Chantal Stafford-Abbot and Hildie Gifstad / Photos by Felix Wong
Fashion and art have never been more intertwined, so it’s no surprise to see more and more models sharing their artistic sides. You may know Chantal Stafford-Abbot and Hildie Gifstad from countless editorials or catwalks but the pair are also gifted artists; Chantal is a photographer with years of experience and Hildie takes crochet into the realm of art with her distinctive patterns. This week the two join forces for their first gallery showing, Cherry Pop, an effusive art social that puts their creative talents on display. We caught up with the collaborators to discuss their art world debut and the inspirations behind their unique creations.
CHERRY POP is on view
November 14th
7 pm – 10 pm
at 103 Allen st, New York
Chantal, when did you first start taking photographs?
Chantal Stafford-Abbot: The first camera I started taking pictures with was a really low quality flip phone camera in high school. When I started traveling at 16 for work I bought myself a small pink digital camera that still lies in some box at my parents’ place. The idea of documenting appealed to me and I’d always been attracted to visual experiences. I started shooting film when I first came to NY about 5 years ago and got hooked. I love it.
Hildie, when did you first begin crocheting?
Hildie Gifstad: I have been knitting and crocheting as long as I can remember. I knitted my first sweater when I was 9 years old. Growing up with my grandmother’s doilies everywhere I found comfort and familiarity in crocheting, needlepoint and knitting. My passion for crocheting really sparked about three years ago while living in Paris. In the beginning I was making mostly dresses and tops but quickly got bored with following other people’s patterns. Creating my own patterns from images I see is challenging and keeps me interested.
How did you two begin come up with the idea for this collaboration?
We actually met about 4 years ago in a models apartment in London. Without knowing each other, we shared the same room for about a month and that was probably around the time that we truly moved into our respective art forms. It’s pretty amazing how we got to see each other grow, move to NY and explore our individualism. We’ve always been close ever since and have similar work ethic. It just seemed natural to take this next step together.
Where do you both draw inspiration for your artwork?
Chantal Stafford-Abbot: My photographs, focused on portraits, landscapes and still life explore a natural and organic side to beauty. I try to capture symmetry, youth and intriguing individuals in a unintrusive manner. I draw inspiration from the polarity of my childhood in the country to my current life which exposes me to travel, culture and a completely different world than the one I grew up in. My photography is in a way the documentation of this journey.
Hildie : My art consists of original handmade crochet pieces mounted onto canvas or paper. I use traditional crochet techniques in unconventional ways drawing inspiration from my Viking ancestry as well as the symbolism and spiritual meaning of the human body and skeletal structure. I play with the contrast of the old and traditional craft of crochet with the timeless but modern image of the human skull. I create each art piece stitch-by-stitch using a process that doesn’t involve technical flat-patterns.
How do you both think that working in fashion impacts your art?
Chantal: I think that working as a fashion model actually gave birth to my curiosity of creation. The fashion industry seems to have no rules and living my teen and young adult years in this world opened my eyes to such varying degrees of beauty. This line of work has exposed me to so many opportunities of visual pleasures. Being able to travel and live outside of my comfort zone has pushed me to see things in a new light.
Hildie: Working in this industry as a model gives one a constant feeling of “ hurry up and wait”. You repeatedly have to make decisions on time management and how to stay productive and creative in between jobs and castings. One could say my crocheting started as a literal “pass-time” but soon became my creative outlet, my obsession and in some form a meditation. It’s been a way for me to cope with the constant buzz in this business, that of which also surrounds me with intricate fabrics and delicate details to admire.
What can we expect from this exhibit?
Cherry Pop is an exhibition featuring both our work. Our debut show brings a two dimensional exposure to our varying crafts. This intimate pop-up event will build on the interesting experiences and perspectives that we both share as models and offer us a platform to expand our own unique identities as artists.
What’s next for the two of you?
We hope to continue our parallel growth together as artists but also to move further into our respective mediums. We like how we incorporated installation to our first show and hope to continue towards the idea of multiple dimensional crafts. Both of us have many upcoming projects, especially after “Cherry Pop”.
