The Dress and fine art

This isn't the first time I assert that fashion is not only a form of art but also a major form of art. Not that I want to echo what's already been repeated a billion times around the world, but seeing Kate Middleton's wedding gown further confirmed this belief.  Only hours before the wedding day, I saw an ad that read "get a knock-off Kate Middleton dress for $695 at Nordstrom." Don't bother, folks. The art of this dress is such that it defies the purpose of wearing a knockoff. Without the incredible craftsmanship of the lace bodice, the intricacy of the pleats, and the perfection of the proportions, the dress would look common at best and even tacky if made poorly.

The dress and its very apparent fine art status was very much on my mind all day on Friday. So it was only appropriate to end the day with an art show. My friend Jeff had an opening at Kafka's on Main St. with another artist/artistic director of Aritzia, Ben Skinner.  It was a typographic exhibit called "Overheard over There". This wasn't surprising because Jeff is all about combining words with visuals. His work was steeped in sarcasm, revealing a dark undercurrent, though compared to his death-themed last show, this was more like a comic relief.

by Jeff Mair

by Ben Skinner