2008 Studio - VCUarts - Virginia Commonwealth University

The assignment for VCUarts fashion students in Richmond: design an abaya,
an enveloping cloak worn by Muslim women, that is stylish yet acceptable in
Arab countries. The assignment for their counterparts in VCUQatar: create a
swimsuit that covers and supports, and is of course, fashionable.
The project is among a growing number of collaborations between students
and faculty at VCU Richmond and VCUQatar.
“We were trying to make a feeling of youth — but still be true to their culture,”
said Kendra Palin, a fashion design major who partnered with classmate Shelby
Day to design an abaya with looped buttonholes, princess seams and a high
waist. “Everything else had to be black, but the embellishment could be any
color, and we used silver and blue.”
The 10 abayas were shown at VCU's annual spring student fashion show and
were shipped to Doha for a fashion show at VCUQatar. Selected swimsuits
traveled from Doha to Richmond for inclusion in the spring show.
The project was part of Kim Guthrie's “Give Me Shelter” class, during which
her students discussed the idea of clothing as shelter and how different
cultures address the concept of clothing.
Photos: Jay Paul
Murry DePillars, who spent nearly 25 years
at VCU School of the Arts–19 of those years
as dean, shaping the school significantly–
passed away May 31.
A native of Chicago, Dr. DePillars joined the
faculty at VCU in 1971. After taking a leave
to complete his Ph.D. in art education at
Pennsylvania State University, DePillars
was named dean of the School of the Arts
in 1977.
During his tenure, Dr. DePillars helped the
art program at VCU grow on the national
level. He was an artist, jazz lover and
teacher, as well as a supporter and promoter
of various forms of art.
VCUarts Department of Painting & Printmaking and the Center for Digital
Print Media hosted CommandPrint (the keystroke shortcut to print), the
2008 Southern Graphics Council Conference March 26 through March 29.
More than one thousand guests descended upon the VCU campus and
surrounding area for the conference that encouraged critical discourse on
such issues as digital media and expanded notions of print media and
print theory. The conference included demonstrations, artist talks, panel
discussions, and an enormous vendor fair. Shelly Bancroft and Peter
Nesbett, co-directors of Triple Candie and co-publishers of Art on Paper
magazine gave the keynote address.
When he retired in June 1995, the VCU
School of the Arts was one of the largest in
the country.
SGC Conference photos provided by Peter Baldes.
The Southern Graphics Council is a nonprofit membership organization
that advances the professional standing of artists who make original prints,
drawings, books, and hand-made paper.