Wearable Art – No Rules Just WOW!
By Carlene Cobb in Creative Pinellas Arts Coast Magazine
“Wearable Art is fashion on steroids because there are no rules,” says Designer and Clearwater City Councilwoman Lina Teixeira. “I always wanted to be a fashion designer… Creating Wearable Art and preparing for every show is euphoric for me.”
Teixeira has been a Wearable Art designer for about ten years. She was elected to serve on the Clearwater City Council in March of 2022. Always seeking balance between her roles as artist and politician, she says with conviction, “The arts are an important component of the economic viability of this city.”
Lina Teixeira, The Uncommon Couture Exhibit Pop-Up Exhibition presents Lina Teixeira’s Wearable Art creations at the Clearwater Main Library Galleries in downtown Clearwater, 100 North Osceola Avenue. The opening reception is Tuesday, September 3 from 6 to 8 pm. A Jazz Duo from the Clearwater Jazz Holiday program, Give Them a Stage, will perform live music during the reception.
Teixeira’s HipZii purses will be available for purchase, and proceeds from those sales will be donated to the Clearwater Arts Alliance. The show and reception are free and open to the public, with Teixeira’s artwork on display through September 21.
The Pop-Up Exhibition and opening reception offer opportunities to see Artist and Councilwoman Lina Teixeira’s legacy of Wearable Art interspersed with some of her fresh, new designs. You can explore the “how” and “why” of her upcycling techniques and fashion inspirations in this stunning solo exhibition.
“When I design,” explains Teixeira, “I start with a rough sketch, then I get into a zone, letting the materials speak to me. There is a very physical aspect to creating each piece of Wearable Art.”
Always seeking balance between her roles as artist and politician, Teixeira says artists and council members encourage her to be an advocate for the arts. Thinking outside the box, she contributes to strategic plans to resolve challenges and enrich the city of Clearwater.
For example, when discussing challenges related to some buildings in downtown Clearwater that have not been activated and the need for a city-wide environmental cleanup, Teixeira suggested bringing nine artists together to collect trash.
Empty store fronts were then filled with art displays creatively repurposed from the trash the artists collected. The resulting “Trash Fashion” has been a clever visual, achieving the goal to create a buzz about upcycling materials and keeping the environment clean, healthy and welcoming.
“I like to get artists and different groups together and ask them to use their talents for a common goal,” Teixeira says.
The “Trash Fashion” art was displayed at Clearwater High School, Countryside Mall, Capitol Theatre, beach hotels, empty storefronts downtown, and in the lobby of City Hall. The art was rotated throughout the city, to keep key messages in view and top of mind.
Wearable Art fans and all who visit Teixeira’s show at the Clearwater Main Library Galleries in September will experience a show built to engage everyone. Period pieces, nature, political signs, garbage bags, diversity, fantasy and beauty will be displayed.
You can learn about building a dress using coffee beans and filters or cake plate stands. Bask in the rich glamour of a gown inspired by the golden era of Elvis in Las Vegas. Enjoy the puzzles of how repurposed materials are artfully reshaped, placed and connected with fabric to give each upcycled fashion a gorgeous new life. Be prepared to be impressed.
“I want the show to be a complete surprise,” Teixeira adds. “I have a special relationship with the Dunedin Fine Arts Center, and I’ve participated in their past Wearable Art fashion shows.
“This year, I had too much going on to participate in the wearable ART 18 show. The timing was better for me to build my solo exhibition for the Clearwater Main Library Galleries in September.”
“The adrenaline rush of preparing a show is productive for me. It is an essential element in my creative process. The point of this show is to express and promote my love for the arts and for the city of Clearwater.”
Article and photos courtesy of Carlene Cobb
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