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If you love art, New York City has so many museums and galleries all across the city just waiting to be discovered. If you love fashion, then you’re also in luck, as New York is one of several fashion capitals in the world. But what if you love both? Is there a place where both art and fashion are purposefully paired to transcend the normal enjoyment of the two?
In fact there is.
The East Village Art Collection is a gallery missioned to give creators the space and opportunity to share their work of all mediums with the world; creating a community that exceeds the limitations of traditional forms of artistry, and challenges the boundaries within one’s imagination.
On September 17th, The EVAC hosted a group exhibition showcase where art and fashion collided into an astronomical presentation of creativity, and self expression. Accompanied with live music, models ripped the runway in wearable art collections that strayed away from the posh looks typically synonymous with New York Fashion Week, and were more reminiscent of 90s grunge and direct adaptations of abstract art.
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20 year old New York designer, Luna Taylor, kicked off the show with her collection Introspection, a collection of custom one-of-one hand crafted and upcycled pieces. The dark streetwear featured hand drawn/airbrush, patchwork, and sewn designs, as well as signature chain accents and drawstrings. Taylor’s work set the tone for the show, as the edgy looks encouraged the audience to examine every inch of the intricate detailing.
Also keeping the streetwear vibe, artists/designers Sosseh and Lindsey Crouss, were up next with their collections of original hand crafted wearable art.
Sosseh’s Boulder Academy Collection 1: Study Hall, is the product of the artist’s perspective through bridging the seen and unseen, the known and unknown, the universe and people. The striking zigzag and arrowed pattern that ran down both legs on the pants of the entire collection, resembled a pathway rather than just a pattern. The horned, spiked tooth creature painted on the tops could arguably be leading the way, but the collection's distinction, like any good work of art, is up for interpretation by those who consume it.
Switching things up a bit with layers, prints, distorted faces, and abstract shapes, Lindsey Crouss’ Selfish Collection slayed the runway. The bright pops of colored shapes/lines on top of dull, washed out colored backgrounds, is a signature of Crouss’ art. The hand painted prints and colors combined with facial features such as eyes, lips, and even full faces, reflected this wearable art collection’s specific theme of human complexities.
Closing out the runway show were Designers Anthony “Ant” Corona, and Ryan McMurray with their collections Rebellion World Collection #4: Rebellionism, and Wicked Violence Collection: Hauswirth.
Ant’s Rebellion World Collection appeared completely self explanatory.
REBELLIOUS.
This collision of punk streetwear and hip hop influence crushed the runway with hoodies, sweatshirts, and ski masks. The collection itself is directly influenced by out of the box thinking, and anti-establishment messaging, and is making waves in the underground fashion industry.
Last but not least, Ryan McMurray’s Wicked Violence Collection finished the show with life reflective wearable art; canvassing sweatshirts, hoodies, jeans, and button ups, with printed images of household items and furniture. The relaxed looks of the collection invoked larger than life thinking; highlighting simplicity as part of a bigger picture within the different stages of life itself.
The creativity, the craftsmanship, and themes displayed at The EVAC were impeccable. These artists and designers closed New York Fashion Week with originality and style, and gave the audience an exciting show of one-of-one pieces.
Written by: Tarice Spencer (IG: @reesewrites_)
Photography by: Chante Ramsey (IG: @vysynphotos)