MEDIA RELEASE:

Monday 4^th July, 2011

USA numbers impress Brancott Estate WOW Awards Show

The United States of America has produced the highest number of international finalists at this year’s Brancott Estate World of WearableArt™ (WOW) Awards Show in New Zealand with 17 of the 55 international entries coming from the USA.

Now in its 23^rd year, the Brancott Estate WOW Awards Show is renowned around the world for showcasing works of art designed to be worn on the human form.

Competition Director Heather Palmer attributes this year’s large contingent of American finalists to returning designers becoming more experienced.

“Most of the garments from America this year are from designers who have entered WOW before, and it has been amazing to watch as they mature as artists, and learn from the experiences of previous years,” says Palmer. “One designer has had three garments selected as finalists, which is a fantastic effort, and overall we are pleased to see designers from across the country enter this year.

“The experimentation in their work highlights the sense of enthusiasm and commitment the American designers have to learning new skills and developing their craft,” she says. “The quality and originality has been extremely high.”

Joining WOW Founder Suzie Moncrieff on the judging panel are New Zealand fashion designer Trelise Cooper and New Zealand artist Nigel Brown, who finished the first round of judging on June 12th.

Trelise Cooper says the number of interpretations to the different categories is fascinating, with designers providing many great surprises.

“This year, designers have been challenged to create a representation of New Zealand Icons; re-dress the groom; provide an interpretation of surrealism and of food; and give us a glimpse of what can be found under the microscope - they have more than met those challenges,” Cooper says.

“The surprises come in the topics chosen, the treatment of raw materials, and who has made the entry – of course designers and artists enter, but so do talented farmers, students, office workers and high school teachers, and husband and wife teams.  WOW continues to be a show for everyone, today more so than ever.”

There will be two further judging rounds in August to decide the section winners and the overall Supreme winner. Winners will be announced at the show’s award night, Friday 26th August.

At this year’s Brancott Estate WOW Awards Shows ingenious designs will again be brought to life in a stunning choreographed performance featuring Royal New Zealand Ballet dancers.

Tickets are on sale now at worldofwearableart.com

Highlights from the United States in the Brancott Estate WOW Awards 2011…

·       17 garments are finalists from the United States, out of 55 international finalists:

·       Brooklyn, New York architect Margarita Mileva has presented ‘Rubber Band Dress III’ in the American Express Open Section, which is created from approximately 18,550 or 6.5kb of rubber bands, and was inspired by the traditional tattoos of New Zealand Maori.

·       Talented costume fabricator Sean Purucker from Toluca Lake, California has had three garments selected in this year’s show. ‘Pretzella’ in the Children’s section is made from foam, spandex, paint and beads.  ‘Lucid Epiphany’ was inspired by a living dream catcher inside a pomegranate, and ‘Steamy Affair’ portrays protection from the discovery of infidelity – both of these garments are finalists in the American Express Open Section. As a previous WOW® Factor Award Winner in 2008, and winner of the coveted Weta Award (selected by Sir Richard Taylor) in 2010, Sean will be travelling to New Zealand this year in the hope to repeat his award success.

·       In the Tourism New Zealand Avant Garde Section metal artist David Hebert from Chickasaw, Alabama entered ‘Modern Warfare’.  Described by David as armour for today’s woman, it is made from steel and leather. David has been working hard to fundraise for airfares with Artist Salon Evenings, so he can attend the show in Wellington, New Zealand in August.

·       ‘The Gilded Igloo’ was submitted by Kirsten Longly, a Clayton (Washington) designer, and depicts what it would look like to turn a building into a wedding gown.  It was created using cotton, pellon, crystals and netting.

·       Amy Jean Boebel, a sculptor from Santa Monica, California had two garments selected in the Gen-i Creative Excellence Section: Under The Microscope.  ‘HeLa Cell Divides’ portrays the way in which HeLa cells divide quickly and have helped cure many diseases.  It was made from balls, wire, tulle, flooring and zip-tags.  Amy Jean’s second garment, ‘They’ve Got Nerve’, was created using aluminium screen and monofilament, and depicts nerve cells with long tendrils that could hug to cause pleasure or spike to cause pain.

·       Onna Suhovy, a clothing designer from Costa Mesa, California made ‘Hairs To You’ from synthetic hair and fabric for the Tourism New Zealand Avant Garde Section.

·       Vinyl, wire, organza, satin and fabric were used by Californian fashion designer Rebecca Wendlandt to create ‘Mystique’, which was chosen as a finalist in the Tourism New Zealand Avant Garde Section.

·       ‘Niagara’, the garment of Judy Bales, a Fairfield (Iowa) artist, was selected in the American Express Open Section.  It is made from cable ties and tells the story of coarse plastics transforming into soft and dramatic beauty.

·       In the Gen-i Creative Excellence Section: Under The Microscope, landscape architect Gehris Morgan from Inglewood, California, submitted ‘Blasticularheum’, which depicts sexiness created by limiting the view of the body to the brain parts that involve human arousal.       

·       ‘Amphitrite, Sea Queen’ by Ana Lisa Hedstrom from La Honda, California, was selected in the American Express Open Section, and tells the story of the queen of the sea (Amphitrite) crying tears of oil, and is in response to the recent oil spill off the Gulf of Mexico. Ana Lisa created the work using felt from recycled bottles and silk.     

Overall, 180 finalists have entered 160 garments in the following categories:

·       The Air New Zealand Kiwi (New Zealand) Icons Section has clearly provided great inspiration to designers, who have presented wonderful representations of New Zealand, including; sea glass Pohutukawa; a dress constructed with footballs; an endangered bird made out of the equally endangered woollen blanket; and aluminium road signs marking our most favourite New Zealand destinations.

·       Gen-i Creative Excellence Section: ‘Under The Microscope’: Designers help us discover the fascinating unseen world of millions of strange creatures that dwell under the microscope, from shapes, patterns and textures to cells, bacteria, dust mites, skin, the brain, and snowflakes.

·       The Children’s Section topic this year is ‘Food’; what is good for us and what is not? Without using perishable materials, creations this year range from fairy bread, pretzels, healthy food on the run, to children’s tea parties.

·       CentrePort Illumination Illusion Section is entitled ‘Surrealism’; a style where fantastical visual imagery from the subconscious mind is used, with the work being comprehensible under UV light. 

·       The challenge in the Man Unleashed Section was to ‘Re-Invent Or Re-Dress The Groom’. This challenge has resulted in one groom being dressed in sculptured soy milk container armour, and another groom being carried by his bride as a puppet – a mere accessory.

·       The Tourism New Zealand Avant Garde Section is where art and fashion collide. These designs are revolutionary, extravagant and extroverted. The shapes this year are beautiful and eclectic, with designs made from materials such as: bird cages; aluminium tubing; and even 271 Barbie dolls.

·       The American Express Open Section has no thematic boundaries, giving designers complete freedom in concept, construction and materials. Works in this section include garments made with knitting needles, folded envelopes and armour fashioned from steamer baskets.

For further comment, please call Heather Palmer, WOW Competition Director, +64 21 404 501.

For further information, including releases and imagery from previous shows, please go to the online media room at www.worldofwearableart.com or e-mail media@worldofwearableart.com

EDITORIAL NOTE: Please initially refer to the show as the Brancott Estate World of WearableArt™ Awards Show which can then be shortened to the Brancott Estate WOW® Awards Show. Please publish the full names for sections and awards i.e. the Air New Zealand Kiwi Icons Section.