WoW - World of WearableArt

Sorry World of Warcraft fans this one is not for you. WoW - or World of Wearable Art is an event that has been around a bit longer, having first been held in 1987.

It's an annual event in New Zealand that allows both seasoned & emergant fashion designers to indulge in their wildest fantasy's, think outside the square....not just dare to be different - but openly challenge the 'norm'. Of course, as with any great concept - it was conceived in the South Island, in a smaller city called Nelson. A sculptor, Suzie Moncrieff, was looking for a way to promote a small gallery & decided to take art off of the walls & put it on the human form.

People frequently underestimate Nelson & tend to think of it as a 'retirement' type city - but it's not. In fact the majority of great art & craft that NZ has to offer comes out of that city - it may not be a huge buzzing metropolis - but the talent that exudes from it surpasses almost the whole of the rest of the country put together.

WoW now attracts designers from all over the world.
Sadly over the last few years, since Montana Wines became it's leading sponsor, the hosting of the annual WoW Event has been moved to the North Island. However all is not lost - because the WOW® Museum in Nelson, exhibits selected garments from each year.

This years Supreme award winner "Ornitho Maia" By Nadine Jaggi of Wellington

Personally I think that this is the most outstanding entry & Wearable Work of Art to date - it truly totally blows me away. Would I wear it?? (especially if I were 5 inches taller with the body of a model) - HELL YES!!
Check out the website for other entries & winners from this year & previous years at World of WearableArt.

Am I finished yet? Noooooooo! ;o) I have to tie this into lampworking , sort of...somehow.
See post below... "WoW - Kid Style"

WoW - Kid Style

"After Match Function" - Group Shot!

About 5 years ago I was asked to help Michaela's class at school create & present their own production of WoW. Bummer when the teachers know you can sew (or rather ,have a sewing machine that you will take along to school) & dabble in many other mediums.

The class was split into groups of 3, each child had a role to preform & they had to select who was going to be the model in the group right at the start. Each group had to plan, sketch, design & make a costume, with minimal parental input..... themed around "Energy". Not an easy task for 9 year olds! Believe me on this!

They were given a set length of plain calico to work with, which then had to be painted with fabric paints or dyed, & any other medium of their choice.
I literally went back to school for six weeks in between working part time, constantly lugging along my sewing machine & filling the breach with art supplies & trimmings ... I was shattered at the end of it!
The kids did incredibly well, given that there was a level of expectation from their teacher that was way beyond the capabilities of your average 9 year olds.

At the end we had a WoW Show in front of the whole school - they were taught to 'glide' & turn, & display their costumes to their best advantage...of course the boys all put their own twist on this ;o)
Here are a few of the results

Stacey showing us some Maori Style Energy

Pirates are energetic ...aren't they?

Fire - Energy at it's hottest!

Rain - helps generate power & energy.

Really sweet stuff gives you energy.

Robot - powered by energy.

Now if you can guess which costume I helped with post a comment here. The first person to guess correctly I shall send surprise bead to!