Michael Hunter, who built a following in the Island art scene for mixing wearable art with more traditional art forms at his gallery PIKNIK Art and Apparel in the Oak Bluffs Arts District, has brought together seven out-of-the-ordinary artisans this week for Propaganda, an Invited Artisanal Expo, at his new Edgartown location.
Now called Mikel Hunter, his gallery and store also includes paintings and art by Dan VanLandingham, Lauren Coggins-Tuttle, and Terry Crimmen. The Expo runs through Thursday, August 14.
Seattle-based designer Seth Damm creates striking Neon Zinn necklaces out of organic cotton rope from Pennsylvania. After dyeing the rope, he ties and twists it into unique, one-of-a-kind shapes.
Joshua Benjamin Westbrook of The Brothers Crisp specializes in handmade shoes, some models of which have been designed especially for Mr. Hunter.
Hardenco is the trade name for Luke Davis’s Hartford Denim Co., which transforms blue jeans into idiosyncratic aesthetic statements. Mr. Davis grew up summers on Abel’s Hill in Chilmark.
Xavier Blum represents Artesano, an Ecuadoran collective that produces hand-made hats of Carludovica palmata. Known as Panama hats because they became popular in that country in the 19th century, these creations are Ecuadoran. Many models take months to create, and Artesano partners with the nonprofit organization Techno to fund workers in communities across 19 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean from a portion of the cost of each hat.
Located in the Oak Bluffs Arts District, Kenworthy Designs is displaying its clothes from Studioshop – Flowers and Fashion.
Laura Wass of WXYZ, who makes metal sculpture, headpieces, and leggings as well, has jewelry on view, as does Stash Style.
Mr. Hunter emphasizes that the artisans at his Expo are not normally found on the Island, and their goods provide examples of “real things not made in China.”
Propaganda: Invited Artisanal Expo, Mikel Hunter Gallery & Store, Edgartown. Show runs through August 14. For more information, visit mikelhunter.com.