Sculptural hats, illustrations in 'Pretty Good Things' at Hillestad Gallery

University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate student Mary Pattavina will present her thesis project work in an exhibit titled "Pretty Good Things: Thesis Edition!" April 20 through May 15 at UNL's Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery.

Eight watercolor illustrations and eight sculptural hats in the exhibit describe the story of a female character traveling through the natural world in which she exists as placid, graceful and simultaneously awkward. The hats and illustrations encourage viewers to experience feelings of fantasy and escapism. The hats are not traditional hats like fedoras, bowlers, or berets but rather architectural swooping textile concoctions engineered using traditional and unconventional methods of millinery.

Art meets business in the second part of the show. Pattavina, a master of arts candidate in the Department of Textiles, Clothing and Design, created Pretty Good Things, an emerging online hat business through which she sells her handmade "hats, fascinators and hair do-dads." Digital prints of the illustrations and eight smaller, derivative hats are showcased in the gallery and available to purchase online at www.prettygoodthings.com. These smaller hats are each inspired by the theme and mood their respective sculptural hat. Pretty Good Things targets a female customer who follows trends but knows that true personal expression takes some detours along the way.

A reception for "Pretty Good Things! Thesis Edition" is 5:30-7:30 p.m. May 1 at the Hillestad Gallery.

The Hillestad Gallery, http://textilegallery.unl.edu, is part of the Department of Textiles, Clothing and Design in the College of Education and Human Sciences. The gallery is on the second floor of the Home Economics Building on East Campus, on 35th Street north of East Campus Loop. Hours are 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday and by appointment. Admission is free.