I Survived the Walter's Art Museum Runway Show!

Phew.... still in recovery but here are some pics from last Thursday. Unfortunately I don't have pics during the runway show (The Walter's had all these crazy rules) but I have pics of my piece and the preparation. Luckily my piece held together and made it down the runway, through the crowded "Meet and Greet," and onto the mannequin in the Ancient Gallery. It's been a long couple of months working on this thing, it was a totally new way of working for me. Not only was it 3-D and sculptural, it had to be worn and interacted with. While I am accustomed to making jewelry (art to be worn) I've never welded with oxy-acetelyne, or had to make a large scale sculpture that fit a certain body. Then, said sculpture had to move through a crowd and be scrutinized from all angles. Anyhow the show went off with out a hitch, and the piece of music Mr. Dandelion and I composed was played throughout the show.


Anne gets her make up done with feathered eyelashes.

The stylists work on her hair.

Anne with the inspiration piece in the Ancient Gallery

Side view of piece and ear piece

Me, the piece on the creepy mannequin, Becky (the best "assistant in the world), and Super Model Anne.

Here is the statement that is mounted with the piece in the gallery:

“The Secret Keeper”
Copper wire, rice paper, polymer clay, feathers, sterling silver

A secret is defined as something that is “kept from knowledge or view, hidden, and revealed only to the initiated.” The term “closemouthed” is an adjective in conjunction with being described as “secretive.” Everyone has secrets or information they are not willing to share with the general public, but may share with a select few. These receivers then become the “secret keepers,” and mostly likely will divulge some if not all, of the tidbits to others. As the secret is passed along in it’s varying forms, it grows and changes, but always with the prelude of “don’t tell anyone…” Secrets can quickly change shape to rumors and then gossip as they travel from person to person, growing more exciting and lascivious. But if a secret is not shared with anyone, if it only lies within one person and is never whispered or revealed, can it be called a secret? Does the info or thought need to be uttered out loud before it deserves the title of secret? Can a secret truly be “kept?”
My piece is a body sculpture inspired by the act of telling secrets or gossiping. It is an apparatus worn by someone who has spread rumors or told other’s secrets. In mythology the Gods often had cruel yet creative punishments for any perceived misdoing. My piece is informed by this story telling. A metal cage-like piece with pierced out shapes resembling the eardrum is worn over the mouth. The mouth cage is connected to a long tube that wraps around the neck, shoulder, and upper torso, “strangling” the wearer and then passes up over the head. The tube ends with a mouth shaped piece that fits over the ear. The secrets trapped in the tube are unable to escape the closed circuit of the apparatus. Hearing other’s secrets through the uncovered ear punishes the wearer, for when the wearer goes to speak them; the secrets are passed through the tube and end up back in their other ear. In essence, they are forced to tell the secrets to themselves, and can never spread the gossip along. The wearer is a true “secret keeper.”