Wearable Art and Fine Crafts

The Bo’s Art Opera Collection. Bozenna and Lukasz Bogucki names each of their uniquely designed metal mesh evening bags after a famous opera.  The designer handbag “Tosca” (shown here) is stainless steel mesh with gator green and a cable handle, 10.5″ x 5.5″ x 3″.  Stunning detail.

Pulling inspiration from their fine art backgrounds, Seattle area artists Jon and Tracy Haaland of Chemical Wedding strive to bring utility and wearablity to their art.

In 2003 Jon and Tracy teamed up to create a line of unique handcrafted leather handbags. They used new and scrap leathers together with hand-formed copper rings, intricate silk screen designs and their own brand of rustic hand crafted wood handles creating pieces of wearable art that are out of the ordinary. In a short amount of time their handbags have been seen in galleries and boutiques around the world from San Francisco to Hong Kong. Jon and Tracy handcraft each bag to order. The artistic process is what they love.

A “Gioconda” spider web is a stainless steel mesh art to wear handbag named after La Gioconda, an Italian melodramatic opera by Amilcare Ponchielli (1834-1886).

Several grades of stainless steel wire mesh are used from the fine one with the appearance and feel of silk to the rigid one that serves mostly as support. 24K gold plating, 23K gold leafs, copper or brass mesh add color accents and widens their color selection. Other effects are achieved by various treatments involving ultrasounds, high temperature, pressure, etc. Multiple layers of mesh are used to create a moire effect.

The Design Duo of Lukasz and Bozenna Bogucki imagine, design and handcraft a truly unique line of elegant and dressy art handbags and exquisite accessories they call The Opera Collection. Currently there are over 40 models named after famous operas.  Their creations include purses, belts, and jewelry.

The artists first met during their student years at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, Poland, reconnected and married in 1996, and moved to LA. While designing, creating, and manufacturing lamps, they were inspired by the fine silk-like wire mesh and began to create these unique, elegant handbags.  Lukasz and Bozenna Bogucki have enthusiastic patrons around the world.

Several grades of stainless steel wire mesh are used – fine like silk over industrial hard, the layers creating a moire effect. Captured between layers may be real leaves, feathers, gold or copper leaf…then ultrasound, temperature or pressure treatments cause interesting effects.

Browse a selection of Bo’s Art’s opera collection at Gallery Five.

Sculpted Leather Handbag by Deborah Einbender

Silk Jacket by Kay Chapman, fabric artist/clothing designer

Green, the color of grass and leaves, conveys a sense of calm and reassurance. When wearing green, whether olive or lime, or anything in between, you show creativity and imagination. It was once thought to be unlucky, but in the world of fashion green brings another dimension to the wardrobe. With all its various shades, green may be used for virtually any garment, from a winter coat to a fun pair of shoes.

With green it is particularly important to understand the undertone and to know whether you are better in a warm (yellow-based) green, such as moss or apple green, or the cool (blue-based) green of spruce or sea green.

Browse Gallery Five selections of wearable art clothes and accessories.

excerpt, Color Me Confident by Veronique Henderson and Pat Henshaw ©2006

Artist’s Statement – Peggy Russell believes in creating fashion trends, not following them. She has been creating beautiful and unusual wearable art clothing and accessories since 1986. Bold patterns and colorful images.

Creative Process – People always wonder how we create our art. We produce each and every piece by hand, thoughtfully and carefully, one at a time. We work with hand mixed dyes on 100% silk fabric on cotton denim dropcloth, laid out on long worktables. Drawing our images on to the silk, then hand painting, carefully choosing and blending our dyes. The silk pieces are heat set, washed and ironed and are ready to go as scarves or stitched into clothing and neckties. The dropcloth, which has taken on the patterns and colors of the silks, is re-embellished and crafted into our bags and housewares.

“Art for the body and Soul” – everything is eco-friendly, no materials wasted.

The CLUTCH is the best companion for an evening out. It will not get in the way of your look and only support your stylish efforts. Take advantage. The clutch is the one item that will let you show off your sense of whimsy, your sense of glamour. They come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and materials. A clutch adds excitement to a black outfit.  Try out beaded, python skin, bright colors, brocade, silk/satin versions.  It’s all fair game here. Have fun!  On a practical level (if we must), make sure that the bag will fit all of your essentials – lipstick, cash, cell phone, credit card. And then make sure that it will fit snugly under your arm, because perhaps the best aspect of the clutch is that it will leave your hands free to meet, greet, hold drinks, tell stories, and show off your cocktail ring.  (Excerpt from The One Hundred by Nina Garcia)

Check out Gallery Five’s Bo’s Art Opera Collection and wearable art bags from other artists … Wendy Stevens, Deborah Einbender, Peggy Russell, Lori O’Neill, JoAnn Page, Tracy and Jon Haaland, and Mary Mundy.