wearable Art entry 2008.

Thought it was about time I told you about my entry into WOW (world of wearable ART awards, ) for 2008.
I had started on a needlepointed concept for the childrens section. But half way through , I had a change of heart...of course! I think the design will be lost on a ballet tutu ,which is the requirement for the childrens section this year.We are expected to enter something that reinterprets the basic ballet TUTU shape and style. My needlepointed design looked lovely, but for all the work it entailed, It needs to be on a larger scale, to truly come to life on the stage.

I started thinking about kids..dancing...the shape of the TUTU and what else it reminded me of.

I brainstormed words like ..graceful, twirling, rules, round, structured, ordered, tight, balance,tempting, pretty, delicate, dance, music, song , tip toe , decadent. Then I got busy drawing ! The results were a lot of fun!

So. with only 4 weeks until it was due in, and not to mention major oral surgery scheduled in the middle of that...I got cracking!

I pulled out the words I needs to design 2 giant dinner plates and give the concept a name '' A song and Dance at dinnertime''. In New Zealand this terminology is used to mean 'making a fuss' at the dinner table, be it refusing to eat dinner or playing with the food! I decided it would be fun to have 2 contrasting plates, playing on stage.One would be anything but graceful..and the other very much so!
It seemed obvious after making the first plate ..that I needed a dessert plate to complete the concept.
To a child dessert is the one thing that MIGHT get them eating their dinner. For many the dream of dessert dances around in their head, and there is nothing that can make them eat dinner! For many parents it is the prize bribe, to get that broccoli down!

I therefore made a plate of spaghetti and meatballs still being served from a pot and a dessert you would expect only in a top restaurant or childs imagination...:)

I Pulled out my knitting needles and started making loads and loads of knitted cords,over 400 which had come from unravelled second hand cream jerseys.I then felted them up to 3 times each to get the 'spaghetti" texture required.
I dyed wool, knitted it, recycled it and manipulated it!

My teeth were pulled under general anaesthetic 2 weeks into the process, and believe me. .getting back to the task after developing a condition called dry socket was very very hard. It meant that I was slower and less focused, thanks to excruciating pain from the exposed bone and nerves. I was on 22 tablets a day at one time..panadein, morphine,= etc
The funny thing..without the costume making around the clock, I think I would have been FAR more grumpy about the pain and lack of feeling one one side of my face..(did I mention I ended up with major nerve damage and had an allergic reaction to the clove compress , which had to be removed..half of which I yanked out myself!..and got flu!) .

The wardrobe team were amazing at wow..they were very understanding and I guess believed my ordeal when I handed over half the costume with a swollen face and bruising all down my face and neck!

I loved making this years entry..it was fun! I had my daughter to try both pieces, and imagine them twirling around. spoons and forks part of the fun.spahetti rolling off the fork and plate..the dessert tempting the dinner !


I got my acceptance letter ....so roll on Septeber 26th when prizes are announced.I am up for 6 award categories.
hp planet..for using mostly recycled materials
childrens section...1st, 2nd and 3rd
wow supreme award
runner up to wow

so cross fingers and toes for me.
Feedback has been really positive this year. Wardrobe hinted that the judges really liked them and kids wearing them had a ball. Judges asked me to knit cream underwear for under the skirts..which I had requested if I got through..so I did and they looked very cute! To fit 9 year old girls.!
I will publish photos after Sept 26th..before then I can get disqualified if it is seen.
I will also talk more about the process.


NOTE..
I picked up last years entry. Was a little annoyed they kept it for 12 months and never showed it in the museum. Makes one wonder why they bother?
My question..what do you do with such a mammoth piece now??
1. recycle it into 2 new concepts?
2. exhibit them in a 'bent around the edges' show?
3.donate to a wool shop? lol


Oh..and before you ask about entries for 2009...already started!:) Much to my mother in laws disapproval, who thinks I should give it a rest.