Material Inspiration: The Mundane to the Fantastic, Clothing by SU Student Designers, is sponsered by the Art Department, with Professor Steve Dolbin as guest curator. The exhibit highlights the creative talents of students in the three-dimensional art class, who are given the task of constructing a wearable garment out of materials and items not usually associated with clothing.

Professor Dolbin explains: "The work on view demonstrates the execution of a three dimensional design problem, but most importantly it is the tangible evidence of a profound journey of exploration on behalf of the student artists themselves. Truly, this show speaks elegantly of human thought in the design process and reveals examples of inspiration to us. As a teacher and curator, I feel overwhelmingly that whether with a traditional academic approach or a non-objective conceptual approach, the work must always transcend description only. It must go beyond merely replicating something that already exists. The work must combine the source inspiration, the artist's concept and the chance and control of the process. The object or project should possess a presence and be able to engage the viewer and hold you in aesthetic arrest. Ultimately, the work should not only inform but transform those who see it as well as those who create it. Art and design make the unseen visible, whether that be the imagination or a glimpse of the divine."

The director of the Fashion Archives and Museum, Dr. Karin J. Bohleke, adds that this collaborative exhibit will truly impress the viewers: "Shippensburg University students were creating stunning and innovative items long before the television show Project Runway popularized the idea of a garment made from items found in grocery and hardware stores. Anyone who loves modern and cutting-edge fashion will appreciate these avant-garde designs."