Her entry for the Wearable Art Awards may be top secret for now.
But, last Friday, Port Moody resident and first-time competitor Shamin Zahabioun was allowed to reveal some scant details about her design into the Tri-Cities' most unique contest for artists.
The third-year visual arts student at Emily Carr University of Art + Design has putforwarda multi-media canvas forthe body, crafted out of painted paper and painting supplies.
It is called True Beauty "so people can see the beauty inside and out," she said, offering no more hints before this weekend's two galas at Port Moody city hall (100 Newport Dr.).
Hers is one of 54 submissions from across Canada, the U.S., Australia and New Zealand - also currently under wraps - chosen to be featured in the biennial Wearable Art Awards competition.
And for those whose artwork was accepted by the jury, there's good money to be had for the winners, who will be named Sunday.
The winner of Best in Show gets $1,000, courtesy of Pacific Coast Terminals Ltd.; the same sum will be doled out to the winner of the People's Choice prize, sponsored by Pasta Polo.
Another $750 will go to the top student entry (Zahabioun's category) while $4,750 will be split between the winners who make best use of light, recycling, nature and off-beat materials.
Those four classes will be juried by former PoMo mayor David Driscoll, businessman Fred Soofi and curator/art historian Hilary Letwin.
The Best in Show and student accolades will be handed out following Sunday night's performance while People's Choice will be announced on April 16, after a five-week exhibit of the 54 designs at the Port Moody Arts Centre (PMAC), which is hosting Wearable Art Awards; during the display, from Feb. 26 to April 2, the public will be able to vote on their favourite entry in a secret ballot.
Salomeh Honarmand, the awards event co-ordinator, said the 2015 event will have a twist at the Saturday performance.
With the aim to give the business community a boost and get them involved in the gala, the committee called on realtors to design a "wearable" sandwich board to advertise their services.
And those who took up the Realtors' Challenge were: John Grasty (Prudential Sterling Realty); Jessica Prasad and Joanne Scott (Re/Max Sabre Realty); and Leo Bruneau (Re/Max All Points Realty).
Kelly Doyle, PMAC's fund development co-ordinator, said each sandwich board will be assessed for best use of materials and the one with the most audience applause will win the challenge. "It's a fun way to support our local business people," Doyle said.
Meanwhile, besides the awards, the Sunday show will also include Ballet Bloch Canada dancers on the catwalk to highlight the latest collection by three-time Wearable Arts winner Fariba Mirzaie of Studio Gabbeh.
Her Nothing Collection has been carefully stitched together using only thread and fine strands of newspaper.
As for Zahabioun, she's grateful to be included in one of the most highly anticipated art displays of the year in the Tri-Cities.
"It's a great event that gives me the opportunity to expand and explore myself in a social context," she said. "Artists are very lonely people because they have to be alone to create but this bring us our community closer together to celebrate creativity in a very positive way."
jwarren@tricitynews.com
@jwarrenTC
