THE BLACK PLACE
STRANGE SHAPES COME INTO FOCUS AGAINST THE MUTED LANDSCAPE OF THE BLACK PLACE. THIS IS THE SITE OF SOME OF THE MOST POTENT WORKS OF GEORGIA O'KEEFFE, MUSE OF THIS COLLECTION. THE BIOMORPHIC FORMS SHE FOUND IN THOSE HILLS ARE REIMAGINED IN SWEEPING GARMENT CONSTRUCTION AND IN THE WOODEN ADORNMENTS MEANT TO BE WORN LIKE TALISMANS.

SHE MADE HER OWN CLOTHES AND THIS SPIRIT IS INVOKED BY THE USE OF THE NATURAL MATERIALS SHE FAVOURED. RAW-EDGED COTTON AND TREATED VELVET GIVE THE IMPRESSION OF THE WEATHERING OF HER DESERT.

O'KEEFFE LIVED A LIFE UNSEPARATE FROM ART; HER WAY OF DRESSING WAS CONSONANT WITH HER WAY OF PAINTING. THIS COLLECTION PAYS HOMAGE TO HER WARDROBE IN ALL ITS MODESTY AND PRACTICALITY. BUT IT ALSO SEEKS TO CAPTURE SOMETHING OF HER PRESENCE, HER INNER STRENGTH.

"TO CREATE ONE'S WORLD IN ANY OF THE ARTS TAKES COURAGE."
— GEORGIA O'KEEFFE

PHOTOS: FRANZI GASTOLDI