Imitation of Christ Spring 2013 at the Bortolami Gallery was aptly titled This is Not a Fashion Show. After being greeted by a choir of girls singing Carol of the Bells, I made my way into the actual presentation. My first impression was that of walking into a woman’s boudoir or backstage dressing room: a row of models lined the walls, ranging in age from young girls to grande dames.
Ignoring everyone, they primped in from of mirrors and tried on looks from clothes piled on the floor. It seemed like the youngest ones were having the most fun, and I did get two of the them to pose in the mirror for me. If I had to give a source of inspiration I’d say the 1920s-- the clothing shapes and even hair and makeup felt very Jazz Age. I felt that instead of a presentation, It was a performance art installation.
