Visual Arts | February 9, 2017

Peabody Essex Museum's wearable-art exhibit

Fashion collides with high art at the Peabody Essex Museum.

by Nell Porter-Brown

From The March-April 2017 Issue

*American Dream,* by Sarah Thomas
Courtesy of World of WearableArt Limited

*Lady of the Wood,* by David Walker
Courtesy of World of WearableArt Limited

Lady of the Wood, by Alaskan carpenter David Walker, is just that: a mannequin sporting an eighteenth-century ball gown crafted entirely of mahogany, maple, cedar, and lacewood. Walker steamed, bent, and polished timber to form a hooped skirt and “puffy” sleeves cuffed by fine-grained lacewood that matches a dainty bodice. Some 32 such ingenious ensembles—selected from winning entries in New Zealand’s annual design competition WOW® World of WearableArt^TM—appear at the Peabody Essex Museum through June 11. For 25 years, the popular competition has drawn a diverse set of artists who vie to merge fashion and high art. New Zealand jeweler Sarah Thomas, inspired by the shiny, sleek lines of vintage cars, created her own spunky, don-able version, American Dream, from papier-mâché, builder’s foam, and vinyl. It lacks an engine, but who wouldn’t want to cruise through a party dressed in the ’57 Chevy Bel Air classic?

Published in the March-April 2017 print issue under the headline “Dress for Excess,” in the Harvard Squared section.

You might also like

Ancient Egyptian painted sarcophagus with detailed hieroglyphs and a woman's face.

Padimut at Harvard

A rare Egyptian mummy case is on display at the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East.

A vase of yellow flowers on a table next to an orange and a glass.

There’s a New Sargent Painting in Town

Harvard Art Museums restores a rare glimpse of an American master.

A photograph of the inside of the From Iran exhibit at the Harvard Peabody Museum

At Harvard’s Peabody Museum, Photos Reimagine Iranian History

Artist Azadeh Akhlaghi reconstructs moments of Iranian political upheaval in a series of meticulously staged images.

Most popular

Tall modern skyscraper against a clear blue sky, viewed from below.

Harvard Stabilizes Finances With Strong Endowment Returns, Philanthropy

Small operating surplus is dwarfed by reduced federal research support and endowment tax liabilities.

Bronze statue of a seated figure holding a book, with a campus setting in the background.

How Philosophy at Harvard Saved Itself

As humanities shrink across higher education, one department is flourishing. Is its success a fluke, or a roadmap?

A hand holds an ornate birdcage with a silhouette of a wolf inside against a purple background.

Treat AI Like a New Species, Harvard Scientist Says

Joshua Joseph discusses how society can manage and coexist alongside self-governing AI agents.

Explore More From Current Issue

A woman jogs on a path beside a boy riding a bicycle, surrounded by trees.

Health & Medicine

Why Harvard Medical School is training physicians to think more like coaches

Panoramic view of Harvard University with autumn foliage and a river under a cloudy sky.

University News

The University is expanding industry ties and investing its own funds to support research, but neither will replace lost federal dollars.

Black and white portrait of a woman with medium-length hair, smiling softly.

Alumni

The outgoing executive director and Harvard Business School graduate went from dancing The Nutcracker to growing a ballet company.