Victor Molina and the CE studio: Mode Brut Spotlight
Tunic and pants featuring work by Steven Liu and Miriam Munguia for Mode Brut. Photo by Rob Williamson
Dive into the CE Studio Line with Victor Molina
At the heart of the Mode Brut exhibition, produced in partnership with the Museum of Craft and Design, is the diverse CE Studio Line. The line features work by over 50 artists produced in collaboration with fellow artists, teaching artists, and Mode Brut lead designer Victor Molina. Additionally, many of the garments in the CE Studio Line feature embroidery and projects artists created as part of the City College of San Francisco surface design class, which has been meeting at the CE studios for over 30 years and virtually during the pandemic.
Originally heralding from Havana, Cuba, Molina has enjoyed a rich career working as a fashion designer and illustrator. Running an equity waiver theater in Silverlake, CA proved a formative experience, where collaborating with a team of creatives much like our collective studio at CE. Later Molina moved to Montreal where he started a clothing design company crafting one-of-a-kind items and collections for boutiques.
Molina brings to life the work of CE artists as an antithesis to the consumption and waste of the fashion industry. Working with donated fabric and clothes, Molina begins the process of creating a garment by first considering the artist’s personal aesthetic. He then works to interpret each individual’s personal and artistic style through each piece. The results are multilayered garments celebrating the collaboration and community of Creativity Explored.
Work by artists Steven Liu and Miriam Munguia collide in an outfit reflective of CE’s vibrant creative community and the collaborative spirit of Mode Brut. Liu is known for his illustrative prowess, taking on the works of art historical masters with a friendly characterization of his subjects and clean lines. For Mode Brut Liu drew Classical figures on fabric. The completed drawings were then delivered to Munguia, who added detailed embroidery, outlining the figures and shapes. Molina then transformed their work into a tunic with matching trousers.
“Even if it looks like there’s not, there’s always a ton of effort in our artists’ work. Nothing the artists do is careless. Our artists’ fashion choices are definitely impacted by their respective disabilities. Most CE artists are very conservative in what they choose to wear, so for me to make bizarre clothes with the idea that I’m representing the studio is false. The studio really isn’t fashionably so ‘out there.’ Also, because of one’s disability, sometimes, there is less choice of clothing based on availability or necessity. I’ve had to think about all these things for this project.”
Shirt by Taneya Lovelace and Katherine Finn-Gamino, modeled by Joseph “JD” Green
Some artists applied traditional media directly to found garments to create striking upcycled fashions. 2-D applications by Maria Berrios, Daniel Green, John Iwaszewics, Christina Marie Fong, Corine Raper, Vincent Jackson, Taneya Lovelace, and John Patrick McKenzie harken back to the 2018 Fabulate! exhibition and fashion show at the CE gallery, which focused on the art of embellishment and transformation. Fabrics featuring drawings and paintings by Nubia Ortega, Jesus Huezo, Ernesto Sosa, Gerald Wiggins, Marcus McClure, and Emma Reyes were incorporated into designs or are presented raw.
Many artists drew upon their embroidery and fiber-arts practice to create original couture garments and accessories all their own. Embroidery by Katherine Finn-Gamino, Linda Davenport, Ethel Revita, Christina Marie Fong, Maribel Guzman, Olivia Byers-Straus, and Irene Rivas take center stage on jackets, dresses, accessories, and button-up shirts.
To experience the CE Studio Line visit Mode Brut at the Museum of Craft and Design, on view through January 22, 2022. All garments are available for sale, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the artists and CE – download the price list here.