PERFORMANCE

Yesterday (while wearing Learn) a conversations was sparked about my skirts as performance art. The more I wear each garment the more I feel that I am living through these designs - the actual wearing becomes my piece (or at least the core part of the project). The idea of blending graphic design with performance art really intrigues me. I want to be an active, living example of graphic design - how the body communicates within natural environments. Since I have been wearing these frequently - they are becoming less noticeable and more "normal". They are beginning to blend - which I think is giving me the results I want. I don't know if it has been done before?

The Key Questions

Why do we wear the clothes we do?
What do our clothes say about us?
How do our clothes help build relationships?
How do they affect community interactions?

Illustrations

In the beginning, I had the idea of working illustration into the overall project. As it turns out - it didn't really relate well and has pretty much been scrapped. To give the work some deserved viewing time I decided to post them here...

Designed Shots

I may be jumping forward in process, but I just cannot hold back any longer. Last Friday and Saturday, Clint (my amazing, dedicated and incredibly fun assistant) and myself started photographing directed shots of me wearing the skirts. It was really cold outside and taking these images provided a lot of stares from on-lookers...

One exhibit...

When I was in NYC in March of 2006 I was fortunate to see Andrea Zittel's Critical Space exhibition at the New Museum of Art. I didn't realize it then, but her work would become an inspiration to how I look at both the world and my work, especially my thesis. I am conintuously amazed by her uniforms - how she makes and then lives in each garment, and how she wears them over and over, breaking boundries of how others perceive dress. Zittel's A to Z Uniforms inspire me...
Can I limit my wardrobe into a purposeful set?
How will others look at my clothing?
Why do we feel the need to fall into a conventionaly style or fashion?

about Tailored

Tailored is graphic design experiment which explores clothing as communication. It tells the story of my life through my body and the "designed" skirts I wear. Clothing is a visual representation of who we all are and what we do. Through Tailored I am pushing the boundaries of how people read what I wear. I have designed and made skirts that explicitly define (through words, fabric and image) the six compartments of my life: work, play, learn, celebrate, leisure and rest. By wearing the skirts repeatedly I am creating visual experiences for myself and those around me. These skirts spark conversation and speak visually. Tailored is a personal investigation of how clothing markets and communicates myself to others.

Up and running...

The final semester of my graduate studies has begun. My thesis work is well on its way, and I am finally getting a blog up and running...

Through this blog you will see my inspirations, ideas and work in progress. Please contribute your thoughts and ideas.

Introducing Tailored.