K. Lee Manuel feathered collars
Yesterday, Sunday, February 9, 2014, was the opening reception for the exhibition, Metamorphosis ~ Clothing & Identity, now showing at the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles.
The show features designs by many art to wear designers from the historic San Francisco boutique, Obiko. Obiko opened near the Presidio in the mid 1970's but moved a few years later to its first location on Sutter in the late 70's then to it's last location at 794 Sutter Street and Jones, just above Union Square, in Downtown San Francisco, in the early part of the 80's.
Obiko was THE temple of wearable art on the West Coast from the mid 1970's until the death of it's owner, Sandra Sakata, on September 21, 1997, closed it's doors forever. Sakata was the driving force and inspiration for the concept of Obiko.
From 1980 to it's close in 1997 I produced over 50
fashion shows for Obiko; some of those shows were video taped and one
of those shows, Tribal Visions, at Fort Mason, was a central feature of the Metamorphosis exhibition.
right: Obiko, Tribal Visions video installation by Styrous®;
left: tie sculpture by Isaac Amala and Liz Simpson
(more photos below)
The exhibition is beautifully laid out and the wearable art creations are presented without being jammed together; there is space to really appreciate each and every one of them.
(click on any image to see larger size)
San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles
San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles
Deborah Corsini
. . . but the photos should do the talking
Mosaic Bauhous Gypsy - 2007
Ina Kozel
left photo, on right: Chador for Two Worlds
Roger & Marian Clayden
on right: bias cut Viennese dress Nomadic Coat with Silk Underdress
middle: Red Pleated Dress - 1982
left: Carol Lee Shanks & right: Janet Lipkin &Ellen Hauptli Anna Lisa Hedstrom
Janet Lipkin
left: Janet Lipkin Kay Aranson
Levi's Parrot outfit - 1974 .
from the collection of Levi Strauss & Co., Archives
Wendeanne Ke`aka Stitt Eva Orsini - Watergate jeans
from the collection of Levi Strauss & Co., Archives
Wendeanne Ke`aka Stitt
Jean Cacecido
Jean Cacecido
Kaffe Fassett
bottom: Red Circles, Basque Jacket (sweater) - 2000
there is an installation of sculptures comprised of men's neckties
created by Isaac Amala and Liz Simpson
Isaac Amala and Liz Simpson tie sculptures
left: Cathy's Dress - 1978
K. Lee Manuel
feathered collar
K. Lee Manuel
feathered collar
For the Man with an Open Heart
the history behind this project was too good to not include
Betty Potter from the Dearest Allen series
Betty Potter from the Dearest Allen series
photos by Styrous®
As a saying from those days went,
"Be there or be square!"
"Be there or be square!"
~
Thank you for this excellent documentation of this beautiful and fascinating exhibition! Congratulations to ALL who worked to accomplish this wonderful historic review and updating of the artists' work. The San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles continues to achieve superb exhibitions that enrich all of our lives! Thanks for all your hard work!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. The Museum did an excellent job of assembling the work of these talented designers and it was a pleasure to work with its curator, Deborah Corsini.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Deborah, for a beautiful show sharing Artwear's history, growth and influences on our culture. Thank-you, Max, for many years of documenting Sandra's Fashion Shows and documenting this show. You really captured the feeling of the opening, the design of the display's and the artist's work. Such a great reunion! Janet
ReplyDeleteThanks, Janet. It WAS a fun reunion.
ReplyDelete