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Grace Grinnell - Hot Couture
When Oregon artist, Grace Grinnell was an art student at the renowned Pratt
Institute in New York she learned two things that guided her work for the next 30 years:
First, that creating three-dimensional objects works best if you think in 3-D instead of
trying to draw it first. Second, that of all the sculptural media available to an artist,
fabric and clothing design are the elements that let Grace express herself best.
The designer now lives in the high desert of Central Oregon at the edge of the Ochoco Mountains
where the natural surroundings serve as inspiration for her work. The colors of the light
affect her palette; the shapes of the rocks influence her patterns and the movement of the
day results -- she likes to think -- in clothing that is comfortable in motion or at rest.
Each piece develops from a single idea. Working with her own patterns and an embarrassingly
large inventory of silk from around the world, Grace models the idea directly on a mannequin.
Through a process of layering, fabric manipulation, adding appropriate elements, discarding
pieces that don't work -- or whatever it takes -- the final vision is achieved. By sewing and
remodeling on the mannequin, the 3-dimensional shape is maintained for perfect fit and
comfort.
The result is satisfying for both Grace and her customer. All the elements in each piece
work together to produce a piece of art that provides long-lasting pleasure -- a statement
of individual style that will be worn with pride.
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