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The original idea for the bra as we know it today came in the early 1900’s invented by Otto Titzling, whose girlfriend was a well endowed fledgling opera singer, Swanhilda Olafsen. Corsets however originated back in the Menoan Age about 2000 B.C. and were originally designed to be worn outside of an undergarment to accentuate the waist and bust.

In this category we challenge you to think outside of the box. We have already received entries created with such mediums as cigarette butts (“Smokin’ Bra”) and live growing grass. (“Breast Inplants”). You will get more points if you construct the entire piece from scratch rather then adorning an original manufactured piece.

38 I
Ann Blackwell
Maple Ridge, BC		 2004 Category Winner

Glass beads, recycled bra

I grew up wishing my breasts were bigger. Like most girls of the fifties, my models for female pulchritude were Marilyn Monroe and Bridgett Bardot. As an adult, I secretly admired Dolly Parton!

This is my friend’s pre-breast-reduction-surgery bra. The weight of the beads represents the heaviness of large breasts, as well as the weight society places upon women’s breasts as an icon for female sexuality. The chaos inside the bra represents the inside of breasts: milk glands and ducts, blood vessels, fatty tissue, cysts, and sometimes cancer.

The glorious blaze of beads is the beauty of every woman’s breasts.
Flaming Desire
Sharon Cahn
Horsefly, BC		 2004 Second Place

Silk, wool, braid

The moment I heard of this category, I could see flames! It wasn’t until I painted my silk and then pole wrapped it (arashi shibori) so that the flames began to form. The flame shapes were strengthened by satin stitching wire along the edges, twisting them into the flowing movement of fire. As I attached them to the crocheted and lined wool base, they chose their position. Leaving the nipple area open allowed me to attach the “Boing Boing” earrings for a touch of whimsy. I just had to turn the last flame piece in to a hat!