As I mentioned in last week’s Sold Out column [Jan 17], the Museum
of Contemporary Craft is currently hosting two interesting jewelry
shows, Framing: The Art of Jewelry and Touching Warms the
Art. This week, local apparel designers are presenting a runway
show of apparel responding to the Touching exhibit, titled
“Action/Re-Action.”
The lineup of participating designers is formidable: Holly
Stalder, Adam Arnold, April Melnick (of
Antidomestic), Emily Katz, Emily Ryan,
Genevieve Dellinger, Liza Rietz, Leanne Marshall (of Leanimal), Julia Barbee (of Frocky Jack
Morgan), Kate Towers, Elizabeth Dye, and Gretchen
Jones (of Moth Love) are all on the roster of participants.
Appropriately enough, the show is presented in conjunction with
UltraPDX, and curated by editor and founder Lisa Radon, whose
online publication’s primary preoccupation is “those points of
intersection between the applied arts and fine art.”
Giving the designers a long leash, they were asked to create a look
that could either be worn with a particular piece in the exhibit,
simply inspired by the chosen piece, a response to the show in general,
or simply the product of a meditation on jewelry—a format so
nebulous that were it placed in the hands of designers less proficient,
may have been dangerously aimless territory. However, given the
past work of those involved, I’m optimistic about the results, all the
more so because the show takes place with one foot solidly in the realm
of visual art—relieved of some of the pressure that comes with
ensuring a piece is wearable and part of a marketable collection. This
gives the participants free reign to be creative, and gives the
audience a chance to witness a little local couture.
With only 12 designers, and one piece submitted by each, the show
will be brief, but dense with ideas and experimentation.
(Action/Re-Action, The Lab at the Museum of Contemporary Craft, 724
NW Davis, Wed Jan 30, 7 pm, $10)
Looking to the future, don’t forget to send in your submission to
the jury for the next Mercury fashion show on
April 20 at the Wonder Ballroom! Send in a portfolio introducing
yourself as a designer, and your methods and influences, plus examples
of your work, in photographs or samples. Be creative—the show is
set up so that participating designers will have a standing
installation, as well as a runway show. It’s a great opportunity to get
your designs the attention they deserve. Send in your portfolios to the Portland Mercury c/o Marjorie Skinner, 605 NE 21st, Ste.
200, Portland, OR 97232 or by email to marjorie@portlandmercury.com by the end of February.