We use clothing to cover our bodies and express our personal style, but our closets are also full of stories about ourselves and others.

That’s the idea behind a summer art workshop at Wichita State taught by Vladimir Ramos, a Peruvian artist and educator, and Dr. Lori Santos, associate professor of art education. 

“In the life of a piece of clothing, there are multiple miniature stories we don’t usually pay attention to,” Ramos said. “We asked students to use their piece of clothing to reflect on a personal narrative. Once it’s turned into an art object, it allows others to connect with that story.”

The resulting student work is part of “From Lima to Wichita: Intercultural Dialogues in Clothing & Paint,” an exhibition at ShiftSpace, WSU’s student-run gallery. An opening reception will take place from 6–9 p.m. July 2 as part of Wichita’s First Friday gallery crawl. A representative from the Peruvian consulate in Dallas will be present to present a Peruvian flag to WSU.

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