ArtPrize reprise

a great adventure.
a gratifying public response.
a new confidence.

Artprize

I wish I had taken a better photo 

This week I took the entire shoe collection to Grand Rapids, Mi for an art exhibition/competition called Artprize.
The collection is installed at the Women's City Club, a warm and welcoming venue that couldn't be a better host.  The shoes will be seen by many and those who have seen them so far have been kind and generous with their praise.  I'm thrilled.

' punk'd '

This very simple, steampunk inspired design looks to me like a cross between an ice skate and a roller skate.  The wheels, of course, are my favorite part.

I have an idea for my next shoe although I don't expect to make it before going to Michigan. As usual, whatever I have in mind now will likely transform into something completely different.

The tongue is made from a
piece of vintage lace.

'homage'

This shoe was initially inspired by a YouTube video 'Killer Black Shoe' by Pepper Gaboon but it also references others whose very original ideas give my somewhat limited imagination a jumping off point.
This is not to disparage my own abilities but just to acknowledge that this is a collaborative effort with many silent partners.

'Kenai'

I considered naming this shoe 'cliche' because I had to invoke every version of  'if at first you don't succeed...' to finish it.  Fortunately, I'm pleased with the result. It harkens back to a trip to Alaska many years ago.
I don't know what kind of fur this is, perhaps rabbit.  As with most of my materials it was a thrift store find. I'd like to finish one more shoe before going to ArtPrize in September.  That should be quite an adventure.

undaunted

I haven't posted a work in progress for a while.  This shoe in the making is fighting me at every turn and I'm not sure at this point that it will work no matter what I do.  Makes me think of Cinderella's step sisters trying to make the glass slipper fit (in the original fairy tale I believe they even cut off some toes).  They say you learn more from your mistakes than successes. I'm about to find out if that's true :)

'surrender'

I first decided to name this shoe 'capitulation' because I had to surrender to the fact that it refused to be what I wanted it to be.  But 'surrender' is probably a better name.
I neither liked nor disliked this shoe initially but it is growing on me.

Moving on.

'matrix'

This shoe came together even more quickly than the last.  But I think it's time to take a little break (as in a day or two) to get back to playing music.


The next shoe is likely to take much longer.  The idea is brewing but not nearly fully formed.

This design was drawn with marker
and the mustard colored accents
were inset.

'complimentary'

This shoe came together faster than any
other in recent memory.




I cut a slot in the last to accommodate the
 thong. My new tabletop belt sander came in
 handy for shaping the platform and 
Rit dye was used to color it.

This post is a little premature since the upper of this shoe is not actually attached to the platform but I was anxious to get it out there.
This color combination was a stretch for me but I quite like it.

'captivated'

It looks a bit like it is sticking its tongue out which

 

pleases me in some perverse way.  

One night, in the wee hours, I watched the film '50 shades of Grey'. It was out of curiosity (and insomnia) that I found myself there and I can't say I thought much of the film. Yet a few days later I awoke with this shoe design in my head.

The cage heel (courtesy of my son) has a small bird inside. The sole has an arrow pointing forward acknowledging that, if needed, there is a way out.