When Ohio University senior Mallory Righter began making lingerie and clothing last fall out of torn strips of paper from Victoria's Secret catalogues, she didn't know she would later see her work in a fashion show.
This weekend, Righter's work will be featured with work from approximately 40 other artists in HerART, a fashion show sponsored by the Athens County Health Department, the OU Women's Center and WellWorks, OU's wellness program. The focus is on women's heart health, and the show takes place just before Women's Heart Health Month in February.
We asked the women (artists) to draw inspiration from within their hearts
said Marcia Shubert, the artistic director of the show.
All of the artists, mostly locals, made wearable art like dresses or jewelry, and some of the outfits were made from recycled materials, Shubert said.
For example, Righter made a dress from Victoria's Secret pages and Ziploc bags for the HerART fashion show.
In the fall I started making clothes that were not made of conventional fabrics said Righter. I'm interested in recycling and not being a part of a society that throws everything away.
Righter also said that fashion is a kind of art that is often overlooked and not seen in Athens or on campus very often.
To help pay for the show, WellWorks and the Athens County Health Department partnered to get a $2,000 grant from The Athens Foundation. The grant primarily covers the cost of heart screenings, which are free with every $5 ticket, Shubert said. A typical heart screening at O'Bleness Memorial Hospital costs over $200, said Kelly Nibert, the hospital's patient accounts manager.
Heidi Anderson, WellWorks education and special events coordinator, said a main goal of the show is to inform women of the signs of a heart attack and how important it is to keep good heart health.
This is a good way to get (the message) across because it's fun and creative
Anderson said. Each artist ... is connecting her heart
physically or emotionally
to the piece she designed.
Each artist also contributed $10 per piece of art to pay for other costs, including a reception with heart healthy snacks from Salaam Café and The Farmacy after the show.
3
Culture
Emma Morehart
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