Dressed to Thrill in Fur and Farm Equipment

Flax, muka, natural clay oxides, paua and magnolia leaves came together in a symphony of totally natural art for the body Friday afternoon, as ‘Papatuanuku and Ranginui’, created by the Huntly Campus of Te Wananga O Aotearoa, strutted away with the Ag Art Wear 2008 Supreme Award for most outstanding design.

Inspired by Maori ontology on the creation of the universe, the two garments that make up this entry represent the Earth Mother (Papatuanuku) and Sky Father (Ranginui) and, as winning entry of the Landcare category in addition to the Supreme Award, are created from natural and untreated products including flax, muka, natural clay oxides, paua and magnolia leaves.

The Avant Garde section impressed judges with creations that used innovative materials to create moving sculptures that were paraded to capacity audiences. ‘The Virgin Vessel’ by Valerie Hoogland and Suzanne Moorhouse took top honours; this silage-wrap, twine and wire creation is a contradiction of soft versus sharp elements that epitomised the spirit of the category, which is art pieces for the body that surprise and challenge.

The Under-21 award, for future Avant Garde designers, was awarded to Shenaye O’Hanlon, a student at Matamata College for her colourful creation ‘Tutti Fruitti’ (below) and ‘Kahu Harakeke’ made by Pepe Borell, entirely out of flax, won the Designer class.

Award-winning garments were also announced today in the Possum Fur Fashion Design Awards. First place went to Dulcie Barton for ‘Simply Flamboyant’, second place to ‘Road Kill 2 Die 4’ by Fiona Newell and third place also to Dulcie Barton for ‘Ebony’. ‘Raging Possum Wears A Little Green’, by Clinton Greenhalgh was highly commended and ‘Urban Camo’ from Kyrie King was judged Most Street Wearable.

Ag Art Wear shows continue at Fieldays’ final day tomorrow at 10am, 12 noon and 2pm with the final Possum Fur Fashion Design Awards show at 3pm. Fieldays 40th event closes at 5pm tomorrow, Saturday 14 June 2008.

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