[Past Winners] 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004

Entries to the open category must be a complete outfit, there is no specific theme and entries can be made from any type of medium, from fabrics of all kinds, to glass, clay, metal and wood to suggest a few!

Traditionally the biggest category, anything goes as long as it is a complete outfit. This category in the past has had many outfits submitted in non traditional materials, from willow branches, clay and many types of metal. Please pull out all the stops of your imagination and come play in the Open Category. Competition is always tough in this category, so make sure your work pushes creativity to the limit and wows our judges!

The Queen of Queens
Elena Gregusova
North Vancouver, BC		 2009 Category Winner

100% recycled newspaper

"The Queen of Queens". The literally, woven paper sculpture is one of my object from my still growing "Wear The News" collection, which I won recognition in Europe and Canada. This object which I am now presenting is in same way a continuance and expansion of my previous work with an emphasis on multicultural communication and ecology. As an artist and historian I see a piece of human history in many different materials. For these reasons I am collecting newspapers from around the world, to get full visual impact and communication with the audience, including specific languages and typefaces of many different cultures and nations. That is why I chose newspaper as my basic material. "The Queen of Queens" is inspired by the culture and history of England. I am using textile techniques, such as weaving, mostly unique patterns, shape and colors and lot of details for creating an extraordinary piece of art, and an unique paper sculpture.
Couped
Nita Bowerman
Vancouver, BC		 2009 Runner Up

Egg cartons, screen, fiberglass chicken wire, lock/key

Encasing.
Protecting.
Filtering.
Keeping things in or out.
Putting on armour.
Or is it amour?
Under lock down.
With key.
To escape.
Soft with scars.
Free to range.
This is called hatching.
Or couped.
Who put me here?
And why do I stay?
Best Party Ever
Shawna McLellan
Vancouver, BC		 2009 Runner Up

Fabric, PVC tubing

Best Party Ever is meant to be a visual translation of experimental dance music. My inspiration comes from sensations of ecstatic happiness and freedom experienced while dancing with groups of people. The cone shape and the repetition of decorative and formal elements alludes to a perpetual motion while the costume masks the face and obscures the identity, transforming the wearer into a kinetic sculpture. The piece lacks a specified front or back which diminishes the interpretation of direction and time, suspending the dancer in a perfect moment of ultimate expression. Spinning and jumping excites the ‘arms’ and frilly bits producing a rhythmical visualization which mimics the beats and bass-lines of music. I understand club dance culture as a cultural movement of freedom and tribal qualities such as braids, geometry and ornamentation are integrated in the piece because of this.