The results are in, and 23 lucky artists, designers and outrageously creative contestants have been chosen to participate in next week’s Uncommon Thread Wearable Art Show at the Old Governor’s Mansion.
This year’s theme, transmogrify, called for the best creators from all over the country to produce wearable art that starts off as one thing and evolves or morphs into something else.
According to the show’s website, culturecandy.org, the event will feature “a visually captivating presentation of art accompanied by inventive musical collaborations, lighting, set, costume design, and modern dance.” Entertainment contributors outside the fashion show include performer DJ Otto and choreographer Micaela Coner.
Erin Rolfs, Culture Candy executive director and creator of Uncommon Thread, said this year’s batch of artists is sure to “delight” audiences.
“I’m always amazed at the seemingly limitless ways to take this challenge and come up with something original,” she said. “I think you will see more pieces that are technically complex as well as conceptually creative.”
Rolfs is expecting yet another smashingly successful show.
“I think every year is very different from the ones before,” she said. “That’s the point — to keep the project fresh and unpredictable. So it’s not a matter of being better, but maintaining excellence and just changing what that looks like so the audience is always surprised.”
This year’s artists are bringing a diverse range of impressive pieces to the table, Rolfs said.
“One piece transforms camping gear into three beautiful garments in real time, another represents the transformation from coal to diamonds,” she said. “How do you sum that up? You just say Uncommon Thread.”
The Uncommon Thread Wearable Art Show represents the “creative class” in Baton Rouge and should inspire University students to dive into the arts community, Rolfs said.
“Students at LSU now and
recent LSU grads will be looking at Baton Rouge as place to find employment,” she said. “And without a dynamic creative class that supports events like this, they will always find other cities more attractive.”
Rolfs said her favorite part of the event is watching the models transform to performers.
“I don’t know what happens,” she said. “The makeup? Or the audience? But my favorite part is seeing these everyday people, and, excuse me for being cheesy, transmogrify.”
Danielle Honeycutt, coordinator of the show and French studies graduate student, said she is “always amazed” at the expertise of the contestants the event draws in.
“From their conceptual statements to the way the piece comes to life, we are consistently reminded that talent is all around us, just waiting for the opportunity and platform to be appreciated,” Honeycutt said.
Rolfs’ goal for the show is to put on an interactive experience for the artists and audience.
“I hope that the way we have the show set up enables the audience and artists to spend more time together and really see and appreciate the pieces,” she said.
This year’s performance is moving away from the traditional runway show, Honeycutt said.
“Instead of models parading their pieces from a distance, they will be in rotation around the Old Governor’s Mansion, mixed in with the crowd so that they may be examined and admired up close,” she said.
Honeycutt said students should attend because “their participation is key to keeping the program alive and viable.”
“For LSU art students, it is an event that allows them the opportunity to showcase their work,” she said. “For the general LSU student body, it is an event that furthers the budding arts community in Baton Rouge and helps to highlight all of the creativity we have right in our own backyard.”
Rolfs said the event always sells out, so interested students should buy their tickets online at culturecandy.org.
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Contact Cathryn Core at
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