Governor’s School for the Arts returns to the Chrysler Museum of Art for the 
9th Annual Wearable Arts Show

NORFOLK, Va. (March 1, 2023) The 9th Annual Wearable Arts Show on March 24 will feature brand new works of art by visual arts students from The Governor’s School for the Arts. This long-standing collaboration between the Governor’s School for the Arts and the Chrysler Museum of Art takes months of hard work, with this one-night event being the culminating celebration. More than 45 students are participating, the most the show has seen since its inception.

“The Visual Arts students at The Governor’s School for the Arts are thrilled to be preparing for Fabrication, our 9th annual Wearable Arts Fashion Show,” said Liana Courts, Chair of the Visual Arts Department at The Governor’s School for the Arts. “Inspired by Preston Singletary’s upcoming exhibition, we are inspired to visually tell stories with art. Students are responding to a vast array of narratives – works by Singletary, works in the Chrysler collection, Greek mythology, and their own personal tales. Please join us for an unforgettable event of creativity and storytelling,” Courts added.

During the free event, attendees can experience dynamic works of wearable art inspired by the Museum’s permanent collection and temporary exhibitions in a fashion-show setting. This year’s theme is The Art of Storytelling, which relates to the current exhibition, Preston Singletary: Raven and the Box of Daylight, as well as many works of art in its permanent collection. The event is complete with a runway, music, a judge’s table, and awards.

“This partnership between The Governor’s School for the Arts and the Chrysler Museum of Art is a true celebration of creative problem solving and artist agency. It is a way to encourage young artists to use museums as sources of inspiration and artistic growth, then show off that unique perspective to the community. Working with the innovative students, faculty, and staff at GSA encourages new ways of seeing the Museum’s collections and exhibitions,” said Emily Cayton, School & Teacher Programs Coordinator for the Chrysler Museum of Art.

Prizes, $100 for first place, $75 for second, and $50 for third, are awarded to the top three designs. The fashion show is judged based on a select criteria by a panel of three judges, Kim Wadsworth, makeup artist, fashion stylist and influencer and lifestyle writer, Nikki Bass, Nansemond Indian scientist focused on cultural revitalization through environmental stewardship, and Robert Roman, local activist, philanthropist and co-owner of Decorum Furniture. Doors open at 6 pm, show begins at 7 pm and awards are announced at 8 pm.

This event is free and open to the public. Food and drink will be available for purchase. All ages welcome. See the runway show creations on display in the Chrysler Museum’s Margaret Shepherd Ray Family and Student Gallery from March 29 through April 30, 2023. New this year, a juried art exhibition of 2D works titled The Art of Storytelling will be on display beginning March 15. The Museum is open Tuesday – Saturday 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday Noon – 5 p.m.

ABOUT THE CHRYSLER MUSEUM OF ART

The Chrysler Museum of Art is one of America’s most distinguished mid-sized art museums, with a nationally recognized collection of more than 30,000 objects, including one of the great glass collections in America. The core of the Chrysler’s collection comes from Walter P. Chrysler, Jr., an avid art collector who donated thousands of objects from his private collection to the Museum. The Museum has growing collections in many areas and mounts an ambitious schedule of visiting exhibitions and educational programs each season. The Chrysler has also been recognized nationally for its unique commitment to hospitality with its innovative gallery host program.

The Perry Glass Studio is a state-of-the-art facility on the Museum’s campus. The studio offers programming for aspiring and master artists alike in a variety of processes including glassblowing, fusing, flameworking, coldworking and neon. 

In addition, the Chrysler Museum of Art administers the Moses Myers House, a historic house in downtown Norfolk, as well as the Jean Outland Chrysler Library. For more information on the Chrysler Museum of Art, visit chrysler.org.

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