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Paper Garments

These 3d historic fashion sculptures are made primarily from books, maps, photos and  paper currency.  They range from 1/2 scale stand alone pieces to life sized toddler garments to be hung on the wall.  Commmissions open for 2023. The pieces are arranged according to the show they were created for. All pieces not sold are available for purchase. Please contact the site for prices and shipping estimates, local free delivery available.

 

All photos courtesy of Susan Wolfe at www.shirkwolfe.myportfolio.com/

A VIEW FROM HERE

Lincoln Art Center

Lincoln, KS 2022

Sonja's Skates

This winter skating coat is made from USGS topo maps of Kansas. The skates are from cardboard and ribbon and the fur is made from finely cut tissue paper

Photo by Susan Wolfe

MacKomics Studio Dorothy w ig.jpg

A VIEW FROM HERE

Lincoln Art Center

Lincoln, KS 2022

Field of Dreams

Dorothy's dress is made of USGS topo maps of Kansas and her blouse is made from pages of the Wizard of Oz. The dress also features handmade poppies, gold leaf, embroidered edges and vintage buttons.

Photo by Susan Wolfe

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A VIEW FROM HERE

Lincoln Art Center

Lincoln, KS 2022

London Interbellum

Made with maps of London, Wales, and Scotland. The trim is made with hundreds of sequins and embroidery on handmade paper. Paper rosettes and ribbon complete the piece which was designed as an homage to the fashion between the two great wars.

Photo by Susan Wolfe

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A VIEW FROM HERE

Lincoln Art Center

Lincoln, KS 2022

Kansas Pioneer

This 19th Century dress is made with USGS topo maps of Kansas, road atlas maps, pages from the 1883 History of Kansas, paper lace, embroidery and velvet ribbon. The bustle features three life sized paper and embroidery sunflowers.

Photo by Susan Wolfe

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A VIEW FROM HERE

Lincoln Art Center

Lincoln, KS 2022

Dorothia's Butterflies

This sassy sleeveless number was made with Kansas topo maps, handmade paper, print ephemera, and paper butterflies

Photo by Susan Wolfe

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A VIEW FROM HERE

Lincoln Art Center

Lincoln, KS 2022

Marie a vivanier

This Robe a l'Anglaise was made from notated and embroidered musical pages from the Daughter of the Regiment opera. Painted, stitched and covered with song birds, this piece includes paper lace ruffles and satin ribbon rosettes over the entire surface.

Photo by Susan Wolfe

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DANCE FOR A SMALL PLANET

Jemez Springs Fine Art Gallery

Jemez Springs, NM 2022

A Beehive in my Heart

This three foot tall paper dress is decorated with traditional Ukranian Pysanky designs and has a paper behive floating among the stars in the torso. Inspired by the poem: Last Night as I lay Sleeping by Antonio Machado.  Small lights illuminate the Hubble Telescope images on the inside of the dress.

Photo by Susan Wolfe

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DANCE FOR A SMALL PLANET

Jemez Springs Fine Art Gallery

Jemez Springs, NM 2022

Who makes these changes?

This three foot tall paper dress is fashioned as a historic Nomadic Ukranian.  The dress, skirt and blouse are made from the Ukraninan National Anthem sheet music.  The piece was inspired by the poem: Who makes these changes? by Jalal al-Din Rumi.  The beads are made of rolled paper, the "fur" is cut tissue paper and the bow is made of cardboard and ribbon.

Photo by Susan Wolfe

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DANCE FOR A SMALL PLANET

Jemez Springs Fine Art Gallery

Jemez Springs, NM 2022

The cool light of the moon

This three foot tall paper dress is made of hundreds of full moon images. Snippets of moon poems peek out on the ribbons. The back bustle is made of handmade silver paper.

Photo by Susan Wolfe

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DANCE FOR A SMALL PLANET

Jemez Springs Fine Art Gallery

Jemez Springs, NM 2022

Winged Victory

This three foot tall paper dress is made of tissue paper Sunflowers and Corn flowers - the national flowers of the Ukraine. The skirt and bodice are made from maps of the Ukraine.

Photo by Susan Wolfe

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DANCE FOR A SMALL PLANET

Jemez Springs Fine Art Gallery

Jemez Springs, NM 2022

32E Merci

Doll-sized dress made of Paris street maps, embroidery, velvet ribbon and a memorable receipt for two bottles of wine.

NFS

Photo by Susan Wolfe

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DANCE FOR A SMALL PLANET

Jemez Springs Fine Art Gallery

Jemez Springs, NM 2022

Cafe de Floret

Doll-sized dress made of Paris street maps, velvet ribbon, Bakelite button and vintage cafe photographs.

Photo by Susan Wolfe

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DANCE FOR A SMALL PLANET

Jemez Springs Fine Art Gallery

Jemez Springs, NM 2022

Samedi apres midi

Doll-sized dress made of Paris street maps, paper lace and vintage Paris street scene photographs.

Sold

Photo by Susan Wolfe

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DANCE FOR A SMALL PLANET

Jemez Springs Fine Art Gallery

Jemez Springs, NM 2022

Between the Alps

Doll-sized dress made of a vintage Paris street scene photograph, embroidery, French maps and organza ribbon.

Sold

Photo by Susan Wolfe

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WORDS WITH WINGS

Jemez Springs Fine Art Gallery

Jemez Springs NM, 2021

Jemez Hummingbird

This 3 foot tall dress was made from stenciled maps of New Mexico, maps of the ocean, ribbon and a metal fencing armature.

sold

Photo by Susan Wolfe

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WORDS WITH WINGS

Jemez Springs Fine Art Gallery

Jemez Springs NM, 2021

Space Crow

This 3 foot tall dress with a cape was made of embroidered rocket ship imagery, crow brads and feathers made from Hubble Telescope images. The cape clasp is made from a Bakelite buckle and costume jewelry

Photo by Susan Wolfe

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WORDS WITH WINGS

Jemez Springs Fine Art Gallery

Jemez Springs NM, 2021

Interbellum Butterfly

This 3 foot tall dress with adjustable butterfly accessories was made with sheet music, dictionary pages, beads, wire and a metal fencing armature.

Photo by Susan Wolfe

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WORDS WITH WINGS

Jemez Springs Fine Art Gallery

Jemez Springs NM, 2021

Horsewoman of the Apocalypse; War

This four foot tall dress with adjustable wings is made from prop and foreign currency. It is decoreated with historic weapons and maps of historic battle fields.  red threads adorn every surface, indicating the bloodshed of war.

Photo by Susan Wolfe

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WORDS WITH WINGS

Jemez Springs Fine Art Gallery

Jemez Springs NM, 2021

Summer Clouds

Child-sized dress made with embroidered maps of New Mexico

Sold

Photo by Susan Wolfe

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WORDS WITH WINGS

Jemez Springs Fine Art Gallery

Jemez Springs NM, 2021

Robis on the Mesa

Child-sized dress made with embroidered maps of New Mexico. Appliqued robins and vintage buttons complete the dress.

sold

Photo by Susan Wolfe

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WORDS WITH WINGS

Jemez Springs Fine Art Gallery

Jemez Springs NM, 2021

Elsie Loves the Bodhi

Child-sized dress made with embroidered and painted maps of New Mexico. Donated to the 2021 Bodhi Manda Zen Center benefit auction.

donated

Photo by Susan Wolfe

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WORDS WITH WINGS

Jemez Springs Fine Art Gallery

Jemez Springs NM, 2021

My Heart Belongs in the Jemez

Child-sized dress made with embroidered maps of New Mexico. Trimmed with ribbon and embossed wax paper. Donated to the 2022 New Mexico Library Foundation benefit fundraiser.

donated

Photo by Susan Wolfe

MacKomics Studio Elsie Loves the Library w ig.jpg

WORDS WITH WINGS

Jemez Springs Fine Art Gallery

Jemez Springs NM, 2021

Elsie loves the Library

Child-sized dress made with embroidered maps of New Mexico. Trimmed with paper skeletons in organza skirts reading tiny books.  Donated to the Jemez Springs Public Library 2022 fundraising raffle.

donated

Photo by Susan Wolfe

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WORDS WITH WINGS

Jemez Springs Fine Art Gallery

Jemez Springs NM, 2021

Walking in the Valley

Child-sized dress made with embroidered maps of New Mexico. 

sold

Photo by Susan Wolfe

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COLLECTED STORIES

Theatre Lawrence

Lawrence, KS 2022 

Ruth's Recollections

This child-sized dress made from the play script pages of Collected Stories by Donald Margulies, gouache, glitter, and jewels.

sold

Photo by Susan Wolfe

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COLLECTED STORIES

Theatre Lawrence

Lawrence, KS 2022 

Roxanne's Decision

Delicately painted and embroidered child-sized dress made from the play script pages of Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand.

Photo by Susan Wolfe

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COLLECTED STORIES

Theatre Lawrence

Lawrence, KS 2022 

Terry Stands Up

Child-sized overalls made with play script pages from On the Waterfront by Budd Schulberg. Decorated with embroidery, hand painted decorations and photographic stills from the movie.

Photo by Susan Wolfe

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COLLECTED STORIES

Theatre Lawrence

Lawrence, KS 2022 

Torvald's World

Child-sized jacket with a gouache painted and embroidered plaid made from pages of A Doll's House by Henrick Ibsen.

Sold

Photo by Susan Wolfe

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COLLECTED STORIES

Theatre Lawrence

Lawrence, KS 2022 

Pop Seeks Justice

Child-sized overalls made with gouache painted and embroidered play script pages from On the Waterfront by Budd Schulberg.

Photo by Susan Wolfe

MacKomics Studio Nora w ig.jpg

COLLECTED STORIES

Theatre Lawrence

Lawrence, KS 2022 

Nora Decides

Child-sized jacket decorated with embroidery and delicate pointilist dots. Made from gouache painted play script pages of A Doll's House by Henrick Ibsen.

sold

Photo by Susan Wolfe

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COLLECTED STORIES

Theatre Lawrence

Lawrence, KS 2022 

Natasha Takes Charge

Child-sized cape made with the play script pages of the Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov. The cape has been painted in gouache with a herringbone pattern and trimmed with tissue paper "fur".

Photo by Susan Wolfe

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COLLECTED STORIES

Theatre Lawrence

Lawrence, KS 2022 

Lyuba = Love

Child-sized cape made with the play script pages of The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov. The pattern has been painted on with gouache and black and white inks. The hem and collars have been extensively embroidered. The pom poms are made with tissue paper.

Photo by Susan Wolfe

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COLLECTED STORIES

Theatre Lawrence

Lawrence, KS 2022 

Violetta Shines Bright

Child-sized cape made with the play script pages of the opera La Traviata by Verdi. Decorated with embroidery, feathers and handmade tassles.

Photo by Susan Wolfe

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COLLECTED STORIES

Theatre Lawrence

Lawrence, KS 2022 

Beatrice's Sprezzatura

Child-sized winter coat and mittens made with play script pages of Much Ado about Nothing by Shakespeare. Decorated with embroidery and gouache patterns.

sold

Photo by Susan Wolfe

MacKomics Studio Ivan w ig.jpg

COLLECTED STORIES

Theatre Lawrence

Lawrence, KS 2022 

Ivan's Farce

Child-sized overalls made with play script pages of The Inspector General by Nikolai Gogot.  Decorated with stamps, embroidery and copic markers.

Photo by Susan Wolfe

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COLLECTED STORIES

Theatre Lawrence

Lawrence, KS 2022 

Flora's Full Moon

Child-sized dress made with play script pages of La Traviata by Verdi. Decorated with gouache, paper lace and satin and grossgrain ribbon

Photo by Susan Wolfe