Sculptural Costumes
Barbara Johnson’s early artwork won awards for her advanced and extraordinary Fiber Art Sculptural Costumes.
The costumes were designed and constructed in the 1980’s, during her undergraduate studies at the Philadelphia College of Art, now renamed University of the Arts.
1984 Shell Costume performed in “Metamorphosis” dance performance, The Banff Centre School of Fine Arts, Canada, 1984. Dyed nylon, 1/16 inch diameter Plexiglass rods, elastic, Velcro.
1983 Pliable Grid Costume, pigment stiffened cheesecloth, painted plastic straws, tied with string. 1984 Heat-formed Plexiglass Mannequin. 1987 Pleated Costume, made of screen-printed cotton fabric, displayed on a heat-formed Plexiglass mannequin. The mannequins were constructed from triangular shaped Plexiglass sheets that were curved from heat in an oven, painted, and bolted together.
1982 Napoleon Hat Costume. Screen-printed, pleated, cotton fabric. Black felt hat. 1982 Circle Pants. Industrial nylon fabric, cotton tape binding. 1983 Pierrot Costume. Gathered nylon fabric.
“In Tension“ performance art, May 1985. Black elastic band costume in gated, architectural setting.
Barbara Johnson designed and constructed the sculptural costume and architectural setting. In collaboration with dancer, Shellie Steier, at the University of Delaware Student Center Gallery.