Black Tie 2 Bondage IV
as it appeared in The Fulcrum, November 9, 2000
article written by Megan Matthews
Please see the easy to read text version below.
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press clipping for Black Tie 2 Bondage IV as it appeared in The Fulcrum, November 9, 2000 article written by Megan Matthews Please see the easy to read text version below. |
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| Leather,
plether, and saran-wrap unite Fashion and art mesh in one wild night |
| It's a wild night of modern art. A mix of
creative juices forming to make a funky collaboration of fashion never seen
before. Black Tie 2 Bondage IV is an event sure to impress. The event marks the fourth annual fundraising fashion show for the SAW Gallery, Ottawa's Contemporary Arts Centre. But this is not your regular fashion show, explains Darcy Schmidt (a.k.a. Dr. Darcy), one of the the two fashion co-ordinators for the event and a participating artist. "This is an upbeat show, probably the most fun you'll ever have with clothes on, or partially on," he said. The show is a collaboration of over 30 artists and fashion designers who have donated their time to create unique pieces strictly for the fashion show. And unique they are. "Most artists take the opportunity to make garments out of rubber bands, astro turf, pull tabs or garbage bags," explained Schmidt. "Everything goes here, from bubble wrap to rubber." Artists have the chance to do anything they want, with no limits. Schmidt and fellow co-ordinator Sandra Abi-Aad, also a featured artist, liase between the artists and the technicians of the show. This may mean they have to organize the 30-foot electrical cord for the person's outfit who plugs in, or create the lighting for the glow-in-the-dark outfits. "The show encompasses everything, from formal wear to latex and whips and chains. We looked for stuff artists made themselves, nothing store-bought," said Schmidt whose nickname Dr. Darcy, came about during his time as a University of Ottawa Fine Arts student. A particularly outrageous outfit that Schmidt recalls from last year's show is a see-through plastic wrap dress that was worn with nothing underneath, other than some body paint. Schmidt's own submission to the show this year involves what he calls "sexy fish outfits." With Schmidt's artistic experience in painting, video, costume design and performance art, it is sure to be a creation that's out of this world. "(This show is) a wearable art event," said Genny Landreville, publicity co-ordinator for the event. "Some designers cross the border and a lot of the outfits are more art than fashion. They are pretty imaginitive." Black Tie 2 Bondage was started by Laura Margita as the annual fundraiser for the SAW Gallery. Margita is the current managing director at SAW and a past business partner of Schmidt's. When Schmidt heard of the idea he came on board right away. "We want to ensure the visual arts remain as part of our culture and don't disappear due to lack of funding," he explained. The money raised from the event is used for programming at the gallery, which is a non-profit organization. This year the show takes place at the Arts Court Theatre, which is a larger venue than in past years. The show features 80-90 outfits, is hosted by comedienne Andrea Jensen and actor/comedian Al Macdonald and features DJ Mike Caffrey and a live video mix by Jake Hanna. Landreville says a lot of students, arts supporters and generally interested parties attend the show and the party afterwards. "Everyone parties together after the show, from the models to the artists and audience members," she said. Audience members can ask questions of the designers and even purchase pieces directly from the designers. Schmidt was eager to make it clear thatt anyone can come to the show." "This is not some underground show about the artistic community for the artistic community only," he insisted. "It'll be the wildest fuckin' time." |
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