Shopping Spree

Fashion > Forward

by Julia West

	print	email	reply	rss feed

Published: May 25, 2010

Sleep Series II

Lithuanian-born Zivile Pupinyte creates jewelry that wavers between her sleeping world and our waking one. Inspired by her dreams, travels and passion for architecture, Pupinyte's collection, aptly titled Sleep, is the second and final installment in a series that could be called wearable art minus the pretensions that term elicits. Her jewelry has a sculptural quality without being unwearable. But that doesn't mean it's for the faint of heart; Pupinyte's work is full of statement pieces that are meant to stand out rather than simply accessorize.

(CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VERSION)

Pupinyte, who moved to Philadelphia in 2002, is able to fuse strikingly different materials into a single new texture. "I like to use objects that are for the household, like steel retaining rings that are normally for plumbing," she says. Pairing the hardware with nature's own creations, such as fan coral, brings out the paradox in each medium. "My point is to show how the rough material can be beautiful and delicate," she says, "while the raw material is not as fragile as you thought."

Her outdoor garden show will be one more way for the artist to brush away barriers. In addition to the still models who will show off Pupinyte's pieces, dancers from blacklight-masked theater troupe ArcheDream will perform a dance choreographed by Jessica Kroboth.

Dance and jewelry are linked in Pupinyte's mind. "In the first series the women were like faeries, the faeries of my dreams," she told me, trying to keep the connection vague so the show would be a surprise. "Now they are coming to life, moving and interacting with the public." Sun., June 6, 6-9 p.m., free, Arbol Café, 209 Poplar St., 215-923-3150, zivileart.com.

(julia.west@citypaper.net)

All-Male Review
Ladies Rock Camp Showcase
Wheels, Wire and Whimsy from the Jersey Shore
Icepack
Philadelphia International Tango Festival
Rockin' Reels
Slate Political Gabfest