Photos of models for the live art exhibit “Art of a Woman,” by Charles Garratt of Staunton, will be featured in a slide show at OASIS Gallery on March 5. Courtesy Photo by Charles Garratt

Forget about the plastic mannequins that typically occupy storefront windows. Soon, folks window-shopping along South Main Street will be able to enjoy a little theater, right from the sidewalk.

On Friday, March 5, eight women will take turns posing silently in front of four giant frames in the front window of OASIS Gallery, on the corner of Main and Water streets.

They’ll be hard to miss.

All eight women will be covered head to toe with everything from buffalo leather and moss to seeds, feathers, plants, body paint and theater makeup — all inspired by different ideas such as “Beginning to Bloom” and “Birds of a Feather.”

The models are different ages, heights and builds, which “highlights the truth that women, in all our diversity, are works of art,” said Carmen Rose, 41, of Staunton, who created the window exhibit. “Each one of these characters exhibits what it means to be female.

“There are millions of dollars in marketing focused on women with the single message, ‘You are not beautiful now, but you could be if you (fill in the blank),’ ” Rose said. “Each unique woman is a work of art in her own right. We are an expression of God’s creativity and workmanship.”

The Event
The performance, called “Art of a Woman,” will be held at 6:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. and is meant to draw attention to the new OASIS art exhibit, which opens the same night.

That 16-artist exhibit, called “Celebrating Womanhood In All Its Glory,” will run through April. According to a release, the exhibit tackles the question, “What does it mean to be a woman?” and includes paintings, baskets, glass, photography, jewelry and fiber arts that “celebrate womanhood.”

In addition to the two window performances, the models will mingle with visitors during the reception, Rose said. They will also be featured in a slide show from a photo shoot by Charles Garratt of Staunton.

Then, at 5:45 p.m., a small group of artists — Barbara Gautcher, Judith N. Ligon and Deb Booth — will share their thoughts about how womanhood influences their art.

The exhibit is part of the “Minds Wide Open” project, an initiative labeled “the first statewide celebration of women in the arts.”

The Performance
Putting the show together wasn’t easy.

During the last few months, Rose, the models and photographer spent three to five hours creating each costume.

Dressed as a sunflower, one woman will model the concept “Beginning to Bloom.” For her costume, Rose glued “way too many” sunflower seeds to the woman’s skin.
“She was so patient with me,” Rose said. “She was pretty sacrificial for the sake of some really cool pictures.”

Covered with peacock and guinea feathers, two teenagers will model “Birds of a Feather.”

To model “Growing,” one woman wore a green gown covered with moss, leaves, twigs and ivy.

“I never quite outgrew playing dress up,” said Rose, who is also the OASIS exhibit chair.

Rose hand dyed many of the fabrics, made the costumes and designed the jewelry and headgear. Ginger Ferrell of Warm Springs designed the set.

“For me, it’s the process I get really excited about,” Rose said.

Contact Heather Bowser at heather@rocktownmail.com