Frequently Asked Questions:

When’s the next performance?

No date has been set.
It took a great deal of coordinating for all twenty busy dancers with full time lives outside of the dance studio to dedicate their time and energy to prepare and present the piece. In addition, I will be in Minnesota at Franconia Sculpture Park most of the summer.

What’s a bolt end?

In regards to fabric, the piece of cloth at the end of the roll (bolt) that is too short to sell by size request. They usually find themselves in the discount bin at the fabric store….cruelly squished into a disorderly pile….where I rescue them and try to give them a better life.

What is dysfunctional about them?

The dysfunctional Clothing Collection got its name when I began to examine the motivations, methodology and social connotations behind the creation of the pieces.

Are you a fashion designer?

No. I am an artist. I am also not a seamstress. I have no formal fashion training in these other areas.

What makes them art?

The creation process for these dresses is an offshoot of the methods I use to create steel sculpture and, in the past, mixed media assemblage. The inspiration or direction of the pieces comes from the scraps of fabric themselves. I piece them together intuitively. I suppose that it is this unorthodox method and my lack of formal training that allows me the unusual results. My ideas about conformity and individuality, freedom of expression, the monotony of the everyday, and the dysfunctional state of society are reflected in these works.

Why dance?

When showing steel sculpture, a three dimensional discipline, one tries not to put them close to the wall to allow the viewer to access all viewing angles. In the case of these creations, the fabric has properties that are not fully exhibited unless it is allowed to be in motion. This dance presentation also allowed the viewing audience access to all views. The dichotomy in some of the pieces between the front view and the back view was a key point for me.

The involovement of the dancers also allowed my work to be interpreted in a social sense. The girls choreographed and danced to express their reactions to the pieces and the music I chose to reflect their creation. Twenty individuals collaborating created a strange and beautiful jumble of ordered chaos. They came into the project with very different ideas and each one added their unique vision to the piece. This could not have represented my creative philosophy any better.

Are they for sale?

Yes. The prices can be found with the images of the pieces on the “WHAT” page of this section. If you are interested please send an email to:tanya@steelchick.com

Why are they so expensive?

Each dress is a one-off. There was never any intention of replicating them for sale. Many of them also incorporate precious elements of my families heirlooms, things passed down to me from previous generations that are irreplacable. Buying one of these creations is the equivalent of buying a painting or a sculpture.

What size are they?

Tanya size. I work with my body as a form. It is not static. During the two years of the creation process it has changed, and therefore the sizes are variable. It took months to alter these pieces to fit the individual shapes and sizes of twenty dancers.

Can they be altered to fit me?

Yes. However I will not be doing any further alterations. They will be sold in their original size and should you need to alter them a professional dress maker would be highly recommended.

-Tanya Wood