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Melissa Schmidt, Jaqueline Necklace, hand blown glass beads with film slides.[/caption]
This weekend, the Building Museum in Washington D.C. will be the site of a special fashion show called “Craft 2 Wear”, a sale and exhibition of 40 craft artists’ work that can be termed “wearable art.” The pieces on display range from fabric to metal, ceramics to glass; and they are drawn from previously juried Smithsonian Craft Fairs. It all kicks off tonight with an “Advance Chance Party” hosted by ABC World News weekend anchor, David Muir. The Smithsonian promises an evening full of wine, food, a fashion show, and first pick at the crafts that will be sold on Saturday and Sunday.
Glass collectors in attendance are sure to be dazzled by Melissa Schmidt‘s bubbly glass jewelry. Her non-traditional glass beads are hand-blown globes, strung together in clumps on sterling or gold-filled neck wires. The beads are stunning on their own, but Schmidt is known to fill these globules with origami and slide film. The string of glass encased slides, illuminated by light passing through, form an interesting narrative. The one she most prominently showcases on her website was a gift to her mother on her sixtieth birthday. The necklace is comprised of over 60 glass globes each containing sentimental film slides collected by her mother. Schmidt makes earrings, bracelets, and necklaces and prices range from $75 to $1500. Her jewelry, along with the designs of 39 other artists, will be on display starting tonight at 5:30 p.m. and will conclude this Sunday, October 23rd, at 5pm. Tickets can be purchased online, at the door, or by calling 1-888-832-9554.
—Ruth Reader
IF YOU GO:
Craft 2 Wear: Advance Chance Party October 21, 2011 5:30 pm – 8:30pm Admission: $50 Craft 2 Wear Exhibit October 22 – 23, 2011 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Admission: $5 Craft 2 Wear Panel Discussion: Curating Your Closet October 23, 2011 11:00 am Admission: $30 Building Museum 401 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 Metro – Red Line – Judiciary Square Station