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Happenings in the Keweenaw Peninsula September 26, 2002 Text © 2002 Michele Anderson and Finlandia University International School of Art and Design Press Release. Photos © 2001 and 2002 Michele Anderson and © 2002 Karin Emond.

Calumet Theatre to host Historic Fashion Show and dance Sept. 29 

CALUMET -- The Finlandia University Fiber Design Senior Fashion Show by Becky Weeks, artist and seamstress, will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29, in the Calumet Theatre. A celebration dance will follow in the Theatre Ballroom.

Becky Weeks -- artist, seamstress and Finlandia University senior design student -- models an 1867  dress of her own creation in her garden in Hancock. She is holding a drop spindle she used in teaching a spinning class at the Ramblin' Rose Arts Center in Mohawk during the 2001 Keweenaw Arts Alive/Traditions program. (2001 File photo by Michele Anderson)

Known locally for her Heikinpäivä and Kalevala costumes, Becky also is noted for her historical and original garment designs. As a student of the Finlandia University International School of Art and Design she studied fashion at the Kuopio Academy of Design in Kuopio, Finland, during the fall semester of 2000. Becky has also taught classes in historic costume techniques, hat making, spinning, weaving and natural dyeing through the Keweenaw Arts Alive/Traditions Program at the Ramblin' Rose Arts Center in Mohawk.

Becky will narrate the event, giving her own view of the history of fashion from its pre-historic roots to present-day Copper Country. The Fashion Show will include 28 high school and college students and other community members, who will model more than 40 of Becky's designs. 

Becky Weeks created the costume of Louhi, the gap-toothed hag of Pohjola from the Kalevala, worn here by Melvin Kangas, music professor at Finlandia University, during the 2002 Heikinpäivä parade. Kangas will model the Louhi costume at Becky Weeks' Finlandia University Fiber Design Senior Fashion Show at the Calumet Theatre Sunday, Sept. 29. (Photo © 2002 Karin Emond. Reprinted with permission.)

"Don't miss this rare event," said Phyllis Fredendall, Finlandia Fiber Design instructor. "Becky is an outstanding designer and also has a great sense of humor! This is a wide range of costumes and historical garments with Becky's contemporary flare."

Following the fashion show, the Theatre Ballroom will be the scene of live Finnish music and dance, including popular jankas (Finnish polkas), waltzes, schottisches and a tango or two -- played by musicians Helmer Toyras of Aura, John Perona of Calumet, Wil Kilpela of Marquette and Ken Holster of Cornell.

Said Becky, "I hope it will be a lot of fun for the whole community."

While at Finlandia Becky has concentrated on the surface design techniques of printing and dyeing. Her images are drawn from nature. Lilacs, maple leaves, feathers, animal patterns and spinning galaxies will all be seen on stage and at the dance for closer viewing.

With a focus on environmentally responsible textiles and dyes, Becky uses Fox Fibre, organic cotton, hemp and natural dyes to produce her designs. While in Finland she studied millinery arts, learned new machine embroidery techniques  and deepened her skills in the couture traditions of draping and flat pattern design.

Her diploma works research began with the construction and details of garments from the 1820s and 30s. Becky's understanding of and interest in the sewing techniques of the 1800s can be traced to her training as a costume interpreter at a Lincoln site near Springfield, Illinois. At that time she was an international folk dancer and learned ethnic costume design as well.

An admission of $8, which includes both the fashion show and dance, will be charged at the door. Refreshments will be served in the ballroom. For more information call Becky at 482-2372 or Phyllis at 487-7376.

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