MFAM Week 5: Fairfield Flashback

Week five of the My Favorite Art Museum series is here! Okay, so week five was supposed to be here a several days ago, and I’m even later than I was last week. I can’t even blame my car this time. (Dang it!) I’ll try harder next week. Promise.

This week we’re looking at the Nelson-Atkins’s modern and contemporary collection. My inspiration comes from Fairfield Porter’s The Mirror, a dual portrait of the artist and his (very bored) 10 year old daughter Elizabeth.

Detail of The Mirror, 1966

I started with these three underwhelming pieces.

Impressive, right?

I started with the sweater, shortening the sleeves…

…before moving on to removing the zipper. Using the knit “ribbons” from either side of the zipper, I added details to the front and back. I used a pin for the closure at the neck, and added large brown buttons for embellishment.

And at the end I had a lovely new cardigan.

Then it was time to move on to the yellow blouse. I began by altering the back of the top.

To alter the front of the top, I removed the old darts and added new ones that fit my dress form.

After the major work had been done to the front and back, I took the top in several inches on both sides and finished the edges around the arms.

By now I was running way, way, waaay behind, so I tossed aside the sliced up “to do” skirt in favor of my refashioned wool skirt from earlier this year.

Aussie Army pants refashion from March 2013.

 I pulled the look together with some red tights and recently refashioned grown up saddle shoes.

MFAM Week 5: Modern and Contemporary Art

Believe it or not, this is not the first time I’ve recreated Elizabeth’s outfit. Way back in 2008 when I was a museum guard, I dressed as Elizabeth for the Nelson’s staff Halloween party. (You can find a dorky photo of me and the original costume on my blog.)

Will week six’s project be done in time? You’ll never know if you don’t check back this weekend for the next MFAM installment. And remember, please don’t touch the art.

- Elizabeth
aka The Hungry Octopus

Now blogging at www.TheHungryOctopus.com!