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Made to Move
Ibiwunmi Omotayo
Olaiya (right) – better
known as Wunmi – is
a woman of many tal-
ents. Her hand-dyed,
artisan-made clothing
line (shown on a model
at left) is just one of her
creative pursuits.
The clothing of musician,
dancer, and designer
Wunmi captures
and encourages a vibrant,
joyful life.
story by
Paulette Young
portraits by
Michael O’Neill
in grace, a story of the spir-
itual journey of individuals to
the promised land, an angelic
figure, the mother goddess,
takes center stage in white
flowing fabric. Her bandeau
top has a chiffon overlay that
serves as a kind of shield, even
as it reminds us of lingerie. A
dozen other dancers, clad in
loose white pants made fluid
with motion, move opposite
earthly opponents clad in fire
red. Grace is one of the most
popular works in the repertory
of the Alvin Ailey American
Dance Theater. Much of the
power of the performance,
which was commissioned in
1999, comes from the
choreography of Ronald K.
Brown, a soundtrack that
includes Fela Kuti’s “Shakara”
and Duke Ellington’s “Come
Sunday,” and the expertise of
the dancers. But the costumes
are equally potent in telling
the story.
The costumes are the work
of Ibiwunmi Omotayo Olaiya,
34 american craft aug/sept 19
