Be Inspired

Imagine a cool autumn evening in Queensland, Australia in 2019. It is clear and bright with stars after weeks of rain. The weather apps say no rain expected. So with a huge amount of trust our small team forges ahead preparing for an extraordinary event.

A runway show with a difference is to be held outdoors under the stars in the small market town of Eumundi. Installations made from recycled milk bottles, highlighted with fairy lights adorn the trees. Tables are set with greenery, fairy lights and artistic skill.

A magical place is being prepared for exceptional artwork.

Backstage – under tents, 35 artists are dressing 41 models with incomparable works of art. Hair, makeup, accessories are all attended to with utmost attention to detail to complete the presentation of each garment. There is excitement, delight, camaraderie, sincere admiration and support – with maybe a few glasses of wine.

Hello - my name is Wendy Roe and I am Curator of the Australian Wearable Art Festival.

Australian Wearable Art Festival is a platform that embraces the fusion of art and fashion – where artists come together to create extraordinary and unique works that will grace living bodies who will walk this art – each piece individually - out onto a runway.

It is artwork that is unexpected, unknown and without boundaries.

The artists come from all walks of life – some are lucky enough to find their passion creates an income. For others it is finding or making the time to create around family and income earning jobs. For the artist, the passion to create is an impulse that cannot be subdued – it strives to find a way to be allowed.

The Australian Wearable Art Festival is a platform that allows and embraces original unique expressions of imagination from artists who have a joy – an impulse, to create outside the accepted norms of fashion and of art.

Creating this platform is my joy – my passion.

I am not an artist; however I am passionate about this community of artists and their art.

I am passionate – and so very honoured to bring artists and this platform together - to offer an outlet for creativity and bring art to life, on a catwalk, in front of an audience.

I am passionate about challenging people to think outside the square, to offer categories to inspire the use of materials in unexpected ways. To inspire and support the artists to create extraordinary unique creations, that in turn amazes and inspires the audience.

I am passionate about bringing these artists and their art into the light, about offering a runway that hosts extraordinary works of art that merges fashion and art into unique interpretations by artists so diverse and yet with the common bond or impulse to create.

To hear and see the audiences reaction as each piece enters the runway is the ultimate reward. The gasps of wonder, the palpable excitement, delight and joy as magic walks out onto the runway – each piece standing alone, to be appreciated - to be framed in its uniqueness.

As the show began in 2019 I had tears in my eyes. I stood at the end of the catwalk – behind the judges – and watched the artwork of people I had come to know so well make its way through the audience, fully embraced by every person in this space. There was not a person there who was not fully engaged in the spectacle that unfolded in front of them.

The official photographer beside me was in raptures and even as he took shot after shot of each piece he was almost begging to be engaged for next years’ show. He was in his element in capturing these amazing pieces.

How the judges – three of them – could even begin to judge each category was beyond me. Aside from the category definitions there was no common factor to bounce off against each artwork. They were all standalone creations, each so diversely different. In my heart and eyes they were all winners and though only some took home an award every artist felt the joy, excitement and pride of showing their work on a platform that embraced such diverse creativity.

Looking back at this event, now two years in the past but still very much alive today – in part because of the impact it had on so many and in part because it was so beautifully visual – I am still a little bit in awe of what we created.

There is always a team that puts together events and that is the case here, however there is one member of that team who is a standout and she is the Australian Wearable Art Festival Event Manager, Helen Perry. So if my name is to be written about here – and talked about in relation to the Australian Wearable Art Festival then so must hers be. Helen is the creative force behind the actual design of the event and she is the one who puts it all together. She is also passionate about the success of this festival and can see it stretching into the future and sees the impact it will have on the cultural landscape of our region and on all the artists and audiences in the years to come.

Australian Wearable Art Festival has four categories that are defined by material use and they place us firmly in this developing eco conscious world. The category of Trashion requires at least 80% reused materials and they can be as diverse as plastic milk bottles, inner bike tubes, and old toys and even reused tea bags! Our second category, Sustainable Nature is 100% biodegradable and must be able to be placed on the earth and do no harm as it degrades back into its source. This can be organic naturally dyed fabrics or plant life such as introduced (to Australia) invasive plants such as Cats Claw. Floriana is our third category and embraces all things botanical with no material restrictions. This is often our most colourful category. Avant-garde our fourth and final category takes us into the realm of possibilities – of taking materials and shapes beyond… anything and everything. It may be sculpting with paper, or fantasy imagined creations or in the case of our 2019 winner, taking a craft material such as macramé and making a Sun Empress!

Our event embraces, excites and stimulates creativity – we offer opportunities to get up close and personal with the art as the models step down off the catwalk – with the artist - to mingle with the audience, for them to see details up close, and speak to the artists about their creative processes. Australian Wearable Art Festival makes art accessible, inclusive and intimate.

Art has the ability to influence societies – to amplify a voice to rally to causes – to offer diverse exposure and to inspire more creativity. It stimulates innovation – invention and encourages new solutions – not only for art but for humanity and the planet. Art is the foundation of societies and yet within the walls and halls of grey clad government buildings art is barely recognised in its contribution to humanity. It is seen as an addition rather than the backbone – it is undervalued and underfunded.

Exposure to creative endeavours has the ability to make people more open and tolerant of others views. It makes for a more embracive society – it reminds us that we are one planet – one people - it reminds us we are a community.

Maybe since reading this you have an impulse to take a look at what on earth wearable art is – maybe you will feel inspired to make something ‘arty’, to go to an art show or perhaps to follow us – support us! We would love for you to do just that…check out the info below.

Follow Australian Wearable Art Festival (AWAF) on social media – go to our website www.australianwearableart.com.au and see art that is wearable.

Follow us as we take this platform on its journey.

Become a Patron – a Donor – a member of the AWAF Support Team – or simply an appreciator of art.

Above all be inspired to find the creativity within you!

Wendy Roe - Curator - Australian Wearable Art Festival