Finlandia Student Fashion Show highlights Art Exhibit opening

HANCOCK -- Finlandia's Student Juried Art Exhibit opened on March 31 with a Student Fashion Show exhibiting original creations by fiber art students of Finlandia's International School of Art and Design.

Among the student art works on exhibit in the Finlandia Gallery of the Finnish American Heritage Center is "It's Not Just the Forest," by Juice DeMers, fiber artist, who also designed several dresses for the Fashion Show. See videos, below, and our slide show, above right. (Photo © 2009 Keweenaw Now)

"The fiber students look forward to this show every year," said Phyllis Fredendall, Finlandia associate professor of fiber and fashion. "They find the models and choose their music. It's a delightful group effort. The fiber studio has been buzzing this semester!"

Keweenaw Now presents here some video clips of the Fashion Show. See also our slide show with photos (top right corner of the page).

"Plush Living by Proper Etiquette" is the title of this collection of fiber designs by Juice DeMers. Phyllis Fredendall, Finlandia associate professor of fiber and fashion, describes the outfits and the stuffed toys -- eggplant, stuffed olive, melon, poptarts and a rice ball -- carried by the models as they dance to this catchy tune.

A large crowd filled the theatre and the gallery at the Finnish American Heritage Center to enjoy the event.

Pamela Kotila's colorful designs are presented in this lively choreographed segment of the Fashion Show. Models shown here are Kotila herself, in the pink hair, followed by "angel" Sarah Anderson and Kazuki Nishiyama.

The Juried Student Art Exhibit continues through April 21 at the Finlandia University Gallery in the Finnish American Heritage Center, located in downtown Hancock at 435 Quincy Street (U.S. 41 North). The Heritage Center is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with extended hours to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays.