Otis and Mattel partnered in a unique creative collaboration among students from five different creative disciplines to celebrate Malibu, CA's most fashionable resident, Barbie ®, as she renovates her new home. The show entitled "Barbie's Housewarming Party" hosted by Santa Monica Place in Santa Monica, CA, featured student work.
Barbie's Housewarming Party will feature work by students including:
- Fabulous swimsuits and cover-ups (Fashion Design);
- Chic interior accents and furnishings (Product Design);
- One-of-a-kind paintings (Fine Arts);
- State-of-the-art fitness center (Toy Design); and
- Short films about Barbie's influence and impact on art and design (Liberal Arts and Sciences)
"Otis students have collaborated with some of the most well-known designers and artists," said Rosemary Brantley, Chair of Otis' Fashion Design program, "Barbie was the perfect mentor. She's sophisticated, a world-traveler, and the ultimate fashionista." Rod Beattie, America's premier swimsuit designer also lent his expertise to the project.
Natasha Carovska, a first-year student examined Barbie's cultural impact and commented on deeper lessons learned for her Liberal Arts and Sciences class. "With Barbie, we find that she is teaching the young girls of the future to grow up and follow your dreams. Barbie was really a breakthrough. An African American Barbie doll emerged in 1968 when the civil rights movement was happening. In 1965 she was an astronaut, the same year the US was pushing space exploration, and in 2000 Barbie was a presidential candidate. Barbie has had every single career under her pink belt as if to say, 'Hey, yeah. I'm a girl. I can do anything and in heels, too!'"
Visit Barbie on Facebook (Facebook.com/Barbie) or www.BarbieMedia.com.
Download Barbie's Housewarming Party Invite (PDF)
Exhibition Location
Santa Monica Place
395 Santa Monica Blvd., Level 2 near Nordstrom
Santa Monica, CA 90401
