April 7-13, 2005

artpicks

Glassy Couture

by Deni Kasrel

art

"We're very curious what this is all going to look like," says Rick Snyderman. He's just learned that a few of the models for a glass fashion show held at his gallery this weekend would be Delilah's Den gals. The idea is to add extra spice to an annual fund-raising event for Contemporary Glass Philadelphia, and those ladies will surely help out in that regard. So will the items donned by the models — all creatively crafted from glass and fiber by Nathan Purcell and Janel Scheible.

There's a hot corset and matching spiky skirt ensemble, along with other equally provocative "garments." As Snyderman observes, "It's not something you'd see walking down the street. Then again, you go to a Paris runway show and you don't see that stuff going down the street, either." This is indeed high-art couture — and it's all for sale to the highest bidder. Proceeds support grants for glass artists of the Philadelphia region. Along with the runway action, there's a buffet by Frog/Commissary plus a silent auction of glass works. And while the fashion show selections may appear to be more for watching than wearing — it would be hard, if not impossible, to sit in that spiky skirt — Snyderman says that you might be able to strut around in these pieces: "Maybe it's only for cocktail parties where you don't sit down," he quips.

Sixth Annual Contemporary Glass of Philadelphia Auction, Sat., April 9, 7:30 p.m., $50, includes buffet, advance purchase required, Snyderman-Works Galleries, 303 Cherry St., 215-922-7775.