“Freedom of Thought” is a self portrait by artist Victoria Gebert, a junior at Princeton High School.
PHS junior Victoria Gebert designed and built the above Cinderella dress from recyclable materials for an upcoming event at Cotsen Library. (Photo by Minjie Chen, Cotsen Children’s Library)
By Jessica Talarick
Once upon a time, a Princeton High School student created a gown fit for a princess out of trash bags and plastic forks.
Children will have the opportunity to make their own dresses using sustainable materials at a program hosted at Cotsen Children’s Library later this month.
The genesis of the idea for the event came when Dana Sheridan, Cotsen’s education and outreach coordinator, was staffing a booth at Princeton University’s Community and Staff Day last October and she spotted a work by a real life fairy godmother.
A model was walking around displaying a gown made of recycled materials that was created by Princeton High School junior Victoria Gebert.
Gebert, who was participating in the university’s Trash Artstravaganza contest, had designed and constructed two dresses for the competition, which challenges community members of all ages to create art with repurposed materials.
Upon meeting Gebert, Sheridan was determined to create a library program utilizing the young designer’s skills. Later that night, she thought Gebert’s ability to make something beautiful out of trash was similar to the Cinderella tale.
“It was the ultimate recycling story,” Sheridan said. Cinderella’s fairy godmother transformed pumpkins and mice into a dress and stage coach.
Sheridan asked Gebert if she could wave her magic wand and create a gown fit for Cinderella; the designer quickly accepted the challenge.
Sheridan and Gebert looked at several versions of the Cinderella tale for descriptions of the dress she wore to Prince Charming’s ball. They also drew inspiration from the Disney film, Cinderella. Gebert sketched some ideas and was ready to construct the dress.
Concerned with cleanliness, Sheridan decided Gebert should use new materials for the dress. The pair went to Crest Paper Products in Trenton to purchase materials.
Gebert used bubble wrap, trash can liners, straws, T-shirt bags, forks, blue lace print, a Styrofoam box and chicken wire to construct a ballgown for sustainable Cinderella.
Sheridan was overwhelmed by the final results. “When I went to pick up the dress, my eyes teared up,” Sheridan said.
The dress will be on display at the library’s Cinderella Story: Make a Princess Dress event. Gebert will be on hand at the program to offer advice and talk about her creative process.
“I never hesitate to work two-dimensionally, but my true loyalties lie with sculpture,” said Gebert in a statement on her website, victoriagebert.com.
“My first artistic endeavors involved pottery, but my work eventually became less traditional,” she said. “I began creating three-dimensional pieces using repurposed materials, which led to a series of sculptural gowns I formed using trash. My choice of medium may seem unappealing, but there is beauty to be found in the ordinary, and my artwork aspires to highlight this fact.”
Gebert said her interest in the arts was sparked 10 years ago when she started playing the cello. She currently performs with the Princeton High School Orchestra and Trinity Strings Outreach Orchestra.
“Four years ago, I discovered my love for the fine arts and have since been recognized for my artwork through commissions, exhibitions, and accolades,” she said.
At the event, participants will encounter tables of materials including trash can liners, tissue paper and second-hand costume jewelry. Like Gebert’s dress, Sheridan purchased new items to ensure cleanliness.
Using a template, dress makers will construct a bodice and petticoat. After building a stable foundation, they can deck out their dresses with decorations.
In addition to Gebert, students from the university’s Sustainable Fashion Initiative and Stella Art Club will be on hand to help participants add a creative flourish to their dresses.
Sheridan hopes children walk out of the library wearing their dresses they build from scratch.
“I really hope kids also gain a little bit of knowledge on what it’s like to construct something,” Sheridan said.
Cinderella Story: Make a Princess Dress is designed for children age 3 to 10.
The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon on April 5. Admission is free, but registration is required. Walk-ins will not be admitted.
More information is online at princeton.edu/cotsen.
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