Fashion meets fine art in Huntington exhibit

The Island Now

Shiaparelli by Patty Eljaiek

The Huntington Arts Council will present Wearable Art, Juried Exhibition under the guidance of juror Dominique Maciejka, with an opening reception scheduled to take place on Friday, Aug. 24 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The exhibit runs from the opening date through Saturday, Sept. 15. This is a free event and all are welcome to attend. 

The Huntington Arts Council invited artists to participate in Wearable Art. The call encouraged entries to meet at the intersection of fashion and fine art through design, costume, or culture.

Submissions were to be representative of the creative inspiration found in garments, accessories such as jewelry, masks and bags, and representational work, including design boards, performance images, and other visuals.  Submissions were to be either modified or created from scratch. 

Fish Pond Scarf by Christine Verga Maday

By definition from Merriam-Webster, “wearable” means “capable of being worn: suitable to be worn.” “Art” is defined more broadly as “skill acquired by experience, study, or observation” and “the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects.”

This exhibit features a wide interpretation of the Wearable Art theme. Some pieces are clearly fashion based and wearable in a more traditional sense. Other work can be described as based on experiences, study, or observation. All reflect exceptional, creative imagination, and skill.

The result is a show that features a diverse use of media including jewelry, textiles, clothing, archival digital photography, and 3D mixed media.  

“In this era where the lines between fine art, fashion, craft, and design are being erased, we are very excited to be providing a show of this caliber to the arts community. It is no coincidence that this exhibit is scheduled to run through the dates of New York Fashion Week, an internationally recognized event,” said Executive Director Marc Courtade. “The Huntington Arts Council believes art can be expressed in many ways, shapes, and configurations. This show is a perfect example of the many forms the intersection of art and design can take.” 

Sunrise Sunset Boots by Lorraine Manzo

The following artists are included in the show: Jessica Alazraki, Harper Bella, Edith Bernstein, Beth Beverly, Renee Blank, Oksana Danziger, Patty Eljaiek, Jacqueline Gelfuso Gallo, Diane Godlewski, Steven Goldleaf, William Grabowski, Suzan Haeni, Drew Kane, Julianna Kirk, Corey Lightfoot, Allison Mack, Lorraine Manzo, Christine Verga Maday, Arlene Mcloughlin, John Micheals, Lenore Fiore Mills, Gail Neuman, Luda Pahl, Amanda Reilly, Mary Schwarzenberger, Michelle Sepanski, Meryl Shapiro, Sally Shore, Tina Sundberg, Kate Sydney, Nancy Geng Vassilakis, and Tracy Arnold Warzer.

“There was such a great variety of submissions for this show! I chose pieces that I thought related best to the topic, were avant-garde, and unique, or very traditional and exemplified a process well,” said Maciejka.

Maciejka is the owner of Paper Doll Vintage Boutique in Sayville and Paper Doll Curiosity Shoppe in Patchogue and Huntington. She studied art and art history at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her shops combine her passions that bridge the art, history, and fashion worlds with unique clothing and merchandise, as well as local art shows. 

Mother and Child by William Grabowski

The Huntington Arts Council’s Main Street Gallery is located at 213 Main St. in Huntington.

For more information about the exhibition, go to www.huntingtonarts.org.

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