Transcultural Bonding Within Clothing (Etar)
“The ancient cultures hold a truth and persistency that survive over time and ignite change. To me, without this ancient inspiration, my work is not possible.”
Carbondale Arts presents a new solo exhibition with fashion designs by Etar, opening on Thursday, September 12, from 6-8pm at the R2 Gallery located inside The Launchpad, at 76 S 4th Street in Carbondale. A member and gallery patron preview will take place at 5:30pm, and will include a short art talk before the public reception at 6pm.
Etar is an established and well-known fashion designer and seamstress in the Roaring Fork Valley. Her solo exhibition will be a transcultural journey through fabric, highlighting her experiences working with locals in Peru, Bolivia, Uzbekistan, Dubai, and many parts of Europe as well. Etar has lived and worked in Aspen for over 30 years and created unique, high-end clothing for many dedicated clients.
Etar feels that it is the aesthetic expression of her practice that ties and binds us as humans. We are bound together by the medium of artful, serious clothing. Over the years, Etar’s art has evolved to reflect the state of her soul and mirror her belief in the value of heritage and truth. Her dedication revitalizes and nurtures the spirit of art and is a constant affirmation of her own ancient transcultural way of life.
This exhibition opens the same evening as “Jack Brendlinger: Retrospective”. Both shows will be on display at the R2 Gallery through October 4, 2019.
Etar
Fashion designer, Carbondale, CO
Etar, clothing artist from Aspen, CO, integrates cultural worldviews and traditional skills into her art. She thinks of herself as a simple person, motivated by respect for her ancient Jewish heritage of 3000 years. Her roots stem from Russia on her father’s side, to Romania and Uzbekistan (Central Asia) on her mother’s side.
As a child in New York, Etar grew up working in her father’s millinery factory. She was trained under his designer, Anita Staark of Switzerland. She also attended the National Academy of Fine Art and Design as well as the Fashion Institute of Technology. She opened her clothing company, Joshua’s Workshop, named after her son. This label won her, along with Liz Clairborne and Leo Narducci, the 1967 Young Designer Award in Washington D.C.
Etar opened ateliers in South Hampton, NY and Palm Beach, FL, and in 1984 she moved to Aspen, CO. From here she traveled to Peru, Bolivia, and Uzbekistan. Working alongside artisans of different cultures and building relationships over many years, Etar enabled the preservation of traditional skills, while transcending cultural boundaries with the art of clothing.
Etar continues to create out of her home in Carbondale, CO where she is still inspired by the people and their traditions from her travels.