Lightroom 4.4 04/28/13, 03:51:42 PM VAH 2236G - Western University Department of Visual Arts What to Wear in a Zombie Apocalypse<br/> On February 26, 2013, the 70 students enrolled in the University of Western Ontario’s Visual Arts course VAH 2236G 001: What (Not) to Wear: Fashion Textiles and Art II were presented with the following hypothetical situation: The Zombie Apocalypse has happened and things are starting to get back to “normal” (whatever that might be). You have been hired by what’s left of Vogue magazine to write an article for their readers on how to be a fashion-forward individual in a post-apocalyptic world where there is not a lot of “new” textiles or clothing being made. Vogue has asked you, in the spirit of Andrea from The Walking Dead comics, to repurpose an article of clothing. In addition, they would like to “play” with the idea of the fashion-forward fashionista by having you contextualize your garment and your approach to repurposing by looking back in time at either Depression-era feed sack clothing or WWII make-do-and-mend attire. Remember, you are designing for a fashionable survivor of the zombie apocalypse, not a zombie.<br/> Students were required to submit before and after photographs of their garments, a 100 word summary of their project and a 1,000 word essay outlining the connections between the garment’s design, the materials used and their historical research. This exhibition includes the garments, photographs and summaries of 46 students. Participation was voluntary.<br/> This online exhibition demonstrates how the art history courses offered through the Visual Arts Department at the University of Western Ontario use historical knowledge to develop creative responses to pressing contemporary issues. We would like to thank Dave Kemp for photographic work, as well as designing and creating the online exhibition; Odre for use of the mannequin; Louise Krueger for editing assistance, and Joy James for ongoing support. We hope that students (both current and prospective), professors, academic councillors, artists, scholars and aficionados of an expanded notion of fashion, will enjoy the students’ experimentation and originality. We close by asking “What would you wear in a zombie apocalypse?” <br/>Bridget Elliott (Professor), Julia Krueger (Teaching Assistant and PhD Candidate) and Karen McEwan (Teaching Assistant and MA Candidate) What to Wear in a Zombie Apocalypse Photos by Dave Kemp