Annual VAA show a feast for the eyes and soul

MAT-SU — The yellow rubber gloves caught my eye.

“What is that? Oh my word, those are yellow dishwashing gloves!” I said.

My introduction to the Wearable Arts Show hosted by the Valley Arts Alliance appeared before me on a poster I glimpsed in downtown Palmer. The female model wore a rather bizarre outfit, complete with a bright yellow, layered skirt. The skirt was composed of rubber dishwashing gloves; you know, the kind you wear when you use that caustic oven cleaner. So clever and so creative.

“What is this?” I said. “Where is it? In Palmer? We must go!”

My family attended our first Wearable Art Show in 2010. Now we all know that Palmer and the Valley have many wonders. We boast beautiful scenery complete with stunning glaciers, raging rivers and spectacular mountain peaks. We tout fantastic fishing, world-class hunting, a hometown atmosphere of the best in Alaska hospitality, the Alaska State Fair, good schools and safe neighborhoods. But none of that prepared me for the magic of the Wearable Art Show.

Wearable Art ranks at the top of the Valley’s memorable events showcasing local artists — right up there along with our Mat-Su Concert Band, school and community theatrical performances and our local quilting guild. What makes this performance unique is the wide array of so much art all rolled into one 90-minute show. The performance contains top-notch creative ingenuity, talented sewing, carefully selected music and comical scripting. Add a lively and appreciative audience and you have the recipe for an absolutely delightful evening of fun, surprise and laughter.

This year’s program did not disappoint. The opening act featured a young girl strutting down the runway in an outfit of colorful peacock feathers. Next came the outrageously dressed woman in a silver miniskirt, whose use of pie pans (collected from our local recycling center) demanded a closer look. They made up her collar, sleeve caps and, oh look — they are cut and twisted and wrapped within her bouffant hairdo! That’s all eye-catching and funny, but when “These Boots are Made for Walking” booms over the sound system, the crowd laughs and begins clapping in unison. A moment later, when her pinwheel blouse adornments begin to twirl automatically, the audience hoots and hollers.

The show continues and my emotions go on a roller coaster ride. I feel anticipation as each model poses at the top of the runway. There is surprise at the outlandish creativity, followed by laughter at the commentary and awareness of the choice of perfect musical accompaniment. But perhaps most special, even beyond the outstanding genius of the costume, is the attitude and skill (or lack thereof) of the models. Their demeanor ranges from “here I am, take a look at this!” to “I am painstakingly shy.”

Highlights this year are many and include a model in fur-trimmed skating dress and hat. The announcer explains this is a replica of the Mat-Maid costume of the mid-1950s. With a collective “aha” of recognition we watch her walk down the aisle. The youngster she holds, dressed as a calf, delicately waves to us with a shyness and sweetness that cannot be put into words. We witness a beluga whale whose head is immediately recognizable — much more easily than the three persons hidden under the head, body and tail.

Imagine our surprise when a local school counselor shows up in “Naughty and Nice,” an outfit of skillfully manipulated tire inner tubes. “She-Wolves” immediately capture our attention as two young women prance down the lane in white wolf heads and Native-inspired costumes. Perhaps the most touching of entries appears as a girl depicts the sun with her mom dressed as a huge, cottony cloud. The sun’s tentativeness at modeling fits perfectly with the song sung live by the emcee, attesting to Alaska’s long winter and the sun’s reluctance to shine. The duo reduces the audience to “oohs” and “ahhs” as the cloud coaxes her young partner to walk and perform. Later, another young model depicts the Valley’s wind. She performs confidently as clusters of leaves hung from branches and strings wisp around her diminutive frame.

Young and old(er) alike perform, and we are treated to a silver-haired model who struts her stuff to Maroon Five’s “Moves Like Jaeger.” When she reaches the end of the runway and turns we can read “I (heart) Mic Jaeger” appliquéd to the back of her vest.

As usual, a wealth of recyclable outfits is on display. You cannot imagine the clever use of unstrung videotapes, old CDs and plastic grocery bags. In past years, I have seen ballerina tutus of bunched plastic bags; dresses from fair ribbons, belts, paint sample strips and screens. There were hats of domed clocks and pincushions, purses from lampshades and flamingo skirts. Once the Susitna River was depicted in a model’s long train complete with swimming salmon.

Last year, an entire family paid tribute to its departed mother with a magical performance of garden fairies, including lighted wings and towering hairdos. Perhaps none is so clever as the creator of outfits for dual ravens, one black and one white. Last year this same artist constructed a set of two mannequins, one in front of her and one behind, manipulated with poles that connected their hands and feet to hers. When she moved her limbs the dummies moved with her. It made for such a wonderfully hilarious trio, met by a continuously laughing audience.

Two years ago I decided to share the wealth. I hosted a ladies luncheon at my house to be followed by attendance at the show. Last year we decorated plain hats with ribbons, beads, buttons and birds, ate lunch, and then rushed down to the Palmer Depot. It was great fun. This year, I repeated the event and my good friend and teacher at Butte Elementary Ginger Molesky showed us how to make beaded earrings. Again, we all drove to the Palmer Depot to witness an outrageously entertaining performance. I can’t tell you how fun it is to look down that row of seats and see my friends laughing and gasping at the performance before them. I plan to repeat the event next year and am contemplating what art project we might complete before the show.

Mark your calendars now for the February 2015 Wearable Art Show. Sponsored by the Valley Arts Alliance this is an annual event you should not miss.

For more information, visit ValleyArtsAlliance.com.