This past summer, I had the privilege and honour of being able to attend the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit in Montreal!  All of his iconic creations and statements through fashion were in front of me….a veritable feast for my eyes!  Around every corner there was a new piece that evoked gasps, heart racing and extreme emotional response from me.  Some of the very pieces I had seen in magazines and on televised runway shows were right there in front of me!  I was able to lean in and examine every stitch, every bead, every feather, every painstaking detail so close that my hands itched to reach out and complete my experience by touching….which I, of course, would never have the disrespect or dishonour to do. I couldn’t even allow myself to take photos of the exhibit because….well, it just felt “wrong” somehow to me.

I could never have thought in all my wildest dreams that I would ever get to have this amazing and up close look at such genius and  no boundaries approach to fashion as an artform.  I am forever changed and affected by this experience.

Jean Paul Gautier has always been a hero and role model to me.  He is on my list as one of my forever favourite designers.  He knows no limits, breaks all kinds of “rules” where beauty and gender are concerned, seeks inspiration from the street and culture and does not know the meaning of the word “no”. My kind of people.

I have included but a few of the highlights from the exhibit and I encourage you to discover more about him and his life’s work to date.

I will forever remember the day when I heard the news that Alexander McQueen had killed himself.  I was at the ironing station in school and froze as someone told us the news in class.  It was a huge shock, followed by disbelief and then huge sadness.  He was, and remains, one of my all time favourite fashion designers and artists.

Alexander McQueen was a genius with unmatchable creative and rebel spirit. His work was fierce, fearless and inspiring to me like no other.  He will be forever missed by me and the world of fashion now has a void that will exist forever.  My heart cries and emotions overwhelm me whenever I think of it.

His assistant and now successor, Sarah Burton, has done an amazing job at keeping him and his work alive through her own creations and endeavours.  The McQueen collections since his death have been brilliant and he is, I’m sure, proud and yelling “fuckin’ A” at the top of his lungs wherever he is.  His past work and the work currently being done under and in honour of his name will continue to serve as inspiration and example to me in my creativity and growth as an artist.

There was obviously a very troubled and alone part of him that no one knew or saw and I hope that, wherever he is, he has found some form of peace.