FASHION Vearable art No longer relegated to museum walls, art hits the Streets VALUABLE ART pieces have come down off museum walls and podiums and are no w travelling along sidewalks. Wearable art has been sighted all over the city recently. Carol Crenna Craft fairs, art shows, openings and design competitions feature these collector’s items, which are all one-of-a-kind or limited-edi- tion art. They are capturing large au- diences of both fashion and art lovers who come to browse, and to buy. Some of the country’s best ar- lisans, designers,artists and crafts- people are exhibiting their wares in a relaxed environment, instead of in the galleries and studios which usually house the creations. These venues provide information on the featured artist, and the in- spiration for the individual collec- tions. Just in time for Christmas giv- ing, these shows highlight fine jewelry, handmade belts, hand- bags, hats, costume jewelry, ties, watches, hand-painted legwear, lingerie for men and women, de- signer children’s wear, sweaters and other knits, novelty clothing items, hand-woven fashions called “fibre art,’’ painted T-shirts and leather wear — all with a creative touch. The exquisite v-carable art ranges dramatically in price from $10 to $100,000 depending upon the item and the event you attend. So bring your purses and your plastic, because most of the fash- ion-as-art is not available at regu- lar retail outlets. Some of the events feature promotional and wholesale prices for the merchandise, too. The Third Annual Wearable Art Show recently held its first three events scheduled in Vancouver. Approximately 30 of B.C.’s de- signers and artisans were featured at the first show which was held at the Vancouver Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club. MARY SMELKO models one of her hand-painted umbrellas during the 3rd annual Wearable Art Show held recently at the Vancouver FASHIGN STATEMENTS The venue has moved for the Wearable Art Show’s two upcom- ing events, which will take place on Saturday, Nov. 28 and Satur- day, Dec. 5, at Cecil Green Park — UBC Endowment Lands, next to The Museum of Anthropology. Five rooms will house the show, also featuring 30 artists, which will be accompanied by live or- chestrated music. The event will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $3, with half of en- trance proceeds donated to B.C.’s Children’s Hospital. Four North Shore exhibitors are featured at the Wearable Art Shows, Else Marquard makes distinc- tive, one-of-a-kind sweaters in angora combined with silk and other natural yarus. In some sweaters she will sculpt additional pieces into the surface of the knit such as appliques and looped ef- fects for added texture. Marquard uses jewel tones and earth tones such as ivory, camel aa : y NEWS photo Neil Lucente Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club. women. and khaki in her sweaters. She designs elegantly draped car- digans, soft boa-necked pullovers which are available by custom-order only — or at the Wearable Art Show on Dec. 5. Marquard, who is originally from Sweden, now lives in Deep Cove. She began selling her sweaters recently because she received so many requests to **buy the sweater off her back.”’ Her hand-knits retaii for $450 to $700, but she will be selling them at a slightly lower price at the show. Mary Smetko, a North Van- couver resident, creates painted and appliqued umbrellas. Her designs are achieved on very large canvas umbrellas with wooden handles which can be us- ° ed in the rain or at the beach. She appliques different fibres in cut-out shapes, such as wild animals, which are integrated into a painted jungle scene. Her most popular designs are abstracts which use collage effects. The umbreilas are bright and colorful, using dyes which are very durable and waterproof. Smelko’s umbrellas will range in price from $60 to $75, at the Dec. 5 show. Her designs are sold pri- vately, as well as through very selected boutiques in B.C. Adieigh Anderson, from West Vancouver, designs fibre-art clothing. She is the conceptual de- signer behind a collection of unique Navajo ceremonial blanket jackets and vests for men and The soft Pendleton wool blankets are woven in the U.S. and then cut into reversible coats and vests with suede trim. The coats have a shaw! collar, front buttons, slash pockets on one side and patch pockets on the other, and they are cut to the hip or to fingertip length. The blanket colors, which are different on the reversed side, are authentic patterns which include earth tones, brights and jewel col- ors. The coats average $700, though they will be sold at specially marked prices during the Wearable Art Show, and the vests are priced at $90. Anderson also does applique work on denim coats. The coat’s applique patches use fabrics from all over the world, are trimmed with braiding and fringe, wholesale for $250, but are selling for $150 to $200 at both of the shows. The designer also hand-paints on silk lingerie. Charmeuse teddy and boxer-short sets will sell for $54 and $65. Anderson's work is also repre- sented by an agent in B.C. and is sold at selected stores such as Snowflake in Whistler. Jean Bradbury, who is a tal- ented artist from West Vancouver, does refined, one-of-a-kind hand-painted T-shirts and silk men’s ties, The T-shirts are a thick quality cotton with a large painted design on the front, which may extend over the shoulder. The paintings appear as watercolor abstracts which may include a washed wildflower or sunflower design, a face or graphic abstract pattern, sometimes with bright colors add- ed. T-shirts, which are available in all sizes, are hand-painted, not screened, with wash-resistant dyes. They range in price from $35 to $65. Her silk ties have intricate scenes painted on them in refined colors for approximately $60. - Photo submitted SEMI-CIRCLES OF white diamonds and black ename! play off each other in this spectacular bracelet by Mark Forman of South Africa — one of the winners of the Diamonds-international Awards. Bradbury’s T-shirts and ties will be shown at the Dec. 5 show. Her other work, not including the T- shirts, is available at Circle Craft on Granviile Island. Other artists’ work to look for at the Third Annuai Wearable Art Show include Sylvia Kavaneugh’s leather clothing and accessuries with suede and velvet rosettes. High-fashion, fine quality Native-inspired designer clothing with matching hats is made by Betty Anne Pennier and Margaret Blackburn. Children’s silk velvet Baroque- inspired hats have braid, tassic, feather and pompom trim by Kitty Davies and Kandace Sutherland. And hand-painted cashmere/ Lycra and cotton/Lycra leggings are covered with abstract and graphic design by Paige Newton. For more information about the shows, contact 732-SHOW. Circle Craft’s 19th Anaual Christmas Craft Fair at the Van- couver Trade and Convention Centre ends today, and is open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. This event is Western Canada’s premiere craft market which showcases the work of over 206 artisans from across Canada. The admission cost is $6. The largest of its kind on the West Coast, the Christmas Craft Fair displays fashion and gift items including fibre art, jewelry, clothing, glass, wood, clay and other collectible art pieces. The event introduces the public to the individual artists and de- signers in a casual and festive market atmosphere. Highlights of the show include a curated gallery section with work by prominent B.C. craftspeople, awards of excellence presented to artisans, as well as a variety of entertainment and prizes. Several Vancouver designers and artists are exhibiting their work at the Circle Craft Christmas Market. Lori Ana Ashton, who moved to the North Shore from Nova Scotia, creates feminine Vic- torian-inspired clothing from nat- ural fibres. Ashton’s elegant blouses, seduc- tive sleepwear and separates are made in fine silk, imported lace and cotton. She pays particular attention to detail in her designs. These items, plus face and fabric Christmas stockings, will be on display at the market. Vancouver designer Ric Yuen will be showing his hand-sewn, fashion-forward shirts at the event, They are made in fine quai- ity imported cottons, rayon and silk with unique prints. Yuenn, who sells his shirts and other clothing designs through his shop on Cordova Street in Gastown, accents his shirts with contrasting fabrics on collar and sleeves, or adds unusual details to the silhouette. His long- and short-sleeved shirts, which are sized for men but also worn by women, will be at the Circle Craft Fair.. Elly Johnston is a well-known Vancouver fashion designer whose collection of lambskin and pig- suede ladies’ clothing is sold at selected boutiques nationally. Fashionable jackets, trousers and jumpsuits are coordinated with leather belts which have buckles designed by local artists. Johnston’s softly fitted silhou- ettes have asymmetric and archi- tectural details, and often combine both suede and leather in one design. Johnston, who has participated in the fair before, reduces selected items in her line at special prices for the event. Shirley Wyndham, who is an up-and-coming Vancouver de- signer, will also be highlighted. She makes very wearable fashions for men and women in painted silks and cotton. Wyndam attended the Van- couver School of Art (Emily Carr College of Art) and Capilano Col- lege where she studied fabric design and weaving. For more information on the Circle Craft Christmas Craft Fair call 737-9050. Wearable art of precious museum quality was recently featured at Swedish Jewelers in Pacific Centre for the 1992 Diamonds-International Awards, See Canadian page 95