Nelson New Zealand Virtual Tour - Wearable Arts 1996

On September 28th and 29th 1996 the eighth Annual Awards event took place in Nelson New Zealand.

	245 garments were showcased on a 100 metre long catwalk in the two hour art spectacular The garments were designed by prominent sculptors, fabric designers, paint artists. They were also created by school students, career professionals and Rest Home residents. . The magic was inspiring and many of the spectators went away revelling in re- discovered wonder.
Along the catwalk came artwear on bikes, armchairs, rollerskates. And each of the ten categories were introduced by extraordinary glimpses of NZ life. A rugby match was played in slow motion amid strobe and spot lighting. A milky way drifted the length of the catwalk heralding garments designed to glow under UV light in the Illumination Illusion Section. The humorous and multi-textured artwork, " Puku, Boob and Butt by Sue Jessup and Sophie Brown took top honours in this section.

Models manoeuvred antique bikes as they wore a kaleidoscope of strange and sensational bust wear in the Bizarre Bra Section. Fish bowls, soccer balls, and colanders presented bras in a new light but it was the car part breast-plate that won the award. Named "Hooters" the design by Sam Laidlaw featured a car grill and flashing headlights. Depicting underworld and underwater was the challenge in the Silk Section. Onstage the mood was set by small children wearing leafy wreathes, who sat in miniature boats as the silk entries were unveiled around them
New ideas in artwear abounded in the 1996 Awards. Fake lawn, onion skins, sculptural bodysuits made of telephones, and a wearable glass pyramid were just some of the wild, wacky and wonderful materials. And architecture and engineering provided new directions. These elements were evident in "Tornio", the winner of the Childrens Section and designed by Letty Reid and Barry Keenan of Nelson. Inspired by turn of the century carnivals, the garment featured wonderful paintings on the moulded bodice which was connected by hand-made screws. The billowy fabric skirt was adorned by familiar side-show "laughing clowns& quot; sculptured from papier mache and set in resin. The clowns heads moved open mouthed from side to side as the model walked. The headwear was a carousel complete with horses which galloped around the wearers head.

	The new "Man unleashed" category caused huge hilarity as the tired menswear image of shirts, slacks and ties was dramatically revamped by the entrants. Artist Simon Hames produced the Award Winner,"Queen for a Night". The livid green body suit with tasselled waist belt was deceptively simple until the gorgeous red velvet ensemble hanging down the back revealed itself to be a floor level couch ready for the languid male. Irish entry "Camouflage Man" by Robin Carson was highly commended in this section, portraying serious satire with suit, briefcase and brolly in army camouflage material.

International creativity also shone in the Open Section. Art Lecturer Marianne Smits of the Netherlands was named Award Winner. Her entry "Idols " showed the rich cultural influence of Holland in bold primary colours. It also portrayed sharp condemnation of contemporary western idols with its assembly of barbie dolls on the garment. A young and fresh Maori culture group - "The Sons of the Long White Cloud" gave a powerful introduction to the "Pacific Paradise" Section and were followed by the "slap dancing" rhythms of Pacific Island students. This category celebrated the moods, myths and materials of the Pacific and a Masterton Polytechnic student Denise Gunther outshone the competition with her "Waka Bride". Denise created her own paper from Harakeke flax, painted the material with Maori designs and constructed the "Waka Bride". The wedding train cunningly transforms into a traditional Maori waka (canoe).

The two hour Awards event had its traditional finale in the "Wedding Section" as cynical, celebratory, and sumptuous art inspired garments sought to give individual expression to marriage. One entry by renown artists - Donna Demente and Jeff Mitchell of Oamaru featured 42 individual pieces. Masks, torsos, staffs and banners in sculptured and painted papier mache.It's artistry was a complex mixture of Roman and Greek mythology, alchemy and contemporary good luck symbols. Titled "Conjunctio" this Award Winner mirrored the faces of its designers. The electric finale saw an opera singing bride rise 20 foot above the catwalk while laser antics played over the disbelieving crowd

Over $30,000 in Award prizes were presented.. In the major Awards - Jacob Moore and Helen Decent won Creative Excellence with fascinating multi-legged creation. Overall design winner was Jenufa Wai-iti's "Artist Contemplates Redemption", a stark sculptural garment in cream calico. The Supreme Wearable Art Award Winner was Auckland designer Susan Holmes. Her entry "Dragon Fish" epitomised the meaning of Wearable Art. Nowhere near fashion...it was pure free expression. Made from silk and basketry the jittery creature flicked spiny wings and darted in dazzling colours. The gasps of the audience vindicated the judges decision. Watching the expressions, and hearing the comments of the audience makes you realise the effect of this event. There's no virtual reality here.... as the rapidly changing moods of the show demand and receive an emotional response. "This is the most exciting thing I've seen in my life" said one American visitor, I could have died happy right here."

© Above photos by Ross Wearing

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8th International Wearable Art Awards ®