Chihuly, Shoe-huly: Make your own funky footwear at Morean Arts Center
A great shoe is more than just footwear. It's art.
This month, you'll have a chance to make your own masterpiece. St. Petersburg's Morean Arts Center is holding two paint-your-own-pair sessions to promote the Chihuly Collection, which opens in July 11.
Bring a pair of shoes to the Morean during one of two drop-in sessions: this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or May 27 from 5 to 7p.m. All ages are welcome.
For a $5 suggested donation, you can splatter your footwear with acrylic paint, just as hundreds of St. Pete residents have done already. Even Mayor Bill Foster has two pairs of splattered sneakers. (The Morean staff made his, though.) Folks have decked out everything from sneakers to heels to cowboy boots.
So what do customized shoes have to do with artist Dale Chihuly, who's famous for his glass sculptures?
Sara McClarnon, the Morean's receptionist and curatorial support worker, explains:
"Chihuly is very well known for his glasswork, but ... he also is known for doing splatter painting where the canvas is laid on the floor, and he splatters the paint," McClarnon said. The artist wears special orthopedic shoes, which tend to get covered in paint when he's working. "He always has to wear those same shoes," McClarnon continued, "so you'll see him (wearing them) even at formal events -- he'll have these splattered painted shoes on."
You read it here first: Splattered is the new black!
Morean Arts Center is at 719 Central Ave., in downtown St. Petersburg. Call (727) 822-7872.
Deal Diva Dalia
Photo: Morean Arts Center
Loading...
Katie Sanders foolishly spurned pretty dresses and shoes as a child, tossing new clothes over her shoulder at birthday parties with a totally rude "no, thank you." Her drab days of monocolor outfits are over now, and she certainly knows better than to turn down free stuff. Her wardrobe mixes classic with quirk. Think blazers with statement necklaces, and lots of patterned ballet flats. She can be reached at 850) 224-7263 or 
Kameel Stanley has never encountered a thrift store she didn’t like. Her mother taught her that the true value of clothes isn’t how much they cost, but how many outfits one can create from them. Having grown up in Michigan, she was delighted to learn upon moving to Florida that she almost never needed to wear socks or boots again. There’s a lot of turnover in her closet, and she’s obsessed with dresses, necklaces and wedge heels. She can be reached at (727) 893-8643 or 
A disciple of the little black dress classics school, Letitia Stein stretches her budget by looking for styles with staying power. She lives for 80 percent off shoes at DSW, floral sundresses and bohemian chic tops. She confesses to being a bit of a snob when it comes to handbags and jewelry. She can be reached at (813) 226-3400 or 
From camo pants and construction boots to sundresses, sweaters and sling backs, Keyonna Summers knows how to make all of it rock -- at rock bottom prices. A Detroit native, Keyonna delves into her urban roots to find fashion pairings that give a nod to street fashion while maintaining the class of the modern, professional woman. She believes in searching for affordable clothes that look expensive and can easily be dressed up or down. You won't find plaid shirts or fleece jackets in her closet; the only hiking Keyonna does is to the bargain basement. She can be reached at (727) 445-4153 or 
0
Comments