The College of Wooster Department of Art Student Independent Study

Exposure of the Self
Expressions of Internal Conflict Through Fashion

“Fashion is the armor to survive the reality of everyday life. I don't think you could do away with it. It would be like doing away with civilization.” - Bill Cunningham

For my Senior Independent Study (I.S.) I have made a series of garments that serve to represent my anxieties, fears and insecurities, using fashion as an art therapy practice to explore my feelings, reconcile emotional conflict, foster self-awareness, reduce anxiety and increase self-esteem. By using fashion in particular, I am creating pieces that are not fully complete unless they are worn, making these internal struggles external and what is normally hidden visible. This exposure of the self is the goal of my Senior Independent Study. As someone who is uncomfortable expressing my emotions verbally, bringing them to the surface forces me to confront them and figure out how they should be dealt with. The garments also give me an opportunity to talk to others about what I'm going through because of the very nature of the works being displayed and modeled for my Senior Independent Study exhibition.

Melissa Hackett '15

Advisor: Bridget Milligan

Preliminary Sketches. Collage, charcoal, pencil, ink, watercolor. 2015.

Fledgling. Fabric, feathers. 2015.

Taking Root. Fabric, thermomorph, spray paint. 2015.

Emerging Brambles. Fabric, thermomorph, spray paint. 2015.

Installation: Taking Root, Taking Wing, New Growth. Mixed Medium. 2015.