About Style Imitating Art…
Style Imitating Art comes from Salazar, Terri, and Shelbee. You can think of it as fashion meets art museum! Style Imitating Art challenges people to find inspiration in different art works, create looks based upon that art work, and share them with the curator for that piece. Every other Monday one of the three selects an inspiration piece of art and posts the image on their blog. They then invite others to interpret that art work through their style. The following Monday, they share their outfits. The curator shares submissions the following Wednesday on her blog. Salazar chose this week’s art work. If you’d like, you can read why she chose it here. I have really been impressed with the different art work we’ve seen this year. It’s been challenging at times but always fun! You can see a few of my looks here, here, here, and here.
Inspiration art work…
About the artist…
I couldn’t find much about the artist, Susan Musgrove, who is Australian, I think. I did find a secondary source, her daughter, Betty, who is also an artist. She says:
“But the main thing that underpins my practice is that I grew up in an extended family of artists. In particular, I was heavily influenced by witnessing my mother Sue work on her textile practice throughout my childhood. Sue is such an amazing textile artist and imparted the skills that have given me the foundations of my practice. We’re very close, and growing up she would teach me a wide range of art and craft techniques like copper enamelling, drawing, painting, and textile techniques such as cross-stitch, long stitch, machine quilting and embroidery, appliqué and basic fabric printing and painting…Watching Sue make things with textiles always felt like watching a magic trick. She was a generous magician who was always happy to share the secrets to those tricks. I started working with textiles around the age of seven. Under her guidance I made my first quilt between the ages of eight and ten, chipping away on weekends and school holidays…Sue’s work is incredible – highly detailed and labour intensive. Her subject matter varies from celebrating the glory of nature, to re-imagining iconic paintings, to portraits of family members. It can be very playful and she often hides little interpersonal jokes within her works. I feel very privileged to have had the space and time to develop my practice. I often wish Sue could have had the sort of time I’ve had, but she worked hard to support our family both domestically and financially through her day job. I know on many occasions she has mentioned how much she wishes she had more time to create. It’s amazing the body of work she has made considering the workloads she has had providing and caring for our family. I honestly think she’s one of this country’s best-kept secrets in terms of textile artists. Maybe I’m biased being her daughter, but anyone I know who has seen her work is blown away (source).”
About the art work…
The piece is entitled “Race to the Moon.” Before I saw it, I was sure it would have something to do with Neil Armstrong and the race between the Soviet Union and the US to get to the moon first. I was so very happily surprised to see it was more about turtles. I wasn’t able to find out the dimensions of the quilt. Musgrove’s artist statement says:
“Completed over about 5 years, this quilt is made from cotton, ramie, silk and organza. Techniques used include hand painting, silk screen and lino printing, stenciling, and machine embroidery, hand beading, applique and quilting. It was the center piece for my first solo exhibition in late 2006 and was also selected for exhibition at the Japan quilt Grand Prix for 2008.” (source)
My interpretation…
I will admit I cheated on this challenge. I was truly stumped. I thought about wearing the pants from the last Songful Style challenge (here) and then finding a dark blue something for the top. But, I really wasn’t feeling that. So, I resorted to a print with turtles in it! Again, I have no idea what this print’s name is, but I’m pretty sure it had something to do with turtles. I was racing against time to get the photos snapped for this post so I had the wrong bra on. I usually wear a racerback bra with these dresses. I can’t link to anything because, apparently, Lilly isn’t making this style anymore. I have two or three of these so I’m OK with that. Because the bra straps were definitely showing with this dress, I added this Tulip Cuff Shrug from Clara Sunwoo.
The Lewk!
I think all of these have been on the blog before. These Jack Rodgers have a slight wedge because I just can’t handle the completely flat Jacks. The necklace and earrings are from Stella & Dot. I love the story behind them. One of the founders was in Paris and found some old lace. These pieces are based on that lace.
Wrap it up, Marsha!
You know, even when you have an extensive closet like I do, sometimes, you can’t find a thing to work for a style challenge! That was the case here so I fudged a bit. In the past, I wore denim jackets as cover ups with these dresses. But, I like the Clara Sunwoo shrug with it, too. So, can we talk? Are you a quilter? Have you ever created something similar to this (quilted or not)? How do you feel about turtles? Please leave a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise to respond as quickly as possible.
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Thank you!
Thank you so very much for reading today’s post. I hope you enjoyed it. I also very much appreciate those of you who comment, email and/or subscribe. It’s what keeps me going! If you’d like to follow me on Instagram, you can find me here.
Where you can find me:
Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, The Grey Brunette, and Away from the Blue as well as Deb’s World. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, I do deClaire, Mummabstylish, and Style Splash. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend with Gail and Emma every Thursday. I also host Final Fridays on the last Friday of the month as well as 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!
I like your interpretation! I would have done the same thing you initially thought of but this is much better because it’s YOU! Nice job Marsha!
? Kellyann
Thank you, Kellyann! It really is more me than trying to force something to work for the challenge.
I love your turtle dress! But then again I love just about anything with turtles as I think they are just so cute.
Thanks, Joanne! I’m sure there’s a really catchy turtle name for this print, but I don’t know what it is. I bought this years ago and love the colors as well as the turtles!
I love that dress. The colors are beautiful and so summery. I like the sleeves on the sweater too. Beautiful.
Thank you so much, Eileen! It’s one of my favorite dresses, the style as well as the print.
This look is so pretty and I love the artwork too! I adore your hair color too. It’s looks perfect with the dress. Love that you shared the daughter’s perspective on this art.
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thank you, Kathrine! I really do enjoy these fashion colors because they’re fun colors and wash out in a few weeks. I thought the daughter’s love for her mom and her art was really special.
I love how you shopped your closet and made this work so well Marsha. What a wonderful quilt. I’ve never tried quilting (my hands are full with knitting, haha) but it’s amazing the creativity that goes into it. Especially ones that are not as traditional like this one.
OXOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Thanks, Jodie! I’ve always wanted to make a quilt. It’s on my craft bucket list, I guess you’d say! Isn’t this a fabulous quilt??
What a fun one for the summer!! I love turtles. We just had a family poll over the weekend (Billy, Wyatt and I) about whether we liked frogs or turtles better and it was unanimous – our family loves turtles. (frogs are cool too though). That dress is so pretty!
Several years ago, we went to Florida and went to Sea World. They had this really cool exhibit where you stood in this room with special glasses, and they projected sea turtles swimming through the room. I could have stayed there for hours. I would agree with all of you…turtles are better than frogs!
Thanks, Erin!
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It’s definitely not cheating to wear a perfect turtle dress for the challenge! This look is wonderfully turtle AND wonderfully Marsha…thus a total win. The mermaid hair is an amazing “accessory” with the dress, too!
Thanks, Sally! I truly was glad I had this dress because my brain just wasn’t offering up any other suggestions! And, thank you for the compliments!
Don’t be hard on yourself. I don’t think you cheated at all. That dress is darling! You are allowed to find inspiration in anyway you please!
Thanks, Laura! I’m really glad I had this dress.
Sometimes the easy way through a style challenge is the best way! This dress is absolutely perfect for the turtle quilt and the bright colors are super cheerful! What a fun look for summertime! I was the only one with no turtles in my wardrobe and now I am on a mission to add more turtles and other animal themed accessories to my closet!
Shelbee
Thanks, Shelbee! I wasn’t sure if I had turtles or not. I’m certainly glad I did because it made the challenge so much easier.
What a beautiful piece of art! Your dress is perfect for this style prompt! I love the turtle print and the bright, vibrant colors!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Thanks, Jill! I do love a Lilly print!
Very cute turtle print: it works perfectly with the art.
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
Thanks, Mireille! I just couldn’t come up with anything else!
I love all your improvisations. Sometimes blogging (and in particular blog challenges!) is tough. Your creative interpretation of turtles is a great idea. I really like the artwork, didn’t realise it was made from textiles until I read your post. Thanks for linking!
Thanks so much, Gail! I really did like this piece of art work especially since it was a quilt. That is on my creative bucket list!
Lovely dress, love the colours in it 🙂
Thanks so very much, Claire!
What a lovely work of art! Your outfit is ideal for this style prompt! The turtle print and the bright, brilliant colors are fantastic!
https://www.intellectfolks.com/extrememath/
Thank you so much, Mr. Malik! I really do like the colors!
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