Welcome to Delicious "Corsets For A Cure"

To view the entire online auction click here!

Delicious Corsets and Delicious Boutique are pleased to announce the "Corsets for a Cure" fundraiser.

Delicious Corsets, exquisite custom corset-makers, provided 18 corsets to be used as a blank canvas and invited both local and national artists to add their unique creative touch. On February 1, 2008 Delicious hosted the opening reception at Tower Investments Offices at 969 N. 2nd Street in Philadelphia to show off the "Corsets for a Cure".

Each piece will be auctioned off to benefit the Linda Creed Breast Cancer Foundation, a non-profit organization that specializes in breast cancer education, early detection and support. "The Linda Creed Breast Cancer Foundation is committed to promoting breast health, fostering the healing process and establishing a public agenda for prevention and cure. We accomplish this by offering access to mammograms and diagnostic tests, through education and outreach, by providing financial relief, and by driving an effective advocacy agenda."

"After recently finding out my friend Andrea Collins-Smith was diagnosed with IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer) I feel the need to act," says Amy McConnell, Delicious Corsets co-owner and event organizer. "I feel that with the help of some truly talented and generous artists the Delicious Corsets Family can raise money and awareness for this community." Please scroll down to read more about my friend Andrea.

To view the entire online auction click here!

The Auction is over, but there are still a few corsets available!
Unless they say "Sold!" you can still go to the auction site and buy them, the money will still be donated to the Linda Creed Breast Cancer Foundation as soon as we recieve your payment.

We want to thank everyone who bid on the corsets and everyone who helped to make this charity fundraiser a success!

	Carrie Ann Baade "Eye Watch"	Carrie is currently an Assistant Professor of Painting and Drawing at Florida State University accompanied by her polydactyl cat.	Sold!
	Sandra Benhaim "Stardust Memories"	InLiquid.com art/design network
	Bird and Monique Ligons "Vise Versa"	Tattoo Artist at Philadelphia Eddies Philadelphia based illustrator and annimator	Sold!
	Raymond Ercoli	Ercoli is the two-time winner of City Paper's "favorite designer" award. Professor, Art Institute of Philadelphia Professor, Philadelphia University	Sold!
	Heather Fenton "Survival"	Faculty, Charter High School for Architecture and Design, Philadelphia	Sold!
	Dave Glass	"Punk Pin Up Pop Artist"	Sold!
	Graham Groff and Eric Negron "Exorcist"	Special FX make-up artists	Sold!
	Karen Karuza "I Dreamt I was Frida Kahlo in my Delicious Corset"	Art Institute of Philadelphia Fashion Design Instructor & Adjunct professor at Moore College of Art and Design.	Sold!
	Jeff Kilpatrick "Fishtown Skyline"	Philadelphia Cartoonist Society, Meathaus, Children‘s Crisis Treatment Center, Carelift International, and a part-time teacher at North Catholic High School
	David Krys	"Bad taste was never this good!"
	Michele Melcher "Lets put Philly 'on the map'"	Philadelphia based illustrator and artist.	Sold!
	Sue Obaza "For 'Bobby'"	Portrait Artist	Sold!
	Paul Palcko "Support"	Angry Clown Circus art show, 2006. Clowntastrophe conspirator!
	PRIMER "Pangram"	PRIMER is a small boutique creative services agency. Founded in 2005 by Brian Isserman and Lawrence O'Toole
	Lynne Ritz "Life is short, eat desert first"	Industrial Designer
	The Other Woman "Do You Promise Not to Tell"	(a ladies art collective)
	Troy Timpel "Blue Dragon"	Veteran tattoo artist at Philadelphia Eddie's 621 S 4th St, Philadelphia Tattoo Arts Convention Tattooed Kingpin clothing and accessories	Sold!

Want to see the corsets in person in their home environment? Maybe try one on!
Come to Delicious Boutique!

An on site raffle was conducted at our opening reception directly benefiting the family of Andrea Collins-Smith.
We would like to thank the following people and companies for their generous contributions:

Eric LaRoche for the handpainted antique wood American Flag

Mathew Izzo Salon for the assorted scented candles

American Mortals Salon for the

The Wine School of Philadelphia for the Wine Class Gift Certificate

Sailor Jerry Store for the Rum Package

Traffic Skateboards for a Skateboard, deck, hoodie and cap.

MAC Cosmetics for the Complete makeover kit!

Tattooed Mom's for the gift certificate and clothing

Erin Rachel Handbags Couture for the unique handbags

Bob Bannon for the At Home Bar

Crash Bang Boom for the Dave Glass Clock

2nd Avenue Value Stores for the two Gift Certificates

Topstitch Boutique for the handknit Poncho and earings

Sub-Missionaries for the 8 Punk Rock T shirts

Think Music for the Stardust DVD

The Little Candy Shoppe for a Gift Basket

Delicious Boutique and Corseterie for a Gift Certificate

Feel free to contact us regarding
Questions, Sponsorships, or Raffle

Delicious Corsets would like to thank:
Matt Applebaum for our logo and catalog design
mtappleb@gmail.com
Duane Williams for photography
http://duaphoto.com/
Lynne Ritz for corset display design and fabrication,
And the window display for "Corsets for a Cure" at The Art Institute of Philadelphia
http://ritz-design.com/
Dan Leifield, Dean of Student Affairs and Carise Mitch, Public Relations Director
At The Art Institute of Philadelphia
and Brian Potash at Devilfish Ink for screen printing our linings.
267.226.8815 devilfishink@hotmail.com
Rachel Zimmerman and Chris Marano at InLiquid.com for their help, advice and auction site design!

We'd like to thank Tower Investments for providing a location for our opening reception!

Inspirations

Who is Andrea Collins Smith?
Andrea is a long time friend of Delicious Corsets. A dear friend and all around great person. A punk rock mommy with six awesome kids. Andrea has always been a joyful and easy going lady.
In May of 2007 Andrea was diagnosed with a rare aggressive breast cancer called Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC). At the young age of 37 Andrea was told that she was stage 4 and that the cancer had spread throughout her body. But as is typical of her she rose above the diagnosis, and has not only accepted her situation but she has used it as a platform to educate other women about this deadly cancer.
IBC as it turns out strikes very young women and often exhibits few symptoms. There are no identifiable lumps and it rarely shows up on mammograms. Instead symptoms are limited to swelling, redness,itching, and soreness of the breast. In Andrea's case it was initially diagnosed as a simple breast infection. Andrea's attitude about her illness is that she is here now and living one day at a time.No matter what she has faced, she has done so with grace and a wonderful sense of humor. Far from feeling bad for herself and asking "Why me?" Andrea has said she is at peace with this and knows that sometimes in life it is just "your turn".
At this time she has undergone chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, and radiation therapy. She still has cancer in her sternum. We hope that it will not spread and that she may enjoy many more years with us.
They have now found lesions on my t1 and t2 vertebrae. These were new. And likely the cause of my pain. There are 2cm. holes in the vertebrae at the base of my neck. My cancer is spreading. This is considered a recurrence. I hoped that there would be a nice long time after treatment in which I would have a “break” but no such luck. So since my last chemo on September 12th and my last scan on the 10th of October my cancer has spread. And now Andrea fears that it has spread to her collar bone.
If you wish to contribute financially to a fund for her children your generosity would be much appreciated. If you would like to read in her own words about the experience of having a terminal illness check out punkrockmommy.org. Thanks.

Donations for Andra Collins-Smith: please visit punkrockmommy.org to see upcomming fundraisers or to contact Andrea directly to see how you can help.

Lynne Ritz, Contributing Artist 3 times over!
Lynne is an Industrial Designer with a backround in Architecture and Mechanical Engineering. Lynne asked to add her artwork to one of our "Corsets for a Cure" at the last minute when another artist was unable to complete the corset. She is doing this in addition to designing and fabricating the 18 the display units which will accompany each completed corset. The Art Institute of Philadelphia has, after donating a large window to us for the month of January, commissioned Lynne to design the window display, which she is doing in her spare time!? We are very thankful to Lynne for all of her contributions to this fundraiser!

Carrie Ann Baade, Contributing Artist
Carrie Ann Baade is a painter who has exhibited coast to coast and internationally. The corset she designed was influenced by a portrait of Queen Elizabeth in which she is wearing a dress covered with eyes (and ears...however, the ears are not featured). This is a post apocalyptic, steam punk look with a rosary chain attached to a hand painted pocket watchcase containing an oil painting of an eye. This corset reflects Carrie's edgy and surreal painting style. She currently exhibits at Rosenfeld Gallery in Philadelphia and Billy Shire Fine Art in LA and her work is featured in the book "Metamorphosis: 50 Top Surrealist Painters." You can find more of her work and at www.carrieannbaade.com and www.myspace.com/carrieannbaade

Sandra Benhaim, Contributing Artist
Sandra Benhaim has exhibited her paintings widely and recently won awards at the Philadelphia Sketch Club and the Plastic Club (also in Philadelphia). She has always been deeply inspired by the beauty of nature. After working in a representational manner for many years, “little pieces of landscapes” began to mix with pure abstractions of color and texture. Recently, she has created purely abstract images expressing in unabashed and exuberant color her passion for nature.
How did I decide to become involved in this venture? First, I was surprised and intrigued by the name of Delicious Corsets and secondly, by the project itself. I thought that this fundraiser was very apt as well as a bit paradoxical-it was interesting that those who would be wearing these corsets most likely have not been personally affected by breast cancer. However, by bidding on and purchasing these corsets, the purchaser would be helping the cause.
I have three immediate family members who have been stricken with this devastating disease and it has left an indelible impression on our entire family. I was eager to help and contribute in this endeavor. The title “Stardust Memories” refers to remembrances of my mother, the first female in my family stricken with breast cancer. The imaginary substance called stardust is represented by the twinkling, silvery glitter that adorns the corset.

Bird, Contributing Artist
Michael Guidice, better know as "Bird", began harnessing his artistic technique at The Art Institute of Philadelphia, while studying a broad curriculum of Visual Communication. While fine art seemed appealing, Bird adopted a grassroots technique,with outdoor graffiti displays across the nation. He has traveled to place his work on display in various galleries, from Vancouver to Austin. His hometown of Philadelphia, serves as his living portfolio, with notable pieces at 13th and South Street, the notorious wall by 611 Records, on the 600 block of South 4th Street, and in "The Pool Room" at Thomas Jefferson Hospital to name a few. Bird is commission by Jinxed clothing, where his colorful illustrations are depicted in a custom clothing line. Currently, Bird can be found at Tattooed Eddies, where he tattoos his custom designs on the masses.

Graham Groff and Eric Negron, Contributing Artists
The piece that our master illustrator and myself have chosen is a corset based off of the EXORCIST film saga.
Our piece will feature an army of faces and moments
from the famous film series! We will also be adding some 3 demOnsional (lol) elements to the piece...
This is a one of a kind that any Horror fan would want
to have wrapped around their body.
Our head artist Eric Negron (E-Gore) will collaborate on this corset with Graham A. Groff (Doctor SpoOkenstien)

Heather Fenton, Contributing Artist
Heather is a working artist who resides in Philadelphia and works at the Charter High School for Architecture + Design in Philadelphia. She has produced and assisted on several murals through the Mural Arts in Philadelphia as well. Heather enjoys silkscreening on fabric and producing handbags and t-shirts from the fabric. Her work is sold occasionally through traveling craft shows. “Survival” is a piece produced solely for the “Corsets for a Cure” show, and addresses the concept of struggling through breast cancer. The image layers cameo brooch-style silhouettes of women over top of breast cancer cell structures. Threaded through the work are quotes and statistics based on breast cancer embroidered around the imagery. The overlying concept of the piece strives to pull the viewer in through its “windows” to women, further inviting the viewer to read the quote or statistic. The breast cancer cell structure is meant to repulse and attract the viewer simultaneously; as the nature of the illness strips the patient of critical, seemingly on the surface skin, fat, and tissue mass in order to remove it.

Karen Karuza, Contributing Artist
"I Dreamt I was Frida Kahlo in My Delicious Corset"
I have come to respect the Tehuanas- the women of the Istmo of Tehuantipec in Mexico's only matriarchal society. Their bright and beautiful costume was often worn by Frida Kahlo. Frida, although broken in body but never in spirit, spent much time in a plaster "corset" in hospital.
In honor of the centennial of Frida's birth, the strength and beauty of the Tehuanas and the amazing women who are breast cancer survivors, I decorate my corset- not as a device of confinement but as a means of support.

Jeff Kilpatrick, Contributing Artist
I was happy I was asked to contribute to this show, I was flattered, but nervous. I am a cartoonist, and not really a painter. Then when I got the actual corset, I was panicked. It is a really difficult surface to apply an image to. I wanted to do something that wasn't just a color pattern or something. I wanted to make something that spoke of who I was. So after some several drawing and erasing sessions, and some suggestions from my friend Roger, I chose a graphic silhouetted rendition of the place I was born and raised, my home - Fishtown.

David Krys, Contributing Artist
As an avid fan of roadside culture and pop-Americana, my designs reflect early influences of family road trips and travel. I am mostly inspired by 50's- and 60's-style architecture and design, as well as 30's and 40's deco style. From tiki bars and hot rod culture to diners and Route 66, the images of pop-culture have provided me with an endless source of inspiration and possiblilities within my work. Bringing the best of the past into the present and onward into the future.
"Bad taste was never this good!"

Monique Ligons, Contributing Artist
Monique Ligons began her career at Philadelphia’s University of the Arts in 1997, majoring in animation. Since graduating she has utilized her wide range of talents on many high profile projects such as character design for the “Mood Bot” viral campaign for Microsoft. Mural Painting in New Orleans. Rotoscoping on Richard Linklater’s “A Scanner Darkly”. Current projects include various pharmaceutical animations for Astra Zeneca and MedImmune as well as an active painting career with shows through out the country.

Michele Melcher, Contributing Artist
I thought that since Andrea Collins-Smith, the folks at Delicious and the Linda Creed Breast Cancer Foundation are all Philadelphia based, I would do my corset based on our city. I decided to do a street map of Philadelphia, but with an old world style/punk rock twist (with the punk rock being a shout out to Andrea) complete with ships and sea monsters in the Delaware. Lets put Philly "on the map" for raising awareness for breast cancer. Lets beat this disease. I hope that this fundraiser is a great success. Be well!

Susan Obaza, Contributing Artist
This project was done primarily in memory of my mother, Barbara Phillips, affectionately nicknamed by friends "Bobby". She died of Hodgkins' Disease in her early 40's, not seeing the art success I've had in my life that she helped nurture. I don't often think of her, but have been lately, struggling with my artistic direction and "what now?" questions. I'm at a crossroads and just did not know where or how to continue working as an artist. Something had to give. I was trained to be a tonalist painter using basic art methods and traditions, and have found like an old dress, that it no longer fits or looks good. I just ordered a stack of books on color theory. Meanwhile, the corset sat in a box untouched until I realized if I didn't start soon I wouldn't get it done in time. The only medium I could use that would dry in time and cover adequately that I had was acrylic paint, which I never use. I started painting and realized I found the marriage of medium and technique I was looking for. I need to work much harder to perfect it, but this is the start, I hope, of a long career as a colorist. Thanks, mom. (p.s. I also have a niece who had a double mastectomy before she was thirty, an aunt and a mother-in-law affected by breast cancer).

I hope the auction is a huge success!
Sue Obaza

Paul Palcko, Contributing Artist
Predominantly, I work in the traditional mediums of pencil drawings and oil paintings. I like to paint the human figure and I like to render people how they look. Friends, relatives, performers and my imagined characters become the iconography in my paintings.
For my Corsets for a Cure project, I decided to go back to my “angel” theme of previous years. The title of my corset piece is “Support”. The angel is embracing the wearer as if to protect them. Many people in our lives care about us, look after us, and help us when we need it. These friends are our everyday guardian angels. In the case of the Corsets for a Cure project, our work will be channeled through the Linda Creed Breast Cancer Foundation, and passed on to other friends that need help. These corsets represent many different forms of “Support”.

Contributing Artists Brian Isserman and Lawrence O'Toole of PRIMER
PRIMER was extremely happy and honored to be a part of the "Corset For A Cure" event. They say that most people's lives have been touched by breast cancer and we're no different. We are humbled by the heroes that fight this terrible disease. Our inspiration is the women we love and the ones we have lost. For this reason, we dedicate our corset to Teresa Dellaquilla.
PRIMER is a boutique design agency comprised of two local ne'erdowells - Brian Isserman and Lawrence O'Toole - who are known for their top-notch creative work and penchant for wearing black. We founded our agency in the spring of 2005 out of the necessity to leave our brutally boring corporate jobs, and have been purveying our brand of high design awesomeness ever since.
Our creative inspiration for the corset design comes from the fact that we are the only graphic artists representing our craft in this event. We wanted our corset to be unique and representative of what we do. Most designers see typography as art, not just letters on a page; as lines, swirls, shapes and colors. Our corset is designed using typographical "pangrams" - sentences or verses that use every letter of the alphabet at least once. This is a traditional way for a designer to see all of the letter forms in a type family. The sentences usually don't make much sense and have a different purpose than in this context, but the selected pangrams have particular words or letterforms that we found feminine and interesting. We like that, and hope you do as well. Thanks
Brian and Larry

The Other Woman is an art collective formed in November 2006 by four female artists in order to cultivate opportunities for group critiques, discussion forums and exhibitions.
Revealing the beauty and the sadness of the everyday is one of the unifying thematic elements of the collective. Personal experiences combine with elements drawn from the outside world to shape each individual’s vision. The collective provides an environment where each woman can approach art making in her own way that is unique, yet cohesive with the work of the group as a whole.
Please visit www.theotherwomancollective.com for more information on the collective, member’s portfolios and upcoming exhibition information.

Troy Timple, Contributing Artist
Troy Timpel has become one of the most prominent tattoo artists in Philadelphia. Troy is co-owner of Philadelphia Eddie’s Tattoo Haven, as well as founder of his own clothing/accessory line called Tattooed Kingpin, which he started in 1998. His tattoos, paintings, illustrations, and clothing have been featured in numerous magazines, galleries, documentaries, museums, television and exhibitions.