Artist Profile: Libby O'Bryan

I had the pleasure of meeting Libby O'Bryan when I wrote this article for Verve Magazine. O'Bryan is one of several artists featured in the Out of Fashion exhibit currently on display at SECCA in Winston Salem.

On the opening night of the exhibit, Out of Fashion, O’Bryan performed a piece called “Sewed In,” during which she literally sewed herself up. Sitting inside a bubble of fabric with her sewing machine, she sewed furiously until the bubble collapsed and the material clung to her like a second skin. She ended her performance by breaking out of the wrap, but the performance brought to mind images of suffocation and horrific sweatshops. “I do get a little panicky when I’m in there,“ O’Bryan admits.

“Sewed In” was one of several performance pieces O’Bryan developed as a student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago starting in 2008. It’s a way to illustrate, as she puts it, “a physical manifestation of what the sewing machine and I do together.” Like O’Bryan’s other large-scale conceptual performance pieces, “Sewed In” explores the way individuals are implicated in the socio-political and manufactured worlds around them.

Read more: Sew Cool, Verve Magazine December 2011

Shout-out to the Piedmont Triad

If you find yourself in the mood for a road trip and craving some good contemporary art, it's worth taking a trip to the Piedmont Triad --referring to the cities of Winston-Salem, Greensboro and High Point.

First off, stop off in Winston Salem and visit the South East Center for Contemporary Arts (SECCA.) This gem of a center always has some captivating exhibits. Out of Fashion, curated by Steven Matijcio, is one of the current shows and features work by local artists, R. Brooke Priddy (pictured above) and Libby O'Bryan. Admission is free! www.secca.org

The soft sculpture works of Margarita Cabrera are also on display at SECCA. From the website: "Turning crafts and their manufacture into the vehicle for socio-political consideration, she questions con-temporary applications of post-NAFTA Latin American labor. Drawing upon local communities, Cabrera orchestrates the manufacture of soft, vinyl sculptures resembling backpacks, bicycles, potted plants, domestic appliances, pianos, and full-sized automobiles."

Next, visit The Weatherspoon Art Museum in Greensboro. The museum was established to aid the MFA program at UNC Greensboro and houses six galleries. Currently showing in the main gallery is Persona: A Body in Parts, curated by Xandra Eden, which presents the opportunity to see some of Nick Cave's soundsuits among other compelling work. Admission is also free! Hurry, the exhibit comes down December 11th. www.weatherspoon.uncg.edu

In another gallery at The Weatherspoon I positively swooned over the paintings and drawings of Tom Burckhardt.

Visit www.tomburckhardt.com to see more.

Here's a link to his show at The Weatherspoon

Art for the mass-querades

There I was checking out the Riverview Station and I came across Paul Hersey, creator of Organic Armor. He made me wear one of his headpieces while we talked and I fell in love with it. Hersey creates one of a kind costume pieces from latex. They are very wonderful. Check out more at www.organicarmor.com

You can visit Hersey this weekend if you are in Asheville for the River Arts District Studio Stroll

Myah Hubbell

Myah Hubbell, creator of Recyclone Designs works out of the Wedge Studio Building in the River Arts District of Asheville.
Contact her at recyclonedesigns@gmail.com

Elisa Jimenez rules!

Eliza Jimenez and her models: Fall 2008

I attended a discussion with Eliza Jimenez yesterday afternoon at the Arts Council as part of the week's HATCHfest events here in Asheville. At some point I couldn't hold back from telling her how much I loved her in Project Runway - A show she called a "conceptual art performance." Then I asked her a question about her process and how she works one on one with a client. She proceeded to pull out a piece of material she had stained and infused with oils and essences and all sorts of wonderful stuff. She gracefully clipped the material with holes, and knotted some loses ends all the while quipping about the false myths perpetuated by the fashion industry. We all looked on thinking WHAT is she making? When she held up the finished product it appeared to just have holes and some lose cords of fabric, but when she put the piece on, it was stunning. She showed us all the different ways to wear it. Then she took it off and twisted it into a ball and looked at me and I heard her talking about how the keeper of this piece is coming into a dawning of a new era....I saw her walking towards me with the piece, and I watched as she gave it to me, We kissed cheeks and hugged. One of the most brilliant things ever.
Here's the thing - I do not consider myself a fashionista by any stretch of the imagination. But I am fascinated at the creative process and how, for artists like Jimenez, Life IS the creative process. Her spiritual, personal, creative and political experiences are all woven together and nothing is disconnected from anything else. It's a very beautiful and inspiring way to see a life lived.

My new magical garment

I really believe that if you do something with genuine love, the universe will reward you." ~ Elisa Jimenez

Two ways to do fiber

Handbag by Lisa Klakulak

Last weekend I attended the studio sale of fiber artist Lisa Klakulak. Her one-of-a-kind hand-crafted and sculpted felt accessories are precisely executed as well as designed. I especially like her necklaces, rings, and pincushions. She gave us a demonstration on how to make felt which turns out to be quite a tedious process but I imagine it could be sorta fun if you can get into the zen quality of it.
Check out www.strongfelt.com for more information on Klakulak and the workshops she teaches.

"Rock-n-Roll" Jacket by Valerie Hoh

So there we all were, making felt, when out of the corner of my eye I noticed the super stellar jacket of one of the participants in the group. I guess it caught my eye because it was so funky and unexpected. It was made out of a yellow leather and suede patchwork material with black zippers sewn onto it. Turns out, the woman wearing it, Valerie Hoh, also made it, and is the creator of Hoh Couture. Check her website out! It's pretty terrific.
www.hohcouture.com

Sewing the Muse on the Internet

Visit the link here
Thank you everyone who helped me and supported me with this project.

Amanda Boekhout and Elliott Elephant Clothes

Inspired by Asheville's unique fashion aesthetic, Amanda Boekhout taught herself how to sew shortly after moving to North Carolina from Florida. What began with embroidery and stenciling on t-shirts, has now transformed into her clothing line Elliott Elephant.
Using old clothes Boekhout creates one-of-a-kind pieces that are sold at The Honey Pot and on Etsy.com

Amanda Boekhout has modeled for R.Brooke Priddy and credits Priddy towards inspiring her tailoring and sewing. She will appear in "Sewing the Muse" an Art Seen Asheville production which features the work and collaborations of Priddy.
Visit www.elliottelephant.com to see Amanda's paintings and clothing.

Paul Olszewski

Paul outfits Aubrey Adams. Photo by Stephen Miller

As Paul Olszewski tells it, ten years ago all the elements of the universe came together in such a way that suddenly one day he found himself designing and sewing leather pants for legendary fashion designer Anna Sui. From a warehouse in NYC's Meatpacking District Olszewski and a friend created leather bags, guitar cases, hats, pants and jewelry for top name designers and celebrities including Julia Roberts, David Bowie and Metallica.

Today Paul Olszewski lives in Asheville with his wife and two kids and continues to construct leather belts and straps. Frequently he collaborates with dressmaker R. Brooke Priddy for fashion happenings including the The Post Apocalyptic Fashion Show, and The Red Carpet Vortex.
A graduate of the School of Visual Art, Olszewski also paints and creates video installations. See more of his work at www.industreehouse.com

Stop animation and photography by Rene Treece

It's better in the water
Made by Asheville photographer Rene Treece using hundreds of still images.





www.renetreecephotography.com
Dresses by Brooke Priddy