary says, "I've tried to duplicate the angle of the big branch in the gown...The glass beads in the gown's ruffles mimic the sunlight dancing on the water." 

As a child, Mary learned sewing skills from her mother and grandmother. She has been designing and creating beautiful gowns and clothing ever since.

When I asked Mary who inspires her, she told me that there are many quilting artists and fabric painters whose work she admires. Here are a just a few from her list: Bronnie Kupris of the Gallery of Wearable Art in New York City; Giselle Shepatin for her use of color, fabric, and texture; Tara Lynn Scheidet's use of natural fabrics and nature inspiration; and Iota /Westenburg and Suzanne Williams for their creative work with textured leather.

Mary's White Peacock Coat, (above), is a finalist in the 2010 NICHE Award competition (fiber category), which celebrates excellence in craft. The awards are being held at the Philadelphia Convention Center on Friday, February 12th, where Mary will be in attendance. If you're there, you might see this coat on display in the NICHE Award section on the concourse.

 

The stunning gown (above) that goes underneath the coat has a deep-cut, silk organza back insert that is studded with silver-lined glass beads and freshwater pearl drops.

Mary also designs and creates custom-made dresses and accessories from her home studio in the Adirondack foothills of New York State. You can see more of her beautiful creations at Mary Gwyneth.

Comments

[Elsie Hagley]

This is beautiful. I can understand why it is in the finalist in the 2010 NICHE Award competition (fiber category), which celebrates excellence in craft.

[Carmela]

wow, beyond awesome!