Short Bio
A working artist since 1982, she has a BFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Akron Honors College and an MA from CWRU. Visit www.judikrew for more.
Statement
Hoard Couture is an ongoing collection of wearable art garments. The pieces explore social, environmental, behavioral or personal issues with the purpose of starting a conversation. A necessary first step to finding a solution is awareness of a situation. Hoard Couture creations encourage such recognition. A few garments are interactive so a viewer may explore more in-depth.
I embrace the mantra of “reuse, repurpose, reconsider and re-imagine”. I do not however, recycle as that term implies a physical compositional change to an object. The materials with which I work, in essence, are still usable as intended if a garment should subsequently be deconstructed. Giving a new purpose to our unwanted or discarded detritus, avoids additional waste in our landfills.
Unconventional materials pose multiple challenges including weight of the items used, preservation of vintage items, and physical functionality for walking a runway. A goal for every creation is for it to be worn by a person, not just displayed. The majority of each garment is hand-sewn. I find intimate work to be a more meaningful and fulfilling process, especially for pieces that are personal in their message.
Resume / CV
My exhibition and awards record is 14 pages long, you can find all the details at www.judikrew.com
