Opening and Opening Loops | Donald

Opening & Opening Loops (Donald)

Kevin Brown and Sophie Ana Paris

Donald is an active man who enjoys rock-climbing, despite having had both legs amputated at age 24, one right below the knee and one halfway down his shin. He dances with the Heidi Latsky Dance Company, where his unique style of dance, which incorperates his wheelchair and tricks with it, can be showcased. He has learned to embrace his new body as an amputee by taking on the challenge of new activities, especially dance. Opening and Opening Loops was created for Donald to wear as part of the On Display performance, an interactive fashion show and dance performance. 

The wearable's design was based on Donald's general feeling of always being open and exposed because of his asymmetrical amputation. The wearable consists of styrene strips attached with 3D-printed pieces to many sashes around his torso. The strips originate from the same place on one side and fan out on the opposite side, as a way to represent the asymmetry of his legs. The strips expand when he bends his knee; however even when they are contracted, they remain partially expanded and open to represent Donald’s feelings of vulnerability and being exposed.