The Walking Gallery – Wearable art for a changing world – Music and aerial artistry

One of the two ArtHouse Jersey headlining events for the mammoth Skipton Big Ideas exhibition is The Walking Gallery, a runway experience with a twist, showcasing 27 bespoke wearable art creations by local and international designers and artists.

One hour shows will be taking place at the Town Church across the evenings of Thursday, 14th, Friday 15th and Saturday 16th October next week, with tickets available for £22.15 including booking fee.

The pieces explore the themes of sustainability, identity and accessibility and encourage us to think about how we can work with unexpected materials to create what we wear in a more eco friendly and/or meaningful way. This unique showcase departs from the traditional runway fashion show, taking the audience on a one-hour dystopian journey featuring dance and aerial performance. Below are just a few examples of the calibre of creative ingenuity you can expect on the night.

Anna Shipley

Anna is an environmental artist, making mixed media work which considers the complex relationships between humans and the natural world. The lightweight poncho (see main photo) can be worn but can also pitched like a tent to shelter from the elements. It is made from small hexagonal tiles of hand-made paper which incorporate wildflower seeds from Jersey’s Pollinator Project.

The tiles have been covered with natural wax giving them each a unique shade (as well as making them water resistant) and then stitched together in an overlapping design inspired by the patterns in nature. The tiles can be picked off and sewn to grow wildflowers to perpetuate the cycle of nature. The whole design is organic, biodegradable and has a low carbon footprint.

Kyle Moody and Heather Barrette

Kyle (textile fashion designer) and Heather (fine art painter) have created a four piece collection for The Walking Gallery entitled ‘Atemony’.

Ate is the Greek goddess of folly and poor decisions and is known for leading people to ruin through bad choices. Antimony is a metal used in the production of PET plastic that is actually toxic to humans over time.

The ‘Atemony’ collection of couture garments have been crafted exclusively in sustainable materials with eco-friendly construction practices. By using the tangible art-form of fashion, the artist and designer aim to promote awareness of human impact on the environment, focusing on the devastating implications of the plastics industry. A cohort of endangered animals has been painted by Heather, calling on vibrant hues to create bold portraits. These have then been manipulated into a range of digital prints by Kyle. Fine art and fashion combine in swathes of fabric emblazoned with commandingly striking colours and prints. Flowing regenesis silks (spun from recycled PET plastics) are indistinguishable from their traditional counterparts.

Mari Keto

For the past two years, Danish artist Mari has worked with industrial beekeepers and transformed a wasteland into a honeybee paradise with wild flowers and a beehive, consciously entering into a relationship with the bees.

In return for her dedication, the bees create unique re-shaped honeycomb forms which Mari works into wearable art and jewellery. To tend to the hive, Mari has crafted a beekeeping suit from an old wedding dress and a brush made out of her own hair. Her commitment to the relationship with the bees is represented by these objects.

Skipton Big Ideas is supported by The Jersey Community Foundation with funds from the Channel Islands Lottery, as well as the lead sponsor Skipton International.

Main photo at the top shows a Climate change emergency poncho by artist Anna Shipley, taken by Danny Evans.