I am so very grateful to Susan Hedge for inviting me to participated in Ft Myers Art walk and the Turf Wars art show in November 2019.
For this project, I coordinated, directed, and hosted an upcycled fashion show. In the months leading up to the show, I lead introductory and educational workshops on upcycled fashion. I coordinated with local artists and teachers to support participant designers of all ages and levels of experience. I helped each artist write their artist’s statement and on the day of the show directed the performance. I also served as MC, modeling an upcycled costume of my own design.
On the day of the show, spinners and weavers lined the sidewalk near the art center. A 72 foot long installation led by Rosie Young hung over the facade of the beautiful center. I had the honor of directing and MCing a trashion fashion show including 20 creative designers. A friend from home, Beth Joy, and her brilliant daughter brought there kindness and creative brilliance. Susan Lenz traveled far and filled out the show with work that honored memory and the environment. Zan Henigan Lombardo creating a show starting “Can Man” that brought humor and serious attention to our show and to the importance of recycling. My piece, Hawaiian Prints received an honorable mention from the jurors and hung facing a show by Clyde Butcher. My dress was both cathartic and nostalgic to make as it was made entirely out of a 10′ x 9′ Coleman Instant Tent that my family camped in for over 10 years. This experience was inspiring, rewarding, and kind. The artists, craftspeople, and show attendees were all so appreciative and fun.
