Yearly Archives: 2013

Wow! It’s the World of WearableArt™!

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American Dream. Designed by Sarah Thomas of Timaru, NZ. Winner 2009 American Express Open Section. Winner 2009 Weta Award. Photo credit: World of WearableArt™ Ltd

If I’m honest, I was very surprised. I had always thought of Nelson, New Zealand as a pleasant, agricultural town boasting also a port, a nice beach and a bit of a boutique feel. For most tourists visiting the South Island, it serves as a gateway to the spectacular wilds of the Nelson Lakes, Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks. I did not expect Nelson to be the home of one of the more astonishing testaments to the human impulse to create beautiful stuff.

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Firebird. Designed by Susan Holmes, Auckland. 2009 Winner Untouched World WOW Factor Award. Photo credit: World of WearableArt™ Ltd

The World of WearableArt™ – or WOW – began as the brainchild of Suzie Moncrieff who, in 1987, organised an event to promote a rural art gallery in Nelson. Her unique idea has grown into a major annual show held in Wellington. It draws entries from all over the globe. The garments entered for the shows are stunning in their design and manufacture; their exhibition is carefully choreographed. The Nelson-based and permanent manifestation of these shows is the tastefully designed World of WearableArt™ and Classic Cars Museum.

WOW Museum

To glimpse the World of WearableArt™ is to be seduced into a world of heart-stopping beauty and mind-numbing creativity. It is more than fashion. It is more than costume. It is more than theatre. It is at once thrilling and inspiring.

Good advice would be to make New Zealand your destination and take in the World of WearableArt™. Better advice would be to make the World of WearableArt™ your destination and take in New Zealand. So why all the hype? Here are some of the winners. Just enjoy!

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Conversations with Guggenheim. Designed by Rodney Leong of Auckland, NZ. Winner 2008 Centre Port Wellington Inspired by Architecture Section.

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Dragon Fish. Designed by Susan Holmes of Auckland, NZ. Winner of the 1996 Silk Section. Winner of the 1996 Chez Eelco Supreme WearableArt™ Award.

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The Beehive Bra. Designed by Narresh Kukreja & Shivan Bhatia, India. Commended 2006 Scenic Circle Hotels Bizarre Bra Section. Photo credit: World of WearableArt™ Ltd

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Reflection. Designed by Erna & Karl Van der Wat of Auckland, NZ. Winner 2011 WOW® Factor Award. Winner 2011 Dominion Post People’s Choice Award. Photo credit: World of WearableArt™ Ltd

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Hylonome. Designed by Mary Wing To of United Kingdom. Winner 2011 Brancott Estate Supreme WOW® Award. Winner 2011 Tourism New Zealand Avant Garde. Photo credit: World of WearableArt™ Ltd

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Superminx. Designed by Simon Hames of Wellington, NZ. Winner 1999 Montana Supreme WearableArt Award. Winner 1999 Smythes Solicitors Dynasties and Empires Section. Photo credit: World of WearableArt™ Ltd

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Lady of the Wood. Designed by David Walker, United States. Winner 2009 Montana Supreme WOW® Award. Winner 200 Tourism New Zealand Avant Garde Section. Photo credit: World of WearableArt™ Ltd

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Hermacea. Designed by Jan Kerr, Paraparumu, NZ. Winner 2011 WETA Award
Winner 2011 American Express Open Section. Photo credit: World of WearableArt™ Ltd

World of WearableArt™ is an original concept created by Suzie Moncrieff in 1987 and owned by World of WearableArt™ Limited. Images reproduced here by kind permission of World of WearableArt™ and Classic Cars Museum; Nelson, New Zealand.

Mourad Ghedira at Galerie Cimaise

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“Originally, a frame was a device for hiding the nails used to stretch a canvas” explains Mourad Ghedira. “Now we use a frame to augment the aesthetics of a picture.” He warms to his subject. “The right frame can…”

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The problem with trying to speak to Mourad for any length of time is that the door of Galerie Cimaise admits a steady stream of people each bearing a treasured photo, a carefully rolled water-colour or a canvas in bubble-wrap. They want Geneva’s master framer to weave some magic around their beautiful stuff.

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Mourad grew up in Tunisia. He originally came to Geneva to study civil engineering but in seeking a more creative outlet for his energies, he launched Galerie Cimaise in 1998. By assuring a quality framing service, he has built up a successful business.

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When at last there is a quiet moment, I ask Mourad what it is exactly that people want when getting a picture framed. A surprised look crosses his face. Have I just asked for the secrets of his trade? Or is it simply a question that is so basic that no answer is required? “Well… a frame brings importance to a picture. Floating or “American” frames are less noticeable. A deep concave frame can give a sense of distance or perspective. It can add atmosphere. Particular colours or passages of colour can be picked out or complemented by a frame. The texture of the frame can build on the texture of an oil painting or a collage. The frame can highlight the originality of the picture. The material of the frame can be a part of the narrative of the whole piece. The right frame can…” The door opens. Another client is made welcome.

Ross Coupland’s primate photos

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Ross Coupland has two passions; each is driven by equal talent. When persuaded to put his guitar aside, Ross Coupland indulges in his second passion: wildlife photography. He travels the globe capturing beautiful images of the natural world. He tells me he just wants to take photos and make them freely available. This strategy has brought him a BBC award for his primate photography.

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The first primate Ross ever encountered: a Costa Rican spider monkey.

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The Costa Rican squirrel monkey is small and elusive. I love the way Ross has captured this one: it seems very relaxed with its right leg just hanging down and with its tail draped over an adjacent branch rather like a discarded mink coat.

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This is my favorite of Ross’s primate photos. A male macaque looks out from a brick ledge of the Swayambhunath hill temple complex. What makes the photo is the back-drop of the vast dusty urban jungle of Kathmandhu.