On Saturday, November 11, from 2-4 p.m., have a cup of tea and some sweets and sit back and enjoy wearable art created by six of Windsor’s most inspired clothing designers.  Each will talk about their work and what inspired the idea for the piece as the models walk by.   Lis-el Crowley who runs Art and Soul Gallery will show painted silk scarves; her jewelry will also be worn.  Jan Dagenhart, known by many for her paintings, will bring a selection of quilted vests and jackets for which she is famous in town.  Ina Forman, known locally for her quilts, will show sweaters, vests and jackets.  Laura McSweeney who runs Creative Fiber will display cardigans, sweaters, stoles, and shrugs in a variety of natural fabrics.  Maureen Sullivan will bring felted handbags and a hat, and a selection of bags and purses.  Fashion designer Nightwing Whitehead will exhibit an array of her creations in natural and synthetic fabrics.  Most, but not all fashion items are available for purchase.

 

This program is part of a series of public programs associated with the Society’s fall/winter exhibition Windsor Artists: Then and Now, sponsored by an anonymous donor, Rabbett Insurance Agency, the Town of Windsor through its Arts and Culture granting program, and Windsor Federal Savings.   Sinsigalli Signs is a supporter of the Fiber Fashion Show. 

 

In colonial times, clothing was so valuable that it was passed from person to person, altered for fit and for fashion, and almost never discarded, often ending up as pieces for multicolored quilts.  Traditional natural fibers used in past centuries included wools, cottons, linens and silks.  Fiber artists working have a much broader selection of natural fibers available to use.  It is not unusual to find garments made of alpaca, angora, hemp, mohair and even bamboo.   In the twentieth century, many new synthetic or manufactured fibers became available including rayon, nylon, spandex, polyester, fleece.   

 

Cost for the program is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, and WHS members free.  Parking is available in the Windsor Discovery Center and First Church parking lots and around the Palisado Green.  The Windsor Artists:  Then and Now exhibition will be open to the public before and after the program, and a collection of artwork from the Windsor Women Artist Collective will also be on view in the Society’s Meeting Room Gallery.