Gasp + Giveaway!

I'm still floating on air from my recent visit to the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco, Legion of Honor exhibit Pulp Fashion, showcasing the works of master paper artist, Isabelle de Borchgrave.

I just had to share some of the exhibit with you and then we'll get to the giveaway details at the end of the post!

Inspired by many sources, including museum costume collections, paintings and her own extensive travels, Belgium based de Borchgrave and her assistants recreate iconic and historic gowns out of paper. Yes, paper.

I would have been stunned enough had these detailed pieces been made out of fabric, but paper? I was speechless...

Tears literally came to my eyes when I saw the gowns in the "white room." Absolutely spectacular!

The exhibit includes an array of reproductions of Fortuny, Poiret, and Chanel as well as Dior, Marie Antoinnette, and the Medici’s. This photo above is an installation of Palazzo Fortuny. All paper. Breathtaking in person.

"Imagine: filmy lens paper painted to look like lace, so expertly rendered that you have to take a second and third look to be sure it was not made from the finest cotton threads … paper convincingly painted to mimic linen, silk, embroidery, damask … buttons, jewelry, feathers, edgings, ribbons, even “straw” hats … all made from exquisitely manipulated paper." -Laura Tarrish

Okay, now we get to the GIVEAWAY!! I was so overwhelmed by this exhibit that I wanted to share it with you all. I thought, if you can't make it to San Francisco, I'm going to share it with you some way. So...

First place winner receives this book, "Pulp Fashion" by Jill D'Alessandro, the curator of textile arts at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. This book highlights three of de Borchgrave's most beloved series: Papiers a la Mode and the Fortuny and Medici collections.

Second Place winner receives this Pulp Fashion exhibition poster of Marie de Medici. Measures 18" by 24."

• To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment below on this blog.

• Deadline to enter the giveaway is Wednesday, April 20th. Two winners will be randomly selected and contacted by e-mail after the 20th.
  

• Please include a link to your blog or email address in your comment for notification. Open to all readers!

Bonne Chance!

images: Legion of Honor, Felt & Wire