The beauty and intricacies of more than 50 lovingly handcrafted garments were on full display at the City of Mandurah’s 2021 Wearable Art Mandurah Showcase events on November 6 and 7.
The incredible finalist garments from local, national and international designers took to the stage at David Grays Arena in a theatricalised catwalk performance, all part of the 2021 Wearable Art Mandurah competition.
The Showcase events, held as part of the Mandurah Arts Festival, were a culmination of the efforts and dedication of the artists throughout the year-long Wearable Art Mandurah program, and a chance for the community to celebrate these creative talents.
During the Showcase on Saturday, November 6, the winners of the Designer Awards were announced. The winners are:
- Artist of the Year: Margarete Palz for ‘Oscillating Curves’
- Paper Category: Shaun Vandenburg for ‘Aerdrie Faenya’
- Black and White Category: Alana Grant, Ruby Vale and Aysha Vale for ‘New Again, Full Circle’
- Migration Category: Stephanie Munro for ‘The Red Army’
- Avant Garde Category: Gwendydd Fox for ‘Gilded Cage’
- Tertiary Category: Cat Shepherd for ‘Crossing the Line’
- Youth 12 years and Under Category: Zahara Dos Santos for ‘Love of Dolls’
- Youth 13-18 years Category: Makayla Parr for ‘ATAR Stressball’
- Tertiary Pairing Category: Maria Dumitrescu and Emily Pedlow for ‘Metamorphosis’ and ‘Aerial Migration’
- International Award: Oana Maria Rosca for ‘White Rainbow’
- Creative Reuse Award: Renate Jamieson for ‘Bodies of Water’
- First-time Entrant: Maddy Constable for ‘The Beauty of Ningaloo’
- Taftainc Award: Philomena Hali and Monica Goodall for ‘Menos’
Mayor Rhys Williams congratulated all Wearable Art Mandurah finalists for their efforts throughout the year in creating the amazing garments.
“For over a decade, this one-of-a-kind cultural event has continued to amaze audiences with the sheer creativity of local, national and international designers, and this year’s wearable art entries are nothing short of incredible,” Mayor Williams said.
“The resourcefulness of the artists in turning everyday items or discarded pieces into works of art is a testament to their creativity. They have spent countless hours putting their garments together throughout the competition, and I congratulate all the winners, finalists and entrants for 2021.”
The Wearable Art Mandurah line up has included the opening of the In The Fold exhibition, three Showcase events, artist talks, workshops, and a tactile tour for people with vision impairment.
The In the Fold exhibition at Mandurah Performing Arts Centre’s Alcoa Mandurah Art Gallery will be on show until November 27, showcasing a selection of wearable art garments made from 90 percent paper.
