You could say that performance artist Joel Klaff has come full circle. When Klaff staged one of his first mock fashion show/media events in an offbeat art gallery, complete with a barrage of phony photographers, who would have guessed that five years later he would be doing the same thing for the wine-and-cheese crowd at the Chicago Historical Society?
The reception drew 536 people, mostly Historical Society members who were treated to a showing of Klaff`s latest collection and the unveiling of the cases that will hold his whimsical costumes until January.
Klaff, who assumes the persona of Guy Taylor, fashion designer/celebrity, playfully pokes fun at fashion, art, the media, contemporary society and the relationship among them by staging ”fashion events” in which audience members become participants.
His ”Fall Guy” suit is made of straw, the ”Man on the Move” jacket is constructed of U-Haul blankets and the Atlas sportswear collection includes a mannequin with a globe for a head. (Guy Taylor T-shirts and Atlas globe earrings are for sale in the society`s gift shop.)
”Prisoners of Fashion,” his latest collection, featured the suit Klaff was wearing and outfits worn by female models.
”We wanted something contemporary and completely different, and we got it,” said the show`s curator, Susan Samek, who watched the models walk up and down a staircase as songs such as ”This Guy`s In Love With You” played.
More Top Picks Best Fl 41 Glasses For Migraines
Meanwhile, Klaff was busy posing for photos. Only this time the photographers were legit.