Project Fashion Show Offers Fun, Thrifty Alternative This Mother’s Day Weekend

The Wexner Center is hosting a two-day, create-your-own Project Fashion Show extravaganza May 9-10, designed to bring different generations together in a fun alternative for Mother’s Day weekend. The workshops are free and open to the public.

In this program, designed and led by local writer and artist Nancy Kangas, couture week in Paris (or Project Runway) meets thrift store chic, with the added interest of self-discovery and self-expression. Beginning with thrift store finds as raw materials, participants will use “extreme” as well as traditional sewing techniques to transform the garments into a new look for a new, self-designed identity. The outfits will be complemented with accessories—and on paper with short prose poems and character studies. The workshops—held in two four-hour sessions Saturday–Sunday—will culminate with a runway fashion show on Sunday at 2:30 to show off the results, while the descriptive poetry (about the garments and the characters wearing them) is read aloud.

Project Fashion Show will take place Mother’s Day weekend, Saturday–Sunday May 9–10, 11–3 pm at the Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 N. High St. On Saturday, participants will meet at 11 am at the Clintonville Goodwill at 2768 High Street to purchase supplies (they are also welcome to bring their own). The workshops are free to all audiences, but pre-registration is required. To register or for more information call (614) 292-6493 or e-mail edweb@wexarts.org. The 15 available spots will be filled on a first-come, first served basis. Teams of two or more of either gender are encouraged. Lunch on both days is included. The workshops will conclude with the fashion show at 2:30 on Sunday in the Wexner Center’s lower lobby; family and friends are welcome.

“In the midst of a suffering economy and tight budgets,” notes Jean Pitman, educator for youth programs, “this fun intensive studio workshop is also a chance to rechannel free spending fashionista tendencies into those of a recycling recessionista.  In the process, self-defined family groups will get a chance to explore together the contemporary artistic practices of identity and image, self-invention, and traditional and radical garment design.” Participation by adult/teen or adult/tween teams of all genders, related or not, is encouraged in this intergenerational program.

Event Support: Major support for the Wexner Center’s 2008–09 education season is generously provided by Battelle. Youth and family programs are presented with support from Bob Evans Farms, Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc., Cardinal Health, Target, and Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream. All education programs and events also receive support from Corporate Annual Fund of the Wexner Center Foundation and Wexner Center members, as well as from the Greater Columbus Arts Council, The Columbus Foundation, Nationwide Foundation, and the Ohio Arts Council.