Art in Hats 2014

Opening today, Saturday, June 14 (and just now as I write this) is Art in Hats 2014, a multi-artist event that explores the intersection of fashion and arts — which in the realm of avant garde fashion are never far apart. And there's fun in it, too. (Plus, as co-curator Quan Lavender quipped to me, "Some models make high fashion out of the most ridiculous hats!") Following on the success of the inaugural event last year, Quan and co-curator Emma Portilo invited dozens of designers to create hats, resulting in more than eighty artists creating more than one hundred hats and headpieces. The curators matched the designers up with photographers, who created art images that are also on display.

Featured artists (and shops and teams) include 22769, Aliza Karu, Alpha Auer, AmandaMir, Amona Savira, Annough Lykin, Aurora Mycano, Awesome Fallen, AyaShula, Baoba, Barbara Wardell, Betty Tureaud, Bianca Xavorin, Bliensen + MaiTai, BSD Design, Burk, Bode, ByrneDarkly Cazalet, Caitlin Tobias, Caoimhe Lionheart, CapCat Ragu, Cherry Manga, CHOP ZUEY, cold Frog, Couture Chapeau, Dido Haas, Elysium, Eupalinos Ugajin, Falbala Fairey, Finesmith, Freyja Merryman, Fuschia Nightfire, Fuzz Lennie, Gladys Ruby, Gypsy Couture, Hatters'n Hell, h.m.a.e.m., Hexe Jie, JessMcHope, Kikas Babenco, Kynne Llewellyn, !Lyrical B!zarre Templates!, LODE Headwear, Louly Loon, Lybra, Maloe Vansant, Melusina Parkin, MEB, Meilo Minotaur, Mina Nakamura, Miuccia Klaar, Moya, naminaeko, Natzuka Miliandrovic, Noke Yuitza, Paradox Messmer, Paris METRO Couture, Porcelain Decay, Rawr, Secret Rage, Shimmer, Sina Souza, Sonatta Morales, Sparkie Cyberstar, Spyralle, Stone's Works, Syra Hyun, [sYs] design, Telchar Elf, The Mad Hattery, Tik Merlin, Trill Zapatero, Vivienne Darcy, Wicca Merlin, Wizardoz Chome, WuWai Chun, Xen's Hats, and Zanze.

The hats and accompanying photos are for sale (a few are free), with demos often available. On Saturday, June 21 at 2 pm slt, the exhibition will host a fashion show, and throughout the entire installation, which ends July 31, about ten to twelve unique hats will be auctioned off, with the proceeds to benefit Feed a Smile. And, if you'd like to participate in Art in Hats, there's a special opportunity: as part of your visit, you'll receive a full perm bowler hat, which you decorate and photograph, and return to Quan Lavender to enter the "visitor contest," featuring some substantial prizes. Public voting for the visitor content runs until July 27, with winners announced on July 31.