Maybe it’s the changing of the seasons, the ongoing downtown renaissance or something else entirely, but EW has noticed a burst of creativity and talent breaking through what remains of winter’s fog; May 2’s First Friday ArtWalk is no exception. First stop is the 5th Street Public Market with “BLOOM,” featuring gardenscapes by Retro Green House, Sweet Pea Designs, Beeologique Bee Hives and more. While at the market, don’t miss the stunning sculptures of elephants, gazelles, ostriches and giraffes by Moses Metal Works at Swahili African Modern boutique. Pop over to The Jazz Station for Jordan Limbach’s trippy, swirling landscapes and Melissa Nolledo’s transcendent digital art and photography. Cap off the night with a glass of vino and Benjamin Terrell’s graffiti-meets-Northwest Coast art at the Oregon Wine LAB (488 Lincoln).
Silver Lining Productions — the new garment manufacturing facility that recently announced its collaboration with Nancy’s Yogurt for Earth Day totes — is hosting an onsite grand opening celebration, “Lift Off,” at 6 pm Friday, May 2, (309 W. 4th Ave.) during the ArtWalk. The production house will premiere its Kickstarter fundraising video, do demos and Sizzle Pie pizza will be on hand. “Learn how your clothes are made,” says Laura Lee Laroux of Silver Lining.
From ArtWalk to catwalk: An exciting new collaboration is happening in the worlds of art (Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art), fashion (Eugene Fashion Week) and sustainability (St. Vincent de Paul) at 6:30 pm Sunday, May 4, at the Schnitz. The ground floor of the museum will be the catwalk for St. Vinnie’s “Metamorphose Upcycling Design Challenge,” in which 10 local designers (pictured above) will present designs in three categories: ready-to-wear, evening wear and designer’s choice. What can audiences expect?
“They can expect a show,” says Mitra Chester, Eugene fashion guru and special projects manager for St. Vincent de Paul. The designers — Vanessa Froehling, Cynthia Doe, Courtney Wade, Jessica Stallings, Sierah Edwards, Kendra Brock, Marie Slatton-Valle, Julia Paige, Rhiannon Dark and Hosanna Haines — have had eight weeks to create garments from $40 worth of secondhand clothing and fabric from St. Vinnie’s; 80 percent of the final design must be made from these materials. Models will sport the looks on the runway while being simultaneously broadcast on screens throughout the ground floor. A panel of local “celebrities” including JSMA Executive Director Jill Hartz, UO School of Architecture and Allied Arts Dean Frances Bronet, Passionflower Design’s Jewel Murphy and OSU fashion marketing professor Keith Nishida will judge designs.
“It’s why I’ve always been in fashion,” Chester says of Metamorphose, adding that the show is about advocating an upcycling lifestyle. Community TV, which has been following the designer process, is filming a documentary about the event. Tickets are $15; find them at http://wkly.ws/1qj. Look for photos in the EW’s May 8 issue.