Fashion Meets Craft

Event: The Paper Runway
Date: June 4, 2010
Venue: Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, 4848 Main Street, Houston, Texas

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I always knew that it took creativity to be fashionable. This actually came true when the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft presented The Paper Runway, an exhibition of extraordinary paper clothing and accessories.

At the opening reception held on Friday June 4, 2010 art and fashion enthusiasts experienced this extraordinary exhibition of nearly 50 stunning works of paper clothing and accessories. Featuring everything from handcrafted evening gowns to men’s vests, jewelry made from magazine pages, and a suit made from lottery tickets, each garment-inspired artwork is created from different types of paper.

Materials ranged from recycled cotton rags and coffee filters to various handmade papers, created from fibers like abaca (banana leaf) and kozo (mulberry bark). The featured works encompass a dazzling array of patterns, textures, colors and exquisite detail. Some pieces would look right at home on the couture runways of Paris; others are inspired by the wild beauty of nature. Some pieces are whimsical and innovative, and others have a deeply personal story to tell.

The selected works were created by artists from the United States and from countries around the world, such as England, Chile, Israel, Tibet, Japan, and Canada. Though most work included in the exhibition is for display only, The Paper Runway also presents the work of Deepak Shrestha, a renowned artist from Tibet who makes shifu clothing. Shifu is a craft specific to the Himalayas that involves creating wearable, functional garments out of paper.

A not to be missed free art exhibit. Located in the Museum District at 4848 Main Street, HCCC is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 AM – 5 PM, and Sunday, Noon – 5 PM. The exhibition is to be ongoing from June 4, 2010 to September 4, 2010.