Mary Younakof: 343 Dresses: The Chromatic Convergence Project

September 11 - October 26, 2014

reception: Thursday, September 11, 6pm - 9pm

343 Dresses: The Chromatic Convergence Project is an interactive art piece that uses color to explore and engage the sprawling Los Angeles metropolis. Central to this project is a dress design that the artist has created and made into 343 separate dresses, each a different color. The project is based on the number seven: the dress itself is comprised of seven pieces and the color palette is based upon seven colors; red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet (ROYGBIV). The 7 colors extend exponentially into 49 tones equating to a total 343 dresses.

While the central body of work in this project is the dresses, they only serve to activate a larger art project that includes video, photography, performance, sculpture, installation and interactive art. The performative aspect of this project was an ongoing process in which the artist wore a different dress each day over the course of 343 days. Each week Younakof performed in selected locations throughout Los Angeles that matched the color of the dress she was wearing that day. These happenings have been recorded and placed on the Internet for viewing. The project also made use of social networks to invite the public to virtually follow, view and interact with the project as it progressed.

Artist Information

Mary Younakof is a Los Angeles-based visual artist. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from California State University Los Angeles and a Masters of Fine Arts from Otis College of Art and Design. Her work has been shown in numerous locations around the world. 343 Dresses: The Chromatic Convergence Project has been featured in various publications including The Huffington Post, American Contemporary Art Magazine, and a feature in STIR Magazine by Sherwin-Williams.