JERSEY CITY, NJ.-As part of the museum’s Sunday Sampler series, Jersey City Museum and _gaia are pleased to present “Threads” Wearable Art Fashion Show on Sunday, February 24th, 2008. The event, which is free and open to the public, will highlight the work of 20 artists and designers who are combining non-traditional materials and/or technology to create wearable designs.

An artist talk at 1pm will feature Despina Papadopoulos, an interactive designer and director of Studio 5050 (www.5050ltd.com) who specializes in developing concepts and inventing applications for wearable computing. Her work has appeared in museums and galleries around the world, and is featured in many publications and magazines. She will be joined by Nora Abousteit and Benedikta von Karaisl, the founders of burdastyle.com. The website they created is a destination for sharing clothing patterns, step-by-step fashion making instructions, a passionate do-it-yourself community and even a wiki called ‘Sewpedia’ for all things related to fabrics and fashions.

In a runway show at 2pm, “Threads” will showcase the work of a diverse group of artists and designers incorporating various media including painting, physical computing technologies, crochet, sculpture, textile, video, and performance into their wearable designs. Some of the projects featured are: a portable mobile telephone booth, an integrated system of shoes and online services for the safety of sex workers, user powered illuminated jewelry, a death shroud, and everyday life vests. Artists and designers featured in the show are LoVid, Christina Mancuso, Johana Moscoso, Jenny Chowdhury, Julie Blanciak, Kate Hartman, Juliana Cope, Gwen Charles, Pollie Barden, Geraldine Juarez, Norene Leddy, Gailene McGhee St.Amand, Zawadi, Giana Gonzalez, Sonali Sridhar, Danielle Fotopoulos, Stephanie Tichenor, James Tichenor and Amanda Mayoff.

Following the runway show will be a reception with light refreshments, wine, and a live performance of “I Just Can’t Get Enough” by Carol Pereira and Jonah Olsen. Both performers enact the concept of attempting to become one person from two. Carol Pereira's videos are currently being screened at Jersey City Museum. She studied at Cooper Union and at Yale and has worked with groups of participants to organize performances that explore the natural environment, physical space, and the body.

_gaia is a collective of women, for women, for the making of textiles, clothing, printmaking, painting, architecture, music, film, photography, science, performance, writing, environmental, social and political activism: all things which color the lives of the women involved. We actively promote and support the work of local women artists while developing programming to reach out to and help emerging artists in need of studio space, facilities and resources. In our pursuit of awareness we also concentrate on activism, from issues in the local community to global issues affecting the lives of women. More information about _gaia can be found at www.gaiastudio.org.

Founded in 1901, the Jersey City Museum is the major presenter of contemporary art serving the people of Jersey City, Hudson County and the region. The museum organizes many group and solo exhibitions every year, featuring works by culturally diverse, contemporary artists and from its 10,000-piece collection of regional significant art and historical objects. Through exhibitions, educational initiatives and programs, the museum welcomes over 25,000 visitors each year, including 11,000 school-aged children and youth.

Jersey City Museum’s gallery hours are Wednesday and Friday from 11am to 5pm, Thursday from 11am to 8pm and weekends from 12pm to 5pm. Admission is $4 for adults, $2 for seniors and students, and free for children under 12 and museum members. Admission is free for all on Thursday evenings from 5 to 8pm. Jersey City Museum is located at 350 Montgomery Street at Monmouth in the Historic Downtown District of Jersey City, within walking distance of the Grove Street PATH and Jersey Avenue Light Rail stations. For more information, visit www.jerseycitymuseum.org or call 201-413-0303.