Ornitho-Maia

From a desire to explore leather as a medium and push the materials boundaries, Ornitho-Maia, the bird mother was born.  As the name implies, she is the ethereal protector of the beautiful feathered creatures of our world.  With so many of our earth’s birds on the verge of extinction, I felt they needed a guardian, someone who would ensure the survival of nature’s birdsong for generations to come.  

This costume was entered in the internationally renowned Montana World of Wearable Art Awards in 2008 in New Zealand, (now known as the Brancott Estate Wearable Art Awards). Nadine Jaggi won the South Pacific Section and the Supreme Award.

Materials:

- Leather - wet molded, embossed, carved, hand dyed, copper foiled and hand sewn 

- Bronze buckles - designed and sculpted

- Steel rings