Art on the Runway

The atmosphere was electric at the Sixth Annual Scene To Be Seen Runway Show and Gala on January 14th. Inside the lavish tent at the Ritz Carlton Golf Resort, guests eagerly awaited the parade of eye-popping, avant-garde, and futuristic fashion designs.

The Scene To Be Seen Gala is Naples Art Institute’s signature annual fundraiser event that features unique wearable art creations by local artists. Launched in 2017, it not only showcases these artists and designers but also provides vital support for Naples Art Institute’s mission to enlighten, engage, educate and enrich the community. Proceeds from the event will fund the Institute’s educational programs for adults, youth and underprivileged children in Southwest Florida.

Naples Art Institute has taken its place in the community as a cultural leader and according to Frank Verpoorten, Executive Director and Curator, “in the last two short years we’ve dramatically increased the number of supporters, guests and first-time visitors as we continue to bring world class quality art to the community.” Verpoorten had been with Artis-Naples’ Baker Museum as an art consultant and transitioned to the Naples Art Institute in early 2021.

A professional panel of judges accepted the submissions based on originality, creativity, artistry, complexity of workmanship and how well the pieces will present themselves on the runway in a bold and captivating fashion. 

Karen Swanker of Marco Island has been creating her Art with Found Objects for over ten years. Karen is always collecting bits of broken, damaged, donated, lost, forgotten or no longer useful objects. According to Karen, it all began with finding broken things on the street while walking or biking around Marco. Now known for her art, she often finds a bag of treasures dropped off on her doorstep filled with bits of discarded jewelry, keys or the content of someone’s junk drawer – all useful to her. She hopes her work will raise awareness on how a little paint and creativity can transform waste into art.

Barbara Parisi, also of Marco, had a theme: “On Wings of Hope and Peace.” This is her response to the chaos and conflicts in today’s world. According to a Japanese legend, Senbazuru, anyone who folds 1,000 paper cranes will be granted a wish by the gods. Barbara hand cut, folded and affixed 1,000 white Washi paper cranes to a cream-colored silk shantung bustier, bolero, wristlet, chiffon skirt, sleeve, train and a soaring headpiece.

Cascading from the side of a Geisha’s wig, Barbara used 52 small cranes. The cranes were arranged in an explosive avian flight pattern with smaller birds lining the hem then increasing in size as they spiraled around the skirt and soared towards the bodice, shoulder and headpiece. True to Japanese tradition, Geisha Oshiroi makeup, hairstyle, wooden Geta sandals, vintage fan and red-laced wristlet added to an authentic Japanese theme.

Mary Limont of Naples created a purple dress in honor of Frida Kahlo, the famed Mexican painter. “All of Collier County is planning a year of Mexican Art and this outfit is my artistic homage. This colorful artist has given me the chance to better understand her exciting and colorful life.” It is Mary’s fifth year to exhibit her wearable art.

Amy Lea Blicher of Fiddlers’ Creek is part of the Crazy Quilt Group and known for her wearable textile and quilt creations. Her exhibit was a functional and colorful long quilted kimono. She strives to create pieces that are both visually striking and functional.

Though referred to as wearable art, these garments are mostly worn in exhibitions. They are meant to be provocative and extreme, more fantasy than function and more pageantry than mainstream. The designers were masterful in projecting their visions through their art while the models were magical on the runway.