On the final evening of February, House of GOCA: Psychedelic Garden dazzled the Ent Center for the Arts, infusing the space with whimsy, magic and an explosion of color. The groundbreaking event marked the inaugural wearable arts show on the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) campus – an electrifying fusion of fashion and fine art.
A first-of-its-kind spectacle, the avant-garde fashion and wearable arts show was the brainchild of Dr. Joy Armstrong, Director of the Gallery of Contemporary Art at UCCS.
“I have always been interested in the myriad ways we adorn our bodies, from more permanent modifications to daily sartorial choices,” Armstrong told the Bulletin. “Fashion is possibly the most ubiquitous means of self-expression, an artform that allows us to celebrate our unique identities. We hope that this event will encourage visual artists to think expansively about how their work might transition onto the human form and for party goers to let loose and show off in a way that Colorado Springs rarely makes space for.”
The show drew inspiration from Psycullescence, the ethereal work of Patrick Shearn of Poetic Kinetics, currently on display at GOCA’s Marie Walsh Sharpe Gallery. Each of the nine featured artists and design teams was challenged to craft a collection that embodied the spirit of Shearn’s mesmerizing creations, resulting in a night of bold imagination and breathtaking artistry.
Bright colors, flowing movement, and intriguing shapes fill the Marie Walsh Sharpe Gallery, with each collection adorning the runway seamlessly fitting into Shearn’s artistic vision.
“Of the nine artists and artist teams selected to participate this year, no two are even remotely alike in their interpretations of the theme. We will be showcasing glam couture, elegant gowns, and trippy street wear, including elements of performance, nontraditional materials, cultural celebration, and sculptural forms that will keep our guests guessing until the very end,” Armstrong said ahead of the event.
The night of the show, the venue was alive with vibrant colors and sounds. Above the audience, intricate fabric roots intertwined in a mesh of entanglement, while guests – many dressed in theme – filled the seats surrounding the runway.
“What if you fell into a microscope, landed in a petri dish, and you were really that small?” Psycullescence artist Patrick Shearn mused during the event’s opening remarks. “And it transported you to a place where magic can happen – where whimsy and play reign. That’s what life should be.”
Hosting the event were Josh and John Franklin, owners of the downtown bar ICONS, who brought the high-energy flair fitting for a night of artistic flamboyance.
A place where magic can happen – where whimsy and play reign. That’s what life should be. Patrick Shearn
“Think of us as the grumpy gay Muppets in the balcony this evening,” one quipped to the crowd as the first collection prepared to hit the runway.
One by one, each collection graced the stage, with models pausing mid-stride to pose, the audience eagerly soaking in every detail of the intricate garments embodying the event’s theme.
Colorado Springs designer Aaron Graves, who has been showcasing his work in the area for nearly 20 years, went all out with his collection, Awake in a Dream (AKA Midnight Voyage). A dreamy display of models, appearing as though they had stepped straight out of a Pink Floyd poster, floated down the runway in sleek, ethereal, evening gowns. Barefoot and poised, they carried an air of otherworldly elegance.
Graves, who spent three months crafting his designs, described his collection as a playful exploration of counterculture motifs from the late 1960s and early 1970s.
“Since this show is so off the wall, I took an interesting approach with the evening gowns. They’re very ornamental and theatrical. The main decorative pieces can actually be removed, transforming them into wearable evening wear,” Graves explained.
“I’ve woven in graphic prints and art inspired by the 1960s-motifs not just seen in clothing but also in poster art. I designed the prints myself and sewed them directly into the dresses,” he added.
Karla Palma of K. Palma Design took the Burgess Fund House of GOCA Award with her Midnight Magic collection. A mesmerizing fusion of evening wear and abstract artistry, the line featured dazzling sequin patterns and iridescent mesh veils, evoking the surreal aesthetic of a Y2K dream. With their wide, expressive eyes and angelic presence, the models embodied a fully realized psychedelic fantasy.
Palma, who launched her clothing brand after a brief hiatus following her 2016 graduation from the University of Colorado with a design degree, told The Bulletin that House of GOCA marked her third runway showcase.
“I tried to make it as theatrical as possible, but at the end of the day, these are wearable pieces – cocktail dresses, wedding veils, and evening wear that can be dressed up or down,” Palma said.
She credited Shearn’s vibrant use of color and weightless artistic style as major influences, incorporating holographic and iridescent fabrics alongside optical illusion prints.
“At first, when I heard about the theme, I imagined something dark and psychedelic. But after researching Patrick Shearn’s work and seeing what he did with the gallery, I was really inspired by the whimsy-the lightness. Not too much darkness,” Palma reflected before the show. “You’ll also see a lot of butterflies, flowers, and, of course, plenty of sparkle.”
Following the runway presentations and awards ceremony, a dance party broke out in the gallery, blending seamlessly into Shearn’s exhibit. Models posed in front of the sculptures and installations, appearing as if they had become living extensions of the artwork itself.
For a first-of-its-kind event locally, House of GOCA was nothing short of a triumph, selling out weeks before the Friday night show. Armstrong confirmed that plans for the 2026 installation are already underway.
In a time of societal uncertainty, Armstrong expressed her hope that the event inspired self-empowerment through creative expression, with fashion serving as one of its most powerful vehicles.
“Fashion and wearable art are about more than just garments; they represent an empowering embrace of one’s voice-stepping onto a platform where one is unapologetically visible as exactly who they are,” Armstrong said.
“It sparks conversations about identity, asserts pride, provides social commentary, and reminds us of our inalienable right to resistance, imagination, and resilience. Sharing moments of joy isn’t about denying the chaos and uncertainty of the world – it’s about creating a space to think differently, to emerge refreshed, inspired, and renewed.”
