April Howard, M.F.A. Fashion Design
Birthplace: Hartford, Connecticut
Materials: stretch leather, silk twill

Before pursuing her M.F.A. at the Academy, April received a B.A. in Anthropology, A.A.S. in Textile/Surface Design, and worked professionally designing home, tabletop, giftware and linens for Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren. For this collection, she was inspired by the work of found objects sculptor Kathy Kelley, the decaying concrete and plastic of an urban wasteland, and Cormac McCarthy’s novel “The Road.” Her organic shapes and construction details are representative of discarded items. Leggings are made to look like molded foam. Slim pants like slashed tires.

For more info about our New York Fashion Week show, click here.

Maria Korovilas, M.F.A. Fashion Design
Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland
Materials: silk chiffon, wool, cotton, lace

After completing classes in Tambour Beading in the School of Fashion, Maria incorporated metal encrusted pieces and details into her collection. The hand beading took over 600 hours to complete. The starting point of her inspiration was the Jenny Lewis song “You Are What You Love” from which she pulled visual and conceptual references for her moody collection of lace, embroidery and layered pieces.

For more info about our New York Fashion Week show, click here.

Jungah Lee, M.F.A. Fashion Design
Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea
Materials: latex, silk

Jungah used the faded colors of antique books as inspiration for the hand dyeing of her fabrics. She mixed water with the dyes and used brushes to obtain a water stained look. She layered, pleated and manipulated the fabric to mimic warped and torn pages of old books. Traditional Korean dresses influenced the soft silhouette and lines of her collection.

For more info about our New York Fashion Week show, click here.

Denman Island in British Columbia was discovered at the end of the Eighteenth century.

It is the size and shape of Manhattan with about a thousand inhabitants. It is hard to be precise; the most confusing date on the island’s calendar is Father’s Day.

The old timers whose forefathers arrived before the motorcar, look on the invasion of Seventies draft dodgers with amused tolerance.

The dodgers, now ancient anarchists, do not believe in change, and regard newer arrivals, who do believe in indoor plumbing, with deep suspicion.

Then there are some very special folks.

Michael Dennis arrived on Denman from San Francisco in 1980. He was not running away from war but escaping from a brilliant career (Stanford PHd in Neuropsychology, Harvard instructor, University College London Research Fellow, U.C. San Francisco Professor of Psychology).

He and members of his family acquired 160 acres, then for three years Michael Dennis built his own house – which led to sculpture.

Today, his work may be admired by many, and afforded by few, all over the world and most especially at 3760 Lake Road on Denman Island.

Well worth a visit.

In my sculpture over time I have gravitated to less and less detail of feature which allows the viewer greater freedom to read in whatever details they wish for their own interpretations.

I explore that fine line between figuration and abstraction which line probably differs with each viewer.

Follow the jump for more images and quotes from Michael Dennis.
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On Friday, September 17th BFA and MFA students will present garments in a fashion show at the de Young Museum’s event “Mexico 2010″ which will honor the country’s artistic creativity. Here’s a preview of the garments that will be featured:

The event is a part of the museum’s “Friday Night Soirées” programming so make sure you keep Sept. 17th open (from 5 to 8:45 p.m.) For more info the de Young museum’s website. Did we mention the event is free?

Cara Chiappetta, M.F.A. Fashion Design
Birthplace: Mundelein, Illinois
Materials: rubber, silk, mesh, wool, nylon

In addition to being a Fashion Group Foundation Scholarship recipient and participant in a LVMH Creative Briefing Design Challenge, Cara interned for N.I.C.E. Collective and Michael Kors. She found inspiration in femininity and examining how a woman is perceived. Bridget Fonda’s character Nina in the film “The Point of No Return” became Cara’s muse. Her fabric choices influenced the garment details, manipulations and bonding techniques. Helmut Newton’s photography helped her capture the mood.

For more info about our New York Fashion Week show, click here.

Camilla Olson, M.F.A. Fashion Design
Residence: Palo Alto, California
Materials: silk faille, silk chiffon, silk habotai, silk organza

With a B.S. in Microbiology and a M.B.A. in Marketing, Camilla patented several products and founded five companies before pursuing her M.F.A. at the Academy. She participated in the LVMH Creative Briefing Design Challenge this summer. Inspired by the movie “Blade Runner” and samurai arts, Camilla’s collection represents women as rebels breaking the restrictions of their historically constrained roles. The soft silk under-dresses represent a woman’s inner nature and the outer ‘cage’ is her strength and armor.

For more info about our New York Fashion Week show, click here.

La Barbe, from the Latin Barba, is a beard in English.

In the 15th Century, King Edward IV of France was also king of England. He tried to impose a tax on beards and nearly lost both crowns.

Later, King Henri III of France (1551-1553) banned beards. His brother Henri IV (1553-1610) permitted them.

Earlier, in the Fourteenth Century a barbe (no, not a Barbie doll) was a linen ‘beard’. Only a queen’s barbe was permitted to cover her chin; a baroness’s barbe had to remain below her chin.

You may have noticed, beards are back, mostly on men.

I must admit, I am a bit bored with beards.

Here are a few suggestions to liven up facial hair:

Another suggestion: a sharp razor.

Written by: Gladys Perint Palmer

Click here to read more of “Picture This” by GPP

It’s time for our weekly “Who’s that?” contest — and this time we are giving you a group of people:

Clue #1: Playboy

Clue #2: Milk carton

Clue #3: Words

As always, please enter your answer in the comment area below. Make sure you tell us why these folks are cool and it would be awesome if you could tell us what the meaning of these weird clues.

Sculpture students from Paris Texas, led by Doc Hickory Upclock, went to Paris France, seeking The Thinker.

Doc Hickory (Hick) Upclock, Polly Kettleon, George Porge

H. Dumpty, Baba Black, Fancy Dhish, Singha Songoff

Polly Kettleon, George Porge, Baba Black, H. Dumpty, Fancy Dhish and Singha Songoff made a beeline for the Musée Rodin on Monday July 5th. It closed. There was ruckus in a tent and they discovered Dior Haute Couture.

On Mondays The Thinker is The Sleeper, even outside a noisy tent.

They were so inspired by Gay Paree, they ditched dead sculptors and infiltrated Valentino, Givenchy and On Aura Tout Vu (that was easy, it took place in a park and passers by had a grand view).

They robbed a bank and shopped.

Hick Doc in Galliano

Porge in Thom Browne

Polly in Dior, Baba in Givenchy

Follow the jump for more…
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