Post FILWF: A Visual Story

Photo: Jenna Belevender, Fashion Shoot Photography on display by Eric Peoples

Photo: EPic Images, Eric People, "The Queeen" experimental garment by Artist Tiffany Best

Photo: Jenna Belevender, Joey Merhcant, "Illusions Collection" Art Dress

Photo: Jenna Belevender, Artist Joey Merchant, wearing her "Illusions Collection" Custom Art Dress

Photo: Jenna Belevender, Paper Fortune Tellers

Luke Song Millinery: "Birdcage" Photo: EPic Images, Eric Peoples

Photo: EPic Images, Eric Peoples of Artist: Rose Suau and Alivta Lozano

Photo: Jenna Belevender, "Cake Box" by Elizabeth Kincaid

Photo: Jenna Belevender, Luke Song Millinery

Photo: Eileen Isotalo, Mark Sarmel Artwork

Photo: Nichole Christian, of Red Balloon prints, by Eric Peoples and Alvita Lozano

Photo: A. Lozano, Art by Toni Nunn

Dorinda Balanicki: Vita's Favorite Desert, Photo: Jenna Belevender

Photo: Britta Brookes of Artist Joey Merchant and Stylist Cara Lundgren

Photo: Birtta Brookes of Rose and Mario Suau: Invisible Twin Audio Narration Production "Young Hearts"

The Pulitzer prize winning poet Chevlof Milov once said "poetry is very much at least in structure akin to a collage".  I think that is a wonderful analogy.  So much of what we consume visually today is best appreciated in a collage format.  I'm reminded of Pinterest as an example of this kind of digital platform. 

I hope this post is a pleasant visual re-cap of the FILWF exhibit.  Thank you to everyone who came out to see it, to those who worked so hard to make it happen (Special Thanks to Heather Rehe: Salon Rehe, Eric Peoples: Epic Images, Rose Suau: bunnyteeth) and also to those of you who stopped to view this post.  I hope you fall in love with something everyday!

Live Sod, Red Balloons, Fashion and Art

Polyvore set: via alvitafreestyleindetroit, this is how the story begins...

Morning of February 14th: live sod rolls prepped, sprayed with green food coloring for the installation (we had snowfall this morning)

Photo by Britta Brookes: "Sod Walk" installed in the gallery @ Salon Rehe Space, also included a 3D Assemblage piece by Artist Toni Nunn "Bird Cage Muse" in the forefront. 

Patent leather baby doll shoes filled with valentine heart candy and glitter, red balloon is anchored by shoe and the glass red heart on top of "Sod Walk" live sod installation by A. Lozano, photo by Crystal Proxim: The Ferndale 115 News

Photo: Jenna Belevender

 

The red balloon hovered happily over the candy filled shoes as part of the "Sod Walk" installation greeting exhibit visitors upon entering the Pop Up 01/14/2012, Photo by Britta Brookes

You would be hard pressed to find live sod in Detroit, MI during the month of February.  I was naively determined however to have it be an integral part of an installation piece of mine at "Fall In Love With Fashion" Pop Up Art Exhibit on Valentines day this year.  It was the right thing to do as there is no substitute for a green organic element in art.

My journey took me to a sod farm a bit north of here where I met a very pleasant if not bewildered sod farmer who was glad to find a customer.

The morning of the pop up I woke to snow fall and a typical February temperature.  The two sod rolls were lying on a tarp outdoors looking a typical brownish but alive.  I drug the tarp onto the porch and sprayed them with green food coloring in hopes they would appear lush and green.  I was thrilled with the results as you can see it was a successful installation.

One of the writers who attended the exhibit (Crystal Proxime of The Ferndale 115 News ) said the installation "Set a whimsical tone" for the gallery, which made me smile.

The photo shoot which produced images to promote the event included a red balloon theme.  Why a red balloon theme one might ask?  For me, red balloons represent Passion, Hope, and Adventure.  Elements I wanted to showcase in this exhibit. Integrating nature (live sod), shoes, candy, glitter, a silver butterfly, a red heart ornament, along with the red balloon seemed the perfect way to summarize Fall In Love With Fashion Pop Up Art Exhibit.  The exhibit concept was born of a singular vision...a red balloon, and my determination to respect and interpret the idea. 

Fall In Love With Fashion Pop Up Art Exhibit

Photo: Eric Peoples EPic Images and Digital Art, Creative Concept/Styling A. Lozano Models: Holly C., Rose Suau, Design: bunnyteeth Copyright 2012

Pop Up event details, Design: bunnyteeth Copyright 2012

If you are open to a stylish alternative to the traditional Valentines Day outing, stop by Fall In Love With Fashion Pop Up Art Exhibit tomorrow.  The event is a fundraiser for FernCare free health clinic.  Suggested admission donation is $5.00.  All event donations will benefit the clinic.  Location is 205 E. 9 Mile, Ferndale MI 48220.  Doors 6PM.  Bring your smile and curiosity.

Creative Fashion Volunteer Co-op Project

Shoot the Fashion - Build Your Portfolio

Fashion Photo Shoot Paper Collage Collective work: Alvita Lozano, Salon Rehe, Kaley Hedric, Shannon McCarthy, Camille, LaMontagne, Trish Nguyen, and Sean Doerr at The Butcher's Daughter Art Gallery

This project is an example of an economically creative way to jump start cooperative volunteer projects with a specific focus. In this case, "FreeStyle In Detroit” along with a team of socially progressive up and coming talent have joined forces to do three things: Volunteer their time and skills, Celebrate Fashion in Detroit, and build a collective body of portfolio work.

The event: “FreeStyle In Detroit Fashion Portfolio Jam Session” is a one time event I have organized. It is an all volunteer cooperative team consisting of A Fashion Stylist (3 Stylist Assistants), Several Models, A team of Hair Stylist, A Makeup Artist, Several Photographers, and an Art Gallery Owner. All participants have little or no professional experience in Fashion.

This team is developing Fashion Photo Shoot experience, building new professional networks and creating a unique body of Fashion Portfolio Work. All team members will receive digital copies of the best shots for their individual portfolio use.

This is an “Idea” that any industry can use to build new networks of creative volunteer work.

“In this city in this recession, creative visionaries think outside of the box opening new doors not climbing old business structures. We need to work upside down and build new teams of people to move it forward. It seems everyone is vying for corporate sponsorship and government grant money which is great, however I say use what we have and that is creative talent, time and the power of unity. Let’s not wait on some kind of deliverance, let’s push together, create the swell in Detroit and put it on the International Fashion Map Grassroots Style. That is what FreeStyle In Detroit is all about".

Photos and team member write ups to follow....stay tuned. Meanwhile I encourage you to get out there and build volunteer networks and projects of your own...I'd love to hear about what you are doing in Fashion!