Winning design at Juneau Wearable Art Extravaganza features discarded COVID-19 vaccine vials

Each and every calendar year, the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council hosts its Wearable Art Extravaganza. It’s a fundraiser for the council’s fine arts scholarships and particular person artist grants.

Like several other events in the pandemic period, most of it was digital, but that did not preserve the artists included from having entertaining in 2021. This year, the present had a sci-fi concept and highlighted outfits that have been out of this earth.

Amy Dressel and Nic DeHart dance and wave their thumbs up in synchronized actions to the energetic beat of electronic tunes for this year’s Wearable Artwork Extravaganza. The topic this calendar year was “Intergalactic” and their outfits had been a perfect in shape for the cosmic occasion.

Dressel and DeHart activity mango-colored spandex jumpsuits and rainbow wigs designed out of plastic straws. They have room packs with tubes that link to their facemasks.

Dressel suggests the tale driving their outfits is that they’re space travelers searching for a superior party.

“Nic sewed some jumpsuits and then we like, adorned it with all forms of diverse things that was recycled,” Dressel mentioned.

That recycled stuff integrated discarded COVID-19 vaccine vials that beautify their headbands, wrists and space packs.

Dressel is a pediatrician and has also volunteered to administer COVID-19 vaccines. She states working with the vacant vials labored perfectly with the outfit’s concept.

“That would possibly be good for us to be vaccinated versus whatsoever celestial things is out there,” Dressel claimed. “It form of was enjoyment to be ready to consist of that.”

DeHart states the thought for the outfits — titled “So Lengthy and Thanks For All The Fish” — was impressed by a well-liked sci-fi novel series.

“We variety of did a little nod to Douglas Adams’ ‘Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.’ And I just imagined it was kind of a enjoyment notion,” DeHart stated.

The outfits won to start with spot in the wearable artwork level of competition, which was resolved by judges and votes dependent on design, innovation and presentation.

For Dressel, who’s taken portion in the annual Wearable Artwork Extravaganza for 19 a long time, it was a definitely particular second due to the fact it was her 1st time profitable.

“It was certainly sudden,” Dressel mentioned. “It’s kind of a tiny little bit too much to handle to be like, wait around, what, right after all these a long time of seeing other individuals and being amazed by other folks and stating yeah, that definitely ought to have won. That was a wonderful outfit, and then all of a unexpected be like, ‘Whoa, we won?’”

DeHart claims he was shocked they gained.

“I actually didn’t feel that we’re gonna win, and I never ever do it — so I under no circumstances take part to earn. That is not really my target. It’s just to have the encounter,” DeHart mentioned.

And he claims, now that they have bragging rights for finest of clearly show this year, they’re already scheduling for the future a person.

Editor’s note: KTOO General public Media is a companion for the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council’s Wearable Artwork Extravaganza.