established AND opening soon...

I haven't said this already and I don't know why (in the name of sanity, why?), but Hol Sum has some lovely garments for sale at the ever-so-popular Fancy Tiger Clothing boutique!  Please visit the store, find some great goods, and try on a Hol Sum piece of clothing!
Their location: 18 South Broadway, Denver, CO.

Also, some newer good news:  Hol Sum clothing will be available for purchase soon at the I Heart Denver store!  The Opening for the store is Saturday April 9th at 6pm.
Location: 500 16th Street, Unit 264, Denver, CO 80205 (Denver Pavilions Mall at 16th St. and Glenarm Place)

Congratulations to Samuel Schimek for putting together another great retail venue for Denver and Colorado Artists and Designers!

making things for Spring

This is one piece I'm producing right now that I like very much.  The blue with red/white dot-print Swiss shirting is very lightweight and sheer with a touch of stiffness to create a "float" around the torso and arms.  A kimono cut with banded arms and waist, this versatile blouse will manifest itself in a few different colors.  Lately, I like to start with blue.

Microclimates!

An installation art exhibition by
Rob Mack &
Samuel Schimek

Ripped from Microclimates' Info Page:  "The Super Ordinary Gallery in the RiNo art district of Denver, CO will be transformed for two months into a large scale graphic art environment. Three distinctive microclimates will lead the viewer on an exciting visual journey using life scale graphic installations. Denver Underground artists Samuel Schimek and Rob Mack have come together to manifest this exhibition and will be using their skills in graphic design, found object, and the collaborative art experience. Leading up to the exhibition, viewers are invited to become involved from the ground up by following the online campaign via facebook, twitter, and the website. Followers will have the opportunity to experience exhibition production and see how this exciting collaboration will come together. 

During the opening of this exhibition on June 4th, event attendees will have a chance to see the full collaborative power of the Denver art scene. In addition to the exhibition there will be a live fashion show by Denver Designer, Hol Sum, special music project integrated with the graphic environment, and special art POP-Up store containing purchasable pieces of the graphic environments."

This is the work that I'm working on! Hol Sum will produce garments that are integral to the graphic, thematic and environments of the Microclimates exhibition. We are even having fabric printed with graphic elements directly related to the designs produced by Rob and Samuel! Working with these two is a great opportunity for me. Microclimates is a challenge that we're all excited for because Denver needs it's artists and designers to stand up, stand out, and represent this awesome city of creative industry!

If you haven't already, please consider supporting our project on Kickstarter!! Anything you can give will contribute to the Kickstarter grant program - if we can rase our minimum, then Kickstarter doubles it! If we can't raise our minimum, we get nothing. Let's get the minimum!!! Thank you for your help, and please pass on our information to anyone who supports the arts, supports real culture in their cities, and wants to support people who work very hard at what we do!

hyperbolic

I came across the Wertheim twins' hyperbolic crochet work a few years ago while especially inspired by artists reinventing the role of handicraft.  I saw this piece around that time at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art when it hosted a show of works all stitched, knitted, crochet and like handcraft called Radical Lace and Subversive Knitting.  In that case, the focus was on the art of craft and roll of craft in contemporary art work.  A current show at Washington D.C.'s National Museum of Natural History brings light to the sisters' rooted intention beyond the medium and craft - a relationship between environmental activism and art.  American Craft Magazine shares this article about their work and the current (through late April) exhibition at the National Museum of Natural History.  These monumental crocheted installations embody Art and beyond Art's sake, provide a venue for raised awareness for coral reefs and fund raising to benefit reef protection.

Mom, I hope you can make the drive to DC to see this show before it closes on April 24!  Wish I could come!

DeVelo Magazine

So it's true that a story about my work as an artist and clothing designer in Denver was published in a local magazine, DeVelo.  Kee Nan wrote the story.  Photo by Robert Podrasky.  Pictured left, a shot of me while I inspect my garments on the rack at the Yes Please More Pop Up Store.

If you'd like to read the article, here's a link: DeVelo Magazine pages 14 & 15