Science Meets Fashion: Ventana Gallery event includes wearable art and chef-curated experiences

Each year, Roche Tissue Diagnostics and Art State Arizona, formerly SAACA, partner to present three rotating exhibitions in Roche’s Ventana Gallery in Oro Valley. This year, they are putting on a special “Echoes of Innovation” wearable art exhibit, along with chef-curated experiences and a runway show. 

The runway show and culinary experiences will take place on Thursday, Sept. 25. During this evening, guests get an exclusive first look at wearable art pieces created by local artists. 

The exhibit will be on display through mid-January. 

Those who are interested in seeing the designs can book private tours by calling 520-797-3959 or emailing eric@saaca.org. 

Proceeds from the special event will help to support Art State Arizona, a nonprofit organization which offers artist commissions, mentorship opportunities and community arts programming. 

The event fits in with the organization’s mission of integrating the arts into different sectors, including healthcare, business and education. 

Amanda Staples, artistic programs manager for Art State Arizona, said the fashion show and exhibit pay tribute to Roche Tissue Diagnostics’ work. 

“Roche Tissue Diagnostics is a global leader in cancer instrumentation and diagnostic tools. We’re celebrating their 40th anniversary with this exhibition. Thomas Grogan is the founder. Roche used to be called Ventana Medical Systems before they got bought out by Roche… We’re happy to have him and celebrate how far Roche has come as being one of the largest employers in the area and a global, recognized leader in their industry,” Staples said 

Staples said each year, one exhibit is mission-based and highlights Roche’s work. 

“We are bringing more awareness to early cancer screenings, the beauty in the tissue stains, as well as the advancements in technology that they have brought forward,” Staples said. 

Staples said during the upcoming event, designers and culinary artists will be highlighting the merging of art and science. 

“It was a challenge for the community to put forward some really interesting pieces and to really highlight the innovation that can happen when blending the two mediums together,” Staples said. 

The pieces in the exhibition, designed by regional and national designers, are themed around cancer research imagery. 

Art State Arizona also held a free community art class their Catalyst Creative Collective space, where community members could develop their own fashion pieces. 

“We provided all the clothing, blank canvases for community to come in and create works that will be featured in the show. Half of the work is juried pieces, and then the other half is the community art-making,” Staples said. “We’re providing free opportunities for the community to be artists and to have their pieces shown in galleries. They may not have had that opportunity before.” 

There will be over 120 pieces, by more than 80 makers, within the exhibition. 

Artists created different types of fashions and accessories, including dresses, jewelry, handbags, hats and shoes. 

“We have felted works. We have marbled works. We have quilted works, crocheted, jewelry. It’s really all across the board,” Staples said. 

Art State Arizona will award first, second, third and honorable mention prizes in clothing and accessory categories. 

They will not collect commissions from artists featured in the exhibit, which means artists keep 100 percent of the proceeds from sales of their work. 

The runway show will feature original designs from students from the University of Arizona, Pima Community College and the Sonoran Stitch Factory, along with pieces from the Vessel Project, MakeFashion Edu and Hem and Her. 

They will be working with models of different backgrounds and ages. 

“It’s really cool to see an intergenerational display of makers and models really take this theme of histology to different perspectives and ways of using the materials,” Staples said. 

Staples said that the looks are all very different. 

“There are those that are very innovative in the silhouette that they use. Some have artsy and more experimental approaches to materials, to the looks that the models will have. From head to toe, from how the hair is going to be decorated, the shoes, the makeup, the accessories, there’s so much attention to detail from each model and maker,” Staples said.  

Local chefs are designing culinary experiences of small plates, grazing installations and tasting tables. 

Foods will be paired with complementary cocktails.  

Dishes and cocktails were inspired by the concept of histology, which involves the study of cells and tissues on a microscopic level. 

The menu will include seared lamb, beef carpaccio, shrimp ceviche, “Everything” Lox Sushi, watermelon pesto canapés and cornmilk tres leches bites. 

Throughout the evening, there will be live music from the pop/classical duo Dos Sueños, harpist Rebecca Foreman and violinist Nick Coventry. 

Echoes of Innovation Wearable Art Exhibition, Culinary Experience and Runway Show

WHEN: 5-7:30 p.m. Thursday, September 25 

WHERE:Ventana Gallery at Roche Tissue Diagnostics, 1910 E Innovation Park Drive, Oro Valley 

COST: $75 

INFO: saaca.org