15 artists will spend seven days at Location One working intensely and in restricted conditions to produce wearable creations with only the tools and materials provided to them. A cross between art and fashion, the project temporarily removes the gallery from the appointed function of “showing†and moves it to the world of artistic production, raising questions about the circumstances, both physical and mental, of the creative process.
Open Stitch removes artists from the comfort of their own environments, imposes constraints, and compels them to work among others. The action will be documented via live-streamed video. Following the production stage, the gallery space will be left in its raw, post-production state, and an installation of the work produced will be on display. A video montage of the production process will be projected as part of the installation.
Open Stitch was conceived and organized by Sebastien Sanz de Santamaria in collaboration with Jessie Cohan. Participating artists include Ayah Bdeir, Jessie Cohan, Barry Doss, Stefany Anne Golberg, George Hudacko, Selma Karaca, Ryan Kennedy, Miranti Kisdarjono, Katherine Moriwaki, David Quinn, Chris Sanders, Davina Semo, and Wikiwikicorp, a collective that includes Jean Barberis, Aya Kakeda and Sebastien Sanz de Santamaria.
September 7-13 Workshop
7 days, 56+ hours, 15 artists/designers working intensely and in restricted conditions to produce wearable creations with only the tools and materials provided to them. The project removes artists from the comfort of their own environments, imposes constraints, and compels them to work among others. The action will be documented via live-streamed video.
Open to the public every day from 12 to 6pm
Timelapse Video
September 14-30 Installation
The gallery space will be left in its raw, post-production state, and an installation of the work created will be on display. A video montage of the production process will also be projected.
Open Tuesday-Saturday, 12 to 6pm
Workweek Video
September 21 & 28 at 7pm Open House Wednesdays
Two talks about Cultural Constraints and Social Identities relating to clothing and fashion. Speakers to be announced.
Timelapse Video
Saturday October 1st Runway show – Performance – Party
Opening with a short performance by the Glen Rumsey Dance Project, the evening features a staged showing of the garments produced by the participating artists, plus music, DJ and cocktails.
Read press for the show: (PDFs)
Gay City News
Village Voice “Don’t Call it ‘Project Runway, the Art Exhibit”
by Corina Zappia