![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.davina.us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Junk-Mail-Banner-1.png?resize=580%2C218&ssl=1\")
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Last December, as the year drew to a close, I set some unusual goals. One goal was to “Be how I self-defined.”\u00a0 This sounds abstract, but it amounts to this:<\/span><\/p>\n Fast forward to April. I attended Costume Con, a convention devoted to the art of costuming.\u00a0 At the show, I had the pleasure of seeing Adam Savage give a presentation on costuming and creativity.\u00a0 During this Q&A session, he said some very inspirational things like “If not now, When?” and “Achieving your dreams is simply deciding to do the work. Show up for you.” But the phrase that got me was, “Always lean into authenticity.”<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n I persuaded my photographer friend Alisha Westerfeld to submit an entry into the photography category of the art show with me. I got the entry book.\u00a0 Looking over the rules and guidelines for submission, I quickly realized there were dozens of different categories to choose from, so I carefully read the descriptions.<\/span><\/p>\n As I read the book, and yes, I’m that gal who reads the whole guide, I spotted “Division 313 – Found Art & Assemblage Art.” At that moment, I knew what I wanted to do. With a flash of inspiration, I wrote down the title\u00a0 “Junk Mail.”\u00a0 My first thought?\u00a0 I was going to sew some window envelopes together with images torn from catalogs and magazines.<\/span><\/p>\n I submitted my form on the last day to enter. Then I went to work. I only had two weeks to complete a worthy entry for my first artwork for exhibition in more than 20 years.<\/span><\/p>\n I love making historically inspired-costume pieces out of unconventional materials. In my first year of MFA at UC Davis, I built a wall of bras out of dozens of different materials from bubble wrap to fishing lures.\u00a0 I finished that school year with an installation entitled “Vestments for a New Religion” and exhibited several of the pieces across Northern California.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Right: “Chausible” from “Vestments for a New Religion” by Dawn Devine at the Olive Hyde Gallery, Fremont, CA<\/em><\/p>\n Left: Maria Maddalena d’Austria, 2007, based on a 1622 portrait by Isabelle de Borchegrave<\/em> I have a vintage plastic display form who’s named Pinky.\u00a0 You can see her serving as the cover model for Embellished Bras.\u00a0 She was going to be my muse and I went to work coming up with a dress concept made from envelopes and recycled cardboard.<\/span><\/p>\n Isabelle de Borchegrave is a Belgian artist and designer who has inspired me for many years. I attended an exhibition years before and saw her work turning historic paintings into three-dimension paper sculptures of dresses.\u00a0 I found a piece of junk mail with an historic image and everything fell into place.\u00a0 I was going to make a Tudor-inspired dress made from upcycled, recycled, and found objects.<\/span><\/p>\n But two weeks?\u00a0 Could I make a Tudor-themed trash dress in two weeks?\u00a0 \u00a0Indeed I could with the help of some friends.\u00a0 Shout out to redvelvet who donated a couple of boxes of packaging and the critical disposable chopsticks that formed the foundation of the collar. Alisha Westerfeld brought over a massive pile of envelopes I needed to construct the material for the skirt.<\/span><\/p>\n But it was Niffer who came over and made tea, wielded scissors, tape, and the almighty glue gun and helped build the structure of this project.\u00a0 Niffer was available and the two of us put in a total of about 55 hours cutting, sewing, gluing, folding, dying, draping, and building the 9 layers that compose this piece. I am indebted to Niffer for all of the hard work.\u00a0 If you’re reading this, thank you Niffer!<\/span><\/p>\n We took her up to the fair and set her up, slowly dressing her and taking a slew of photographs.\u00a0 I gave her a final little preen, crossed my fingers, and wished her good luck on her adventure.\u00a0 Two weeks later, our crew went to check out how she did.\u00a0 Not only did she win second in her class, she leaped the first place to take the division title!\u00a0 She won not one, but two ribbons. I was shocked, amazed, thrilled, and mostly felt extremely validated. I can reclaim the title of exhibiting artist.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Now Junk Mail, the dress is tucked into my closet. Pinky is wearing an assiut tunic and hanging out in my guest room patiently waiting for her next ensemble.\u00a0 As for me, my next goal is to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Costuming from the Hip, by giving her a makeover.\u00a0 My first book has gone through three revisions over the past decades, but this time, she’s going to expand, get a glow-up with a batch of new illustrations, photographs, and diagrams.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n
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With these words freshly written in my journal and infusing me with inspiration, May arrived.\u00a0 One evening when I was chatting with some friends, I decided that this was going to be the year I participated in a group art show. Do I call myself an artist?\u00a0 Yes!\u00a0 Then I must exhibit my art.<\/span><\/p>\nSan Mateo County Fair – Junk Mail<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Inspirations:
\n<\/strong>Isabelle de Borchegrave, <\/strong>Junk Mail, and The Tudors<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.davina.us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/VestmentsD-copy.jpg?resize=266%2C421&ssl=1\")
So I spent two days sketching and drawing, thinking and planning and I came up with an idea. Why don’t I embrace the words of Adam Savage and “Lean into Authenticity.”\u00a0 My authentic inner voice first whispered and then yelled, “Make a dress, make a trash dress!” <\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.davina.us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Junk-Mail-Inspiration.png?resize=580%2C219&ssl=1\")
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\nMiddle: Marketing Mail from the Legion of Honor for the upcoming exhibition “Tudors”<\/em>
\nRight: Miniature of Queen Elizabeth I by Hilliard<\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.davina.us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/JunkMailBack.png?resize=300%2C537&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nIt takes a Village to make a Trash Dress<\/span><\/h2>\n
Junk Mail takes the Division Championship<\/span><\/h2>\n
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