2024 Art2Wear Booklet: Dimensions

2024

Art2Wear is supported by the NC State University Foundation

welcome rachel gore

I am so excited to present Art2Wear 2024: Dimensions. We wanted to find a theme that not only encapsulates what Art2Wear has become, but also the past 22 years of evolution in this program. This year the team focused a lot on performance aspects, multi-designer collaborations, and external production. The leadership team has carefully chosen talented designers that we know have and will continue to push the boundaries of art on the body. During the show each designer will take you into their own Dimension that their collection lives in, physically and conceptually. The theme “Dimensions” can mean different things to different people, but to me, “Dimensions” is about the unique experiences that every student goes through at their time here at NC State. It symbolizes the College of Design and Art2Wear’s evolution, their transformative shifts.

Thank you to my leadership team, faculty advisors, student members, designers and donors for sharing in your love for A2W! Without these people this production would not have been possible and I am forever grateful. I hope you all enjoy the hard work that has been put into the show this year.

This year’s Art2Wear team is exploring the spaces we embody and the nuance and complexity that we explore through the theme of Dimensions. We are once again invited to explore the blend of physical and digital construction as the Art2Wear show embraces digital media production and works with students across campus to bring the visions of I continue to be inspired by the work it takes to put together this one-of-a-kind event, utilizing skills from across campus and with the support of faculty mentors, staff supporters, encouraging friends and of course, the talents of our skilled designers and

Mark Elison Hoversten

Ph.D., FASLA,

AICP Dean, College of Design

NC State University

This showcase would not be possible without many hands working together to create a collective vision, and I applaud their efforts to bring

faculty remarks

In the 23rd year of Art2Wear we are happy to see another year of this beautiful expo of student talent. Through the collaborative creativity of students, faculty and staff we were able to explore new ways to be innovative with materiality and form. Art2Wear is a tradition that has lasted now for over two decades, and with each year we push the envelope a little further. This year’s theme “Dimensions” explores the art of worldbuilding. In this year’s show, we will see the dimensional quality of form matched with the dimensional qualities of time and space as we marvel at the creativity and the playful use of mixed methods in materiality, both physical and digital.

Keeping Art2Wear as a student-driven program, everything from the strategic promotional planning, poster and flier design, social media campaigns, and website were all crafted by the students. All of this was coordinated by a committee of student leaders:

Rachel Gore (our lead student director) Miranda Green, Beverly Martin, Brooke Parrinello, Arynn Baginski, Matthew Wright and Mustafa Ozcicek.

It cannot go without saying that Art2Wear was made possible by the generous support by corporate donations as well as funding and support from many people and entities including local businesses, the College of Design Leaders Council, College of Design staff and administrators from the Dean’s Office, Department of media arts, design & technology, communications, development, finance and facilities. I would also like to thank the tireless dedication of Katherine Klinger, Adrienne McKenzie and Ryan Khan for their leadership in managing multiple layers of people and procedures required to produce Art2Wear.

It is with this support and creative passion that the 2024 Art2Wear

program once again brings a showcase of innovation that is driven by creative material explorations in art and design to NC State. Our students have promising futures as the next generation of designers who will change our world. Let us celebrate their work as we experience the 2024 Art2Wear program!

derek ham

PH.D.

Department Head and Associate Professor of Media Arts, Design and Technology

It has been inspiring and energizing to work with our NC State University students in the spring 2024 semester studio to develop their Art2Wear designs. Each student has brought forth their own personal passion, perspectives and research to design their unique Art2Wear creations based off this year’s theme: Dimensions.

Each collection took countless hours over the course of many months, both in and out of the studio classroom, to complete. Working with their peers, along with supportive staff and faculty members, the students enrolled in the Art2Wear studio learned new technical skills and experiment with a wide variety of materials some of which were: FX Silicone, resin, EVA Foam, 3D Printing, LEDs, pattern draping, sewing and construction, surface design and other fiber art and costume design-based resources.

The Art2Wear designers of 2024 not only continued the tradition of finding the ART in Art2Wear, but also embarked

upon exploration of narrative beyond just the creation of garments; they delved deeper into the production experience – set, music, lighting and choreography. They have created characters that are from different worlds and environments, brought to life the costumes they have read and imagined from their favorite stories, and taken on large scale dimensions and alterations of silhouettes to turn people into walking art “structures” through architecture on the body.

Dedicated and standing strongly alongside the designers throughout the course of the year in planning this event, are the student directors and student production team members who, in addition to their studies, dedicate their spare time to making Art2Wear happen each year for the community.

I would like to take the time to congratulate and thank the Dean of the College of Design, our Department Head of media arts, design and

technology, the Art2Wear director, current student production team, fellow faculty, and staff, the 2024 Art2Wear Designers, the studio students and YOU–the audience–for continuing to support this tradition of Art2Wear!

Adrienne McKenzie

B.A., B.A.D., M.A.D.

Arts Production Specialist

Costume Technician, University Theatre

Lecturer, Media Arts, Design and Technology

What is art2wear? What is art2wear?

Art2Wear™ (A2W) is an educational event where students gain experience by coordinating and producing an annual wearable art production. Young designers are challenged to imagine, create and inspire by expressing their point of view through wearable art. This highly anticipated show fuses the talents of several departments in the College of Design and beyond, exposing student designers to the broader field of wearable art, digital media productions and fashion. A2W attracts attendees from all over the Triangle by encouraging participation through engaging the student body, the Raleigh community and the broader design industry.

Our mission is to inspire and empower students to explore the art of wearable creations by providing a platform for them to express their creativity and push the boundaries of traditional art forms. Through collaboration, innovation and education, we aim to create a community that values and celebrates the intersection of art, fashion and the digital world. We strive to foster a supportive and inclusive environment that encourages personal growth and expression, and to showcase the power of wearable art as a medium for storytelling.

Mission Wearable Art & Technology vision

Our vision is to inspire a new generation of artists and designers to use wearable art as a canvas to create unique, imaginative and thought-provoking pieces that challenge conventional ideas of fashion and art. We hope to encourage the blend of physical and digital construction to push the imaginations of the next generation of designers.

Wearable art is a product or sculptural piece that interacts with the body and serves as either a cultural artifact, an artistic expression, a reflector of society, outward illustration of a person’s identity, starter of revolutions, economic building block, basic human need or body covering. Technology serves to enhance and elevate the story of these wearable pieces through digital storytelling, immersion or pushing the boundaries of what “wearable” means.

leadershipleadership

As a leadership committee, we are honored to work with such amazing and talented designers from the College of Design and all across NC State University. Art2Wear is a collaborative endeavor that leans into all of our students’ talents and interests. This production would not be possible without all of the on-stage and behind the scenes work our design community has contributed.

Thank you to everyone who has participated in yet another great year of Art2Wear.

student board student board communications

A shley W illis

An astacy Golovidov

Olivia Jurney

production

Sarayu Kondaveeti

Kevin Foster

Gabriella Rotruck

Aurelia Py rczak

Lagan McGinnis

Grace

Gilber t Hanah Li

evolveevolve

My approach to dimensions is heavily influenced by how we experience and interact with them through matter. In our realm of existence, that is through the elements: air,earth, fire and water. I designed how garments would adapt to their respective environments if one of the four elements were extremely prevalent. In the details of each garment, there are technical approaches that relate to the subtopics of dimensions: frequency, quantum Entanglement, bosonic string theory, revelations, relativity and reflectance. For frequency, all matter is constantly vibrating and resonating with each other. This can be diagrammed in many ways, and for this topic, it can be represented through materiality. Designing garments considering how things connect has merit, and relating that to quantum entanglement and bosonic string theory, it can offer many opportunities for material exploration—revealing new dimensions of the clothing, by either uncovering layers underneath or exaggerating the “dimensions” of individual pieces. Relativity coincides with dimensions because what is considered large or small is relative. Finally, reflectance relates to alternate dimensions, a mirrored version of someone or the environment.

First I’d like to thank God for giving me wisdom, inspiration and perseverance during this process. Thank you to my family for supporting me financially during this process because fabric is not cheap! I’d like to thank my professors and friends I made during my time abroad, which exposed me to a whole new perspective and appreciation for culture and design. I’d like to thank my professor Adrienne, our TA Miranda, the design committee, classmates and the director for their guidance and commitment to getting this show organized. Lastly, thank you to my models and everyone behind the scenes for their willingness to participate and make this production amazing!

interstellarinterstellar

My collection dives into the dimensions of space, drawing inspiration from the vast expanse of the universe and the unseen and unfathomable mysteries of the cosmos. It is a celestial voyage—a journey through the stars, encapsulating what an interstellar trip would look and feel like. The atmosphere of my ensemble immerses you into the depths of space, transporting you into a realm where the intangible becomes tangible.

I want to give special thanks to my parents, who have been such a massive support throughout this journey. I never would have been able to tackle this without them. I also want to thank my models, my best friends; thank you guys for being so patient with me and trusting this whole crazy process. Lastly, I want to thank our student director, Rachel, who I had the pleasure of becoming friends with while studying abroad in Prague. She was a designer for the show last year, and watching her truly inspired me. Art2Wear has always been a dream of mine, but I always felt like I wasn’t capable of it. Rachel encouraged me to go for it, and I’m so glad that she did. I wouldn’t have done it if it weren’t for her.

oomoom

Set in the 1950s, two women just go about their day, enjoying their picture-perfect society. Exaggerated, neat, and pressed clothes blend them into society. The housewives routinely do their chores, longing for a break in the cycle. One day, they began to hear a humming from outside. Entranced, the entire neighborhood peers out of their homes. The afternoon sky darkens and a faint beep begins to echo. An ambient light strikes from above, rattling the ground. Within seconds, the light begins defying gravity and levitating humans up into the air.

Unable to resist, matter begins developing on the humans, engulfing all earthly features. The atmospheric pressure

I would like to thank my parents and siblings for always supporting me. Even though we are states apart, I know I can count on my mom and dad, Kira, and JT to make me laugh, and take my mind off of the stresses that come with college and working on a collection. You mean the world to me and I am so grateful for you. To Abby, goodness am I happy to have gone through this with you. As we struggled together, we also persevered together. Those long nights in the studio have created so many memories. I am so lucky to have a best friend like you. To Nick, the constant shoulder to lean on throughout this collection. You’ve gone out of your way to help me get supplies, mid-week and late at night… It means so much to me. I love you all so much.

Kat Charrier

psilocybinpsilocybin

Transdimensional travel refers to the concept of existing beyond the three traditional dimensions, which we know as reality. Perception is relative. Who’s to say there aren’t 8.1 billion different dimensions of the same reality? This group of pieces serves to bring to life what I imagine a psychedelic trip across various dimensions to look and feel like. This collection aims to bring the audience a visually stunning experience as they recognize familiar shapes which become distorted and morph into something completely new and unfamiliar. Each piece has its own unique silhouette and color palette, with this diversity emulating the endless possibilities of creation as we take a trip across the universe.

THANK YOU! To all the individuals who took their time out of their semester to organize, elevate and keep the show running smoothly, I appreciate you. The attention to detail and investment in each and every one of our collections really allowed for the pieces to come out amazing. I am thankful you guys believed in me enough to trust me to let my imagination run wild and create an awesome group of work I will forever be proud of. I also want to thank all the people in my life who dealt with my fabric, clay,

glue and plastic MESS all over my adapted studio space (my own floor). Thank you to my gorgeous models, who gave it everything they had to really bring my collection to life in all of its weirdness and let me cover you in crazy-looking face paint. I love each and every one of you guys!

submergedSUbmerged

The Earth is warming, glaciers are melting, and creatures are growing. Immerse yourself in a dimension where we exist underwater, a future where the distinction between human and animal is unknown. This collection of wearable art engulfs the model in a three-Dimensional mutation that is the future of our species after climate change. Each piece is unique in its texture and movement, large and bright organisms that exist submerged in the depths of our dark and mysterious oceans. The stage should feel as if in motion, the models caught in a spiral of water, moving between the light and shadows. The music is ominous, without words, building in intensity as each piece comes into view.

Inspired by romanticism in ballet, a girl transforms into a new and enchanting organism once she is taken by the sea. Now a part of this dimension, she explores the strange creatures and the role she plays in this unknown world. An entrancing and dark dimension, completely SUBMERGED.

I would like to give a special thanks to my mom and dad! Thank you for always supporting me and my crazy ideas. From the beginning of this process, you have always been there for me and even though this year has been stressful, I could always count on you for your encouragement and a delicious meal. Thank you to Whit, my brother, for always keeping it real and for making me laugh. I would also like to thank my friend and fellow designer, Kat. We have both had such crazy semesters, but I am so proud of what you have accomplished! Thank you to my models for bringing all of these looks to life, you truly embody SUBMERGED! And finally, thank you to the Art2Wear team, Adrienne, and Miranda for your guidance throughout this process and for keeping me on track with scheduling and due dates!

abigail stuart

journey to the west journey to the west

In ‘Journey to the West,’ a collection diving into the poignant journey of immigrant parents as they traverse the ethereal boundaries between worlds, leaving behind their homeland to forge a new destiny. Through the lens of dimensional leaps, this narrative explores the emotional complexities and resilience required to navigate unfamiliar landscapes while holding onto the essence of their cultural identity. The collection approaches my parent’s immigration as a dimensional leap through deliberate design elements like raw edges that wear and tear along the way. The frayed edges serve as a passage of time marked by challenges that faced my parents. Central to the collection is the color red that connects my parents’ cultural heritage with their newfound dimension, growing red roots that spread throughout their dimension, boldly and warmly show their presence in a new land.

I want to start off by giving a special thank you to my models, makeup artist, Priscilla Martinez and others who were involved in the creative process that allowed me use them as a conduit for my creative vision as I could not have done this without them. I also want to thank my roommates who mentally encouraged me to continue as this journey would have been treacherous without them. Lastly I want to thank my family, especially my parents, who allowed me to tell their story, went through many obstacles and endured so much sacrifice for me as this collection is my way of telling them “càm on mę và ba.”

ILLUMINATUREILLUMINATURE

Nature and technology are always changing and evolving alongside us; however, nature is often considered the antithesis of technology. Through our collection we challenged this contradiction by merging the two together into personifications of each of the natural elements. Throughout our performance you will see Day (Keya Shanbhag), Life (Gabrielle Fjellman), Water (Lina Pettaris), Weather (Natalie Yeung), Air (Sarah Annibale), Fire (Raisa Hernandez Vargas), and Night (Gloria Chien) symbolized through wearable art.

For us, the theme dimensions is about understanding the multifaceted aspects of our elements. Typically, when asked to imagine what the natural elements look like, people picture them in the daylight. By deciding to show them in the dark as well, we created a more complete image of them, showing a side that is often overlooked. Throughout our performance you will see how each character’s appearance changes in the dark, with the use of illuminating technology. Although there is a transformation of light and dark, the characters preserve their motions and themes, showing how they adapt to their environments. We hope our collection allows you to reflect on your own connection to nature and leaves you inspired by the beauty of ILLUMINATURE.

We would like to thank all of our friends and family who have supported and helped us in making this collection, our models who gave their personal time to be a part of the show, our professors and classmates who always had a solution when we hit a roadblock, our friend Rheanna Murray for her amazing makeup skills and the entire Art2Wear leadership team and production crew who worked so hard to make this show. Lastly, we would like to say how thankful we are to have worked on this collection with one another. It is truly a chance of a lifetime to work on a project like this with a friend and what a memorable way to end our senior years! We have made wonderful memories together and will always be grateful for the generosity of others we experienced while working on our collection.

Katherine Ryan Gabriela Hernandez Vargas

entropyentropy

Entropy, the natural march towards disorder, manifests in the crumbling of buildings, the demise of trees, and the creases that mark our aging skin. Yet within this decay lies a profound beauty, a beauty inherent in change and evolution, although accompanied by destruction. This dichotomy is the essence of my collection.

It embodies the sublime journey of the human spirit, perpetually evolving and beckoning growth, juxtaposed with the devastation we’ve inflicted upon our planet. Each piece serves as a testament to human evolution, mirroring the epochs of material utilization.

Rather than imposing my will upon the materials, I’ve allowed them to guide me, tracing our civilization’s trajectory. From the primal act of kindling fire with wood, symbolizing our earliest innovations, to the industrial dominance of concrete and metals during the revolution, each material frames a moment in time.

Yet, amidst our current Anthropocene, there’s a glimmer of hope—a vision of a future where we recognize our interconnectedness with nature. It’s a future where ownership dissipates, replaced by symbiosis, where we nurture the earth as it nurtures us. In this vision, we empower nature to flourish alongside us, embracing a harmonious coexistence that transcends mere existence.

“Every

person is a world to explore” —Thich Nhat Hanh

This quote has opened my eyes to the uniqueness and beauty of every human I encounter. Recognizing this has fostered in me a deep sense of awareness towards my surroundings and my gratitude for our planet & all living things. Let’s be kinder & take better care of our planet!

A special thanks to my family: my mother, who nurtured my artistic journey from the very beginning; my father, who challenges my ideas; my sister, whose inspiration fuels my growth; and my brother, whose probing questions led me to discover my purpose. My thanks also go to Christian Karkow, Kunal Bhardwaj and Jack Dalton for their invaluable support and engagement in my creative process. Lastly, thank you to the Art2Wear team for their pivotal role in bringing our visions to life.

Single-loo s Single-looks

Lydia Spears @lydes1gn

Arynn Baginski

special than s special Thanks

Adrienne McKenzie

Miranda Green

Beverly Martin

Ryan Khan

Mustafa Ozcicek

Derek Ham

Katherine Klinger

Matthew Wright

soft constructions studio media arts, design & technology development & external Relations mixed reality lab communications

Dwain Teague

Lauren Hipp

Christine Klocke

Max Cohen

Randy Woodson

Virtual Production red-i photography team

AJ Lawrence

Andrew Tracy

college of design dean chancellor art2wear jury contributers

Raygene Euell

Vyomini Singh

Aurora Henderson

Mark Hoversten

Gabrielle Edwards

Cameron Cooper

Katie Rant

Visit go.ncsu.edu/donate-a2w or scan the qr code to support Art2Wear.

All funds raised by Art2Wear are collected and managed by the NC State University Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization.