MUSEUM OF VENTURA COUNTY DIA DE LOS MUERTOS T-SHIRT
12" x 28" (shirt), screen print on cotton - 27" x 30" x 1/2" (soft sculpture) sewn mixed media
Central Concept and Technologies Used:
In this wearable art, I have taken the traditional imagery of the calaca (Mexican skeleton) and given it a contemporary flavor. The interactive garment allows the wearer to take their celebration of El Dia De Los Muertos in a new direction.
Once the shirt has served it’s purpose as clothing, the wearer is encouraged to cut out the printed image and create a decoration for their own altar by simply attaching the arms and legs to the torso.
My design is intentionally open, so that the new collaborator can add their own decorations, flowers, or write directly on the printed cloth. By working together, we both realize our creative vision, celebrating the spirit of our ancestors and loved ones. Truly a move toward Open Fashion.
On soft sculpture -
His name is Esmoquin (Spanish for tuxedo). He's able to make noise with his hip-bell, googley eyes, and also has an extinct T-Rex shoulder. Go get your Open Fashion t-shirt from the Museum of Ventura County and start remixing / customizing!
Regarding the stitching, I used the free-motion foot and various stitches for the accent work around the ribcage. In addition, the button holes were created with a dense zig-zag stitch and a seam-ripper. Inside there is standard quilt batting. All limbs are interchangeable, sort of like a Mr. Potato Head for Halloween / Dia de los Muertos / Day of the Dead.
Inspiration from Nick Cave's Soundsuits, Claes Oldenburg's Soft Scissors I just saw at MOCA, Inkscape, Free Culture Movement, and the aesthetic and community relationships between the open source graphics community and the fiber arts.
