Video 4:46. A fun video with zany music by Rick Romancito for the TaosNews Media Center. If one man's trash is another man's treasure, then one woman's trash may be another woman's glamour.
Hence Glam Trash an iconic Taos fashion event where yesterdays bottle caps and toy stuffed animals are transformed to cover derriere and heads. Everything has to be made of something that otherwise would have been discarded, said event organizer Nicole Kowalski.
Glam Trash takes place Saturday in conjunction with the Arte de Descartes art show started by the local nonprofit group Wholly Rags, which promotes recycling.
Kowalski got involved with the art show about nine years ago. I said, "Thats right up my alley Ill do that.", said the 37-year-old Peñasco resident. Taos really took it on. They liked it.
Hundreds attend the Taos runway version of a haute couture opening, complete with a marching band thumping out appropriate accompaniment to the master of ceremonies commentary. Seventeen women will take part in this years event, although in the past, men have taken up the fashionista challenge.
Katy George of Ranchos de Taos makes one of a kind wearable art and is known locally for her hats, which she says run from sleazy cocktail hats to elegant hats for the (horse) races.
This year, George is showing a dress she dubbed Screen Queen, made of nylon and metal screen with a belt and buckle of recycled elastic, plumbing parts and safety pins. Its topped off by a mask of papier-mâch, mesh wings and earrings made from coaxial cable connectors. The petticoat is threadbare silk. Only a small amount of seamstress blood was shed in sewing this outfit, George said.
Kowalski is an outfit for a friend who is a stilt walker. Kowalski, who teaches circus arts for the Santa Fe-based Wise Fool, describes it as a fantastical costume, kind of like a cowgirl part girl and part cow. It includes chaps with fringe, a silver shirt of old wall, a fringe wig and silver horns.
In one show, an accountant used the financial work from her firm to cover her assets. Other ensembles have sprung from sewn plastic bags, milk cartons and plastic bottle caps all heat-welded together.
Local businesses donate gift certificates for prizes, and the fashion show is supported by an Art from the Heart grant from the Albuquerque nonprofit group Clothes Helping Kids Inc., said Kowalski.
George has participated in the event every year because its fun. Its one of the funniest events of the whole year in Taos, said George. And if I am not there my public gets upset.
Kowalski and the show designers are inspired by the energy public brings to the event. I really like the part of it, that I get to make something out of trash, Kowalski said. Its like a celebration of creativity because anyone can enter and make something interesting because it could be beautiful, but sometimes its not.
Glam Trash recycled fashion show and Arte de Descartes art show. Art show opening from 4-8 p.m. Saturday; fashion show is 6-7 p.m. Courtyard of the Stables Gallery, 133 Paseo del Pueblo Norte in Taos. Free of Charge.
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