What does art have to do with empowerment? Everything, if it’s wearable art by VOTLO Couture.
On Sunday, a special art opening was held at Out Of The Fire Restaurant in Easton – an alliance of art, fashion and empowerment that connects women here with girls across the globe through art and wearable art. Big, bright and beautiful, the project has many layers of collaboration, and a circular energy.
It began with “Abundant Bounty” a body of work created by accomplished American artist Janet Taylor Pickett. Janet’s work embodies the power of women to heal and the profound connectedness we share as human beings. Local restaurateur Amy Haines, owner of Out of the Fire Restaurant, a generous supporter of women and the arts, was the perfect partner for this inspiring project.
The collaboration then shifted to Vessel Of Things Less Ordinary (VOTLO Couture) – a uniquely inspired clothing label by Kathy Imlay, who takes Taylor Pickett’s paintings one step further. VOTLO Couture has transferred Pickett’s gorgeous botanical paintings onto fabrics, and created a line of wearable art that is available for sale at three Easton retailers.
Imlay’s travels around the world brought her face to face with girls and women who are disempowered, uneducated, married off as children, and without hope for a brighter future. She vowed to do something about it. She connected with HEALAfrica, an organization assisting women in the DR Congo, one of the world’s worst places for women today.
With a connection to the non-profit in Africa, Imlay founded VOTLO Couture on Kickstarter. She had a vision of using the power of art to heal, by making art more accessible and then using it as a tool to empower women and girls through education. For every garment sold, one semester of educaiton is purchased for a girl in Africa, delivering a powerful message of inspiring hope for a brighter world.
“One garment, one girl, one semester of school” – a simple idea that translates into women helping women across the globe.
Learn more about VOTLO on their website and visit Out of the Fire Restaurant in April and May to see Janet Taylor Pickett’s stunning paintings. The paintings are gorgeous colorful renderings of the dress as a metaphor for identity, and a portion of their proceeds supports outreach programs at the Academy Art Museum
The show opened Sunday, April 7th at Out of the Fire Restaurant in Easton, and will remain up through May. VOTLO wearable art garments will be available for sale at Miranda’s, M. Randall and Lizzy Dee in Easton.
Weaving threads of art, creation and community, this project crosses cultures for a better world.
Out of the Fire Restaurant – 22 Goldsborough St., Easton
VOTLO garments will be available at M. Randall & Co., Lizzy Dee, and Miranda’s in Easton.
M. Randall & Co. – 17 N Harrison St., Easton
Lizzy Dee – 20 Goldsborough St., Easton
Miranda’s Shoes – 218 N. Washington St., Easton
..
Write a Letter to the Editor on this Article
We encourage readers to offer their point of view on this article by submitting the following form. Editing is sometimes necessary and is done at the discretion of the editorial staff.