INDY'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTING ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

Project IMA Fashion Show

Three stars
Indianapolis Museum of Art; April 4

There were a number of fashionistas — and fashionistos? — trying to put Indianapolis on the road to being not so far behind everyone else at last week’s Project IMA Fashion Show. The show marked the end of Midwest Fashion week, a program put together by local designer Berny Martin, meant to showcase the Midwest’s finest in the sewing craft.  Berny was one of the designers on the runway at the IMA. He presented two not particularly stunning pieces, one of which was composed of what appeared to be pink suede with fringe reminiscent of Native Indian costume, with a bit of a throwback to the Renaissance era with the addition of an overly stuffed codpiece. The piece was cleverly strutted by a strapping strong male. Also significant, if not a bit cliché, were Nicky Blaine’s pieces. Two of her pieces were dedicated to Indianapolis: one outfit based on the Indianapolis 500 race and another a dedication to the Indiana Ice hockey team. My favorite displays of wearable art were two pieces from Lindsey Davidson. Simply dressed in body suits, two models displayed Davidson’s designs atop their shoulders. Made mainly of nylon and Styrofoam, I thought her collar-piece of cascading balls was truly the definition of wearable art — not something I’d wear on the street, but a bold statement with value to both art and fashion. There are a growing number of talented local fashion designers who deserve, and are demanding, attention and respect. In a couple more years, I think they’ll get it.