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

designssss

Working on new designs for the Spring Fashion Show with Microclimates!  Check out the site and please consider donating for our kickstarter grant...  Seriously, the smallest amount will 

go a LONG way toward polishing Denver's creative entrepreneurs Samuel Schimek and Rob Mack's awesome plans for this Spring! (...I'll admit, the grant will definitely help me too.)

This Dress is made using an organic cotton/hemp blend Dobby.  The dots are hand painted after the dress is made so each dress's pop is particularly pretty.  I think we'll find a meadow for a picnic pick-me-up once the Spring's weather is sunny! 

Extra roomy

Happy Valentine's day everyone.

If there's any reason to still be sporting the hoody, maybe this is it. 

Pantalaine Sweat-Heart Sweet-Shirt 2004 From McSweeney's 17

15 Point Prescription for a Winning Wardrobe

I met Steve Boorstein, the "Clothing Doctor," in a chance encounter about one week ago, and I am thankful for this new resource for fabric care!  Thanks to his expertise, we have some matter-of-fact advice for how to keep our wardrobe fresh.  I think a lot of us have thought about these points but have not really put most into practice.  Some ideas were new to me, and I look forward to a little purge here and there as well as more realistic shopping choices to keep my closet from literally bursting!


Below, I quote Steve's website, www.clothingdoctor.com, which outlines good planning and care for a winning wardrobe.  I encourage anyone who invests in their wardrobe to go to the site and learn more!  What a resource!

Fashion, personal style, and clothing care are mutually important when building and maintaining a wardrobe. This "Top 15" list will change, over time, but will never stray from the basic premise; we spend too much money on our clothing to not know how to take care of it. I hope you can embrace a few of these suggestions and make them work for you.

1. Every time you buy a new garment, discard or donate an old one.
2. Choose a drycleaner for quality, service, convenience, and price - in that order.
3. Never rub a stain-blot only dab with a dry white napkin.
4. Show your drycleaner all stains, fabric pills, snags, pressing problems, and minor repairs.
5. Buy clothing that fits your current body.
6. Buy clothing that looks great in the store, looks great at home 72 hours later -- and stop buying "maybes."
7. Apply hairspray, perfume and deodorant before you dress -- let it completely dry.
8. When you shop, ask yourself, "Is this fabric well-suited for me and for what I do? Will it wear well? Can this fabric be washed at home or will it need professional drycleaning?"
9. A bargain is only a bargain when quality is part of the package.
10. Before you reach the cash register, hang the garment, spin it around, and spend two minutes to do the 6-Point Quality CheckTM ; zippers, hooks, hems, seams, shoulder pads, and buttons (Always ask for extra buttons!)
11. Remove drycleaning plastic but keep the paper shoulder -- covers on each garment.
12. Use plastic or wooden hangers -- no wire (except on cotton dress shirts).
13. If you wear only 30% of the clothing in your closet, start weeding out the deadbeats. If not worn for 6 months, move it. 12 months retire it.
14. If a garment has been lost by your drycleaner, it should be returned or replaced within three weeks.
15. If a garment is admittedly damaged by the dry cleaner and cannot be repaired to your to your satisfaction, you are entitled to a "like" replacement or a cash settlement within one week.

looking forward to this

This is a preview of a movie about Neapolitan tailoring.  Not quite ready, it is now in the final editing phases.  I'm really looking forward to when I can watch the whole film! 

O'MAST from Kid Dandy on Vimeo.