Dynamics In The Sand

In the summer of 2016, I spent a month traveling around New Mexico. During this time, I stayed at the Georgia O'Keeffe Ghost Ranch. I was able to immerse myself in this dynamic landscape that inspired many of O’Keeffe’s paintings. Throughout her work, she explores a dichotomous relationship between structure and fluidity, a relationship that the desert holds as well. I wanted to further explore this relationship through this garment. This vast landscape has ancient rock formations that have been carved out from the ground and elevated to the sky. As light is casted upon the canyons of the desert, the colors and shapes transform. My garment was inspired by the rock stratification, erosion and the subtle-yet vibrant colors that can be found in America’s Southwest Desert. There is an energy and spirit of the desert that allows for this landscape to come to life. I wanted to experiment with shape, structure, and surface design in order to create a garment that embodies the surreal landscape of the southwest desert.

The textiles of these garments were hand painted. Each individual cut pattern piece was painted in multiple stages, before the garments were sewn together. I used acrylic paint, mixed with pouring medium, and different quantities of paint thinner. The slow movement of the paint as I poured and moved it around reflect the slow movement, and change of the desert landscape. As the paint began to dry, I continued to blend, and mix the colors together to create a stratification effect.

Custom sized to the models

Look 1:

Dress: Vinyl Pleather

Lining: Sateen

Look 2:

Top: Cotton Blend Canvas

Pants: Vinyl Pleather

Lining: Sateen
Fall Semester 2018