Friday, April 15, 2011

Pulp Fashion in San Francisco

I saw an article about this and immediately had to share it with all of you!  This is an art exhibit currently being shown in San Francisco's Legion of Honor Museum.  It's called Pulp Fashion: The Art of Isabelle de Borchgrave.

Apparently, Belgian artist Borchgrave has created an entire collection of historical dresses completely with paper!  


"What?" you say,  "That doesn't look like paper!"


And that's the point.  She uses a single kind of paper--a sort of pattern paper that's a bit heavier--to do all of her different textures, colors, patterns, lace, and shapes.  She paints the paper, she makes all the beads, she even makes shoes.

I have to admit, I'm not sure what to say about this...  I'm stunned.  This stuff is beautiful, and I'm jealous that I probably won't get up to San Francisco to see it!  This is the first time that her work has been publicly viewed in the US, so I am hoping that someday her work might tour... Who knows?

There is an entire program that can be watched online here in 4 parts (the longest of which is a little over 10 minutes and the shortest about 2 1/2 minutes) done by a local television program called Eye on the Bay.  It covers a bit of the installation through opening night, so we get to actually see some of her work as it is unpacked.  She also does a couple demonstrations for the program--it's absolutely hypnotic!!

Anyway, I had to share.  I'm not sure if the pieces are wearable--I don't think they are.  But they are beautiful sculpture pieces that look completely realistic.  Beautiful to the eye, startling to the mind, and touching the heart and soul, these pieces are going to be in my memory for a long  long time.

The exhibit is currently running and will continue through June 5.

Until next time, Live Life with Relish!




Pulp Fashion: The Art of Isabelle de Borchgrave is organized by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and sponsored by Lonna Wais. Additional support is provided by Nathalie and Garry McGuire and Elizabeth W. Vobach. Collection Connections is made possible by The Annenberg Foundation. The exhibition catalogue is supported in part by a grant from Friends of Fiber Art International.

6 comments:

  1. Corey, this exhibition would be marvellous!!Paper eh?
    I once saw a story tree made with dressmakers's pattern tissue paper as the final cover.It was wonderful (about 6 ' tall).It had story papges hanging from branches too.Alice Gove made it.She is a fabulous embroiderer, dollmaker...she can turn her hand to anything.I am glad I found your site.

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  2. It is absolutely amazing what can be done with paper crafts nowadays... It's a rediscovered art! I am finding all kinds of cutouts and lace sculptures and animations all made from paper all over the internet! It's really fascinating!!

    And thanks for the tip about Alice Gove--I'm going to look her up!! And I went to your blog--oooo, the color!!! Beautiful!! I'm so glad we found each other! Wheee!

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  3. Those are stunning fashions. Thanks for commenting on my blog. Now I'm going to get out some black lace to use metallics on. Thanks also for the idea.

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  4. Have fun, Sandy!!! I bet you'll make all kinds of discoveries! : )

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  5. Your necklace piece is gorgeous!!How clever!!I'm not sure if Alice has a website.I just visited her home once after she gave a workshop at our doll club a couple of years before.She was so friendly and welcoming even though we were virtual stranger(there were lots of people in that workshop).

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  6. Judy, I googled, Alice and found a picture of the tree you were talking about--oh my goodness it was huge!!! But absolutely gorgeous and clever! Quite stunning! Thank you for mentioning her--all I had to do was Google her and do a bit of clicking. How inspiring!!!

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