Bigornia conquers 'Discomfort' of fashion
Campus Times
May 16, 1997
Junior Katherine Custodio, junior Jolene Anderson, freshman Diana Verduzco
and senior Stacey Williams represent mannequins that are uncomfortable wearing
women's fashions. Discomfort in fashion was the theme of Jamie Bigornia's
senior art thesis exhibition which was presented Wednesday evening in the
Art Building..
As dim lights glowed, seductive music enveloped the space where 10 models
expressively traveled through dangling sheets of metal. The metal was hung
sporadically in the University of La Verne's Art Building Wednesday evening
as senior art major Jamie Bigornia displayed his senior art thesis exhibit
in a fashion show entitled "Discomfort."
Bigornia, a graduate of Glendora High School, first became interested
in fashion while taking art classes there. While at La Verne, Bigornia has
been able to major in art with an emphasis in design to further his passion
for the fashion world. He has also successfully completed two other fashion
shows at ULV.
Bigornia's initial intention with his senior project was to have a fashion
show that had different elements, depth and symbolism, unlike his previous
two shows which included runway models and wardrobe collections.
This show's difference was that it emphasized the discomfort often caused
by women's fashion.
"This show is not about girls walking down the runway; it's about
the body language of women. A lot of women are dictated to wear uncomfortable
things created by men. I pushed myself to go further and make this show
good,"said Bigornia.
"This has been an evolution of a project, from an idea to a really
strong realization which was in line with his thesis," said George
Stone, associate professor of art. Stone is who Bigornia claims as his mentor.
All of the planning and preparation for the show finally took center
stage when seniors Stacey Williams and Rose Newell stepped through the dangling
metal wearing nothing but latex molds of a woman's back and a man's front
torso.
"This is how women are judged by society, they are perceived stronger
but are not allowed to be naked in society,"said Bigornia.
Bigornia's other works in the exhibition included the use of neck braces
to accentuate the neck. There was a contrast between flowing fabrics and
spikes which, "played along with what people think is uncomfortable
clothing," he said.
"It was post-nuclear fashion with hope and spirit. It was subdued,
but I felt alive. I know we will be hearing more from Mr. Bigornia in the
future," said Craig Vanderbrook, a close friend of Bigornia's.
"I enjoyed getting to know my artistic side and realizing how fashion
for women is uncomfortable. If women don't dress feminine then they are
looked down upon," said freshman Jared Ellis, who portrayed the designer
in the show.
The grand finale of the show happened when the 10 models were stripped
of their symbolic coverings and wrapped in plastic so they could be stored
as mannequins.
Senior biology major Rich Quesada hopes that this show "changes
the conservatism of ULV."
Many other students who attended the show seemed to enjoy what Bigornia
had produced.
As for the future of Bigornia's fashion, it does not end in La Verne's
Art Building. Bigornia has applied to the Parson's School of Design in New
York and is in the process of finishing his portfolio to continue his studying
there. As for what he hopes everyone got out of his show, Bigornia replied,
"It's what you perceive the art is."