Art, controversy and photos from Wearable Art 2018

Updated | 2:00 p.m. Monday, Feb. 19, 2018

This year’s Wearable Art show featured more than 30 entries, including one controversial third place winner one attendee criticized as “yellowface.”

The first and second place winners of Wearable Art 2018 were “Siren” by KD Roope and “disMANTLE” by Lauralye Miko.

The People’s Choice award went to Kathleen Harper and Annie Szeliski’s “Phlight of the Phoenix.”

Beth Bolander’s “Doragon” won third place. Organizers decided to pull the entry out of the lineup for Sunday’s show after receiving complaints about cultural appropriation and racism. On Facebook, Christy NaMee Eriksen likened the entry, how her complaint was handled and the applause for “Dorgaon” to being punched in the face.

She started a letter-writing campaign demanding an apology.

On Sunday, the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council posted a letter saying it “deeply regrets the pain that running this piece has caused and disavows all forms of cultural appropriation.” The letter also solicited contact information for parties interested in a community dialogue about the issue.

KTOO’s Adelyn Baxter, Jeremy Hsieh and Tripp J Crouse contributed to this report. 

KTOO has an underwriting contract with the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council to broadcast Saturday’s Wearable Art show. Additionally, KTOO’s assistant general manager for arts and culture is a member of the JAHC board.

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