Costumes, Squared

To say that the work of artist Nick Cave (no, not that Nick Cave) is singular doesn't quite do it justice, but his soundsuits, for which he is best known, are a sight to see. A dancer, sculptor, weaver and architect of three-dimensional wearable art, Cave fabricates human shells from...

By Susan Froyd

May 10, 2012

Audio By Carbonatix

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To say that the work of artist Nick Cave (no, not that Nick Cave) is singular doesn't quite do it justice, but his soundsuits, for which he is best known, are a sight to see. A dancer, sculptor, weaver and architect of three-dimensional wearable art, Cave fabricates human shells from found objects and other materials, which are then worn in public spaces, where the bodies that transport them shimmy and float around the room in what amounts to site-specific choreography. "Nick Cave's soundsuits are mesmerizing hybrids of art, sculpture and dance. Imagine carefully crafted sculptures in vibrant colors, made up of everything from foraged twigs to crocheted doilies and sandwich bags, that come to life through the movement of the human body," explains Sonnet Coggins, master teacher for modern and contemporary art at the Denver Art Museum, where Cave will deliver a Logan Lecture with visuals tonight. "Guests will learn how he creates sculptural costumes that have an amazing capacity to delight while sparking conversations about things like identity, community and creativity," adds Coggins.

Hear Cave speak in the DAM's Sharp Auditorium at 7 p.m.; admission is $8 to $18. For more information, www.denverartmuseum.org.
Wed., May 16, 7-10 p.m., 2012

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Susan Froyd started writing for Westword as the "Thrills" editor in 1992 and never quite left the fold. These days she still freelances for the paper in addition to walking her dogs, enjoying cheap ethnic food and reading voraciously. Sometimes she writes poetry.

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