Brandie is a bridal stylist in a local boutique, and she utilizes her artistic talents in creating beautiful window displays. When I first saw photos of some of the dresses she has created for the seasonal displays, I knew I had to find out more about her process.
She made a dress completely out of discarded book pages, and added words and characters of her own creation. She talked to our students about going to art school for illustration, and the materials she uses to create her displays. But since she also has a background in sewing, she talked to them about sewing her own wedding dress and Halloween costumes, and when she had to restore a bustle on a Victorian dress.
I know that to a middle-schooler, it's impossible for them to imagine being an adult with a career, and understand the realities of how people end up in the jobs they do. For example, just because a boy likes basketball and plays well on the court doesn't mean he's going to end up in the NBA. I don't expect them to understand those realities yet, and I certainly don't want them to give up on their dreams. I do think it's important to expose them to a variety of possibilities though.
My roommate in grad school was an art major, and she often complained that people didn't know how she was going to apply her degree in the 'real world.' They assume someone going to school for fine arts is hoping to become a famous artist; that's like going to school for English and saying you're going to write the Great American Novel. Going to art school doesn't mean you'll become a famous artist, but it doesn't mean you can't apply that passion and knowledge in other careers.
Furthermore, I think it's vital to show them that we should never stop learning and acquiring new skills and interests. When Brandie was telling them about the warp and the weft of paper, and how she used that knowledge to create the pleats and curves of the paper dress, I was fascinated. And when one of the students asked her about making wedding dresses, and she explained that America produces almost no wedding dress fabric, fine silks and delicate laces are imported from other countries, I started thinking about how this topic could encompass a whole curriculum. Sewing involves measurement and math, fashion has a long and storied history, the fashion industry is rife with discussion of ethics related to labor and materials, and of course using upcycled materials like discarded textbooks is a prime example of Maker mindset.
Interesting post.Thanks a lot for sharing with us
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