WOW Show in Wellington, NZ

The rain was hard and steady as we left the comforts of our InterContinental Hotel in downtown Wellington and headed for a night out at THE ROCK in the Wellington Air Port terminal. Greeted by many umbrella carrying welcoming New Zealanders we were escorted quickly to the dry, warm, friendly confines of the terminal where drinks were ready and  varieties of  delicious finger foods made available for our taste buds.  Our entertainment for the evening started with a piano player doing background music on a green keyboard instrument followed by the WOW show.

......and WOW.... it was a GREAT SHOW.  World of Wearableart started in the nineteen-eighties as an idea.  "What if the human body was treated as an unpainted canvas, what art forms could be created?"  This spark of on idea that started over 25 years ago is now an International Event, with participants and art lovers from all around the world involved.
 "The Greatest Show" which is the piece in the top picture, is constructed with wood, bird cage, fabric and paint.  It was created by Sophie Littin from Wellington and took the Winner 2011 Shell Student Innovation Award. In the bird cage there are two small white stuffed mice.  The model was elegant in her part as being a work of art.
The "Skin" piece (shown in the second picture) is made from wool and silk.  The wool was treated and resembled felt.  The designer for this piece is Marjolein Dallinga and  comes from St. Sauveur, Canada.  Being bear footed was part of the art piece.
 The United States had a winner this year also.  Frank Strunk, 111 resides in St Petersburg.  He used car parts of copper, aluminum and steel.  In looking closely at the models art piece, I asked how she got dressed and undressed.  She replied, "They have to use pliers and wrenches to get me in and out."

The variety of materials used in these art creations is endless.  There is steel wire, jute twine, crystals, Japanese glass beads, plastic strapping, vinyl, papier mache, builders foam, plastic, handmade fabric, wire, fiberglass and what ever the designer wants to put together for his or her creation.
WOW's international show in 2012 will run from September 27th through October 7th. in Wellington, NZ. Tickets sell out six months in advance.  Also, the Arts Festival in Hong Kong will host  "70 minutes of the Best of the Show " on January 29 through February 5th, 2012. For more information visit worldofwearableart.com or e-mail media@worldofwearableart.com

Submitted by Bernadette Heath, photographer and writer of "Grandma Needs a Four Wheel-Drive, Adventure Travel for Seniors."  web page: www.grandmaneedsafour-wheeldrive.com .For sale on Amazon.com