Artful Bras Show Is Ready To Bare All

By Shannon Hicks

Newtown United, LLC, a committee of men and women of all ages and backgrounds, has been working since June to organize its first event, “Perfect Pairs: The Artful Bras Show.” “Perfect Pairs” will be presented from 7 to 10 pm in The Alexandria Room of Edmond Town Hall on Saturday, October 23.

The evening will include the exhibition and silent auction of more than 65 decorated bras, along with live music, appetizers and desserts, and even a fashion show; the details of the latter are being kept under wraps until 7:45 that evening, however.

Proceeds will benefit Ann’s Place, The Home of I Can, the Danbury-based organization serving Connecticut and eastern New York residents with comfort and support to people living with cancer and to their loved ones.

For months residents have been decorating bras, turning them from functional fashion that is meant to be hidden under a layer or two of clothing into works of art that deserve to be hung proudly by those who will place the winning bids during this weekend’s gala event.

Each finished work has a name and a theme, such as “Devoted Swans,” one of two designs by friends Hana Tyler and Wendy White. Shown here, viewers can see that the original bra has been completely changed into a work of art, both front and back.

Newtown United President Rosemary Rau reports that 67 bras have been completed for this, the inaugural Newtown Artful Bras event.

“Women have pulled out all the stops,” she said last Friday afternoon, looking over the dining room table, screens and clothes racks that were all laden with decorated bras. And yes, in all but two cases it was women who stepped up to decorate the bras — from artist Patricia Barkman’s “Wish Fulfillment,” featuring more than a dozen chicken wishbones and one pink ribbon artfully arranged around the cups of a strapless bra, and “Thing 1 and Thing 2,” a salute by Hillary Lewis to Dr Seuss, to “Worth Every Cent,” a penny-covered brassiere done by Nancy Larin.

Women worked together and on their own to honor friends and family members who have battled breast cancer. Others, like 13 young women from Newtown High School, responded to a challenge put to them with a timeframe of less than three weeks in which to work.

Many artists used humor when naming their finished works: Alison Cummings used wood patterning to cover her bra, which comes with a matching set of wood beads, and has the name “Faux Bois,” or “false bra” in French; Myrna Mills Albino’s “Ob-La-De, Ob-La-Bra: The Peace Bra” is covered with miniature peace signs, flowers and tie-dyed materials; and Nancy Swift used a casino theme to cover her bra, named “Lucky Pair.”

The two rare cases of men becoming bratistas (Ms Rau’s name for the bra artists) seem to be “Round Mountain Peeks,” a patchwork covered piece with eyes painted onto each cup, by Gale and Jim McNamara, and “Toy Chest,” in which one very young man gave up some of his playthings and worked with his mother to create an Artful Bra for Saturday night.

Tickets for “Perfect Pairs: The Artful Bras Show” are $25 each and advance purchase is strongly recommended. For additional information and tickets contact Mrs Rau at 203-426-2226.

In addition to Saturday night’s big event, another special occasion is scheduled for Sunday.

A Fall Marketplace, also taking place in The Alexandria Room, from 10 am to 3 pm, will offer one last look at the decorated bras before they head home with their new owners. There will also be an arts and crafts show and sale, with more than 66 artists lined up for the event.

“We really want parents and their children to see these works of art, which is one of the reasons why we decided to continue the event on Sunday,” said Ms Rau, who also pointed out the low cost of admission for Sunday — $5, children 16 and under free, which can be paid at the door. “This is indeed a family event. We’d like everyone to be able to come in and enjoy the bras during their final display, and also enjoy an afternoon of arts and crafts, and some light refreshments.

For additional information about Saturday or Sunday’s events contact Mrs Rau, Marianne Scanlon at 203-426-5283, or Marie Sturdevant at 203-740-2733. For gala tickets, contact Mrs Rau.