Bra art: Glenda King and Robyn Hickman show off their decorated bras. Picture: Rob Carew.
WHAT they might lack in practicality, bras decorated by local folk artists make up in visual impact.
The Society of Folk & Decorative Artists' Association of Victoria invited members to decorate padded bras for the Melbourne Craft and Sewing Show this weekend.
Based on an American concept, the bras will be on display for the duration of the show to purchase and, for a gold coin donation to the McGrath Foundation, patrons can vote for their favourite design.
The association's treasurer, Glenda King of Ferntree Gully, says she will have two "cheeky" bras on display. Her first is decorated with rosebuds — a fairly traditional design, but also a cheeky play on the female anatomy, she says.
The other, "Boom-titty", pays homage to a popular saying. "Boom-titty features a bomb explosion on one cup and the other a little blue bird. The explosion is a mass of colour such as orange, red, and yellow in various shades," Mrs King said.
Mrs King owned a craft shop in Ferntree Gully for 10 years but admits to never being particularly crafty. The shop employed artists and craftspeople to run a variety of classes, but the only one Mrs King felt compelled to join in was painting.
It ignited her passion for art. And for 10 years — despite closing the shop — she continued to immerse herself in her passions of painting and folk art, an ill-defined field that originated in Europe.
Over the years, it's become more about decorative painting and Mrs King said there was a funny saying about folk artists: "If you stand still long enough, a folk artist will paint you."
There are about 80 members of the folk artists' association, many from the outer eastern suburbs but there were more than 200 at their peak.
Mrs King said she enjoyed taking time out of her busy schedule to have some "quiet time" with her fellow folk artists.
The Melbourne Craft & Sewing Show begins at Caulfield racecourse tomorrow and runs until this Sunday. Details: fdaav.com.au.