Taylor, who aspires to a career in fashion design, began sketching fashions when she was just seven. The Cohn Grant enabled her to attend an advanced class this summer at the School of Fashion Design in Boston to learn the flat-pattern making techniques used to construct and size clothing from drawings. The grant also funded the purchase of fabric for her collection’s seven different looks. This fall Taylor staged a photo shoot with a professional photographer and two models on location at Larz Anderson Park and printed posters to hang in the gallery. Alongside the finished creations are Taylor’s pencil and watercolor sketches, the garment patterns and a “mood board” reflecting her creative inspirations.

Fans of the Project Runway reality TV show will recognize the enormous amount of work that goes into making even a single garment. In her artist statement Taylor writes: “The actual construction of the clothes in my collection took too many hours to count….even the simpler pieces took a minimum of three to four hours….most garments took multiple days…It was very important to me to have the pieces be well made. This was sometimes frustrating because things often took longer, but it was well worth it in the end to see a beautiful finished piece.”

Taylor will give a presentation at the upper school assembly on November 15. A reception on Thursday, November 18 (6-7 pm) will celebrate the exhibit.

About the Alex Cohn ’07 Grant
Named in memory of a Beaver student who died tragically during his senior year and funded by his family and friends, the grant of up to $5,000 is awarded annually to a current Beaver student who would like to explore their interest in an extra-curricular activity that will have a meaningful impact on their life journey. There is no requirement that this experience serve a higher purpose to humanity other than to help a student pursue a passion or interest in a way that may have a profound effect on them, their world view, their decision-making process, their future goals and aspirations, or educational, career or life choices.

Any current 10th or 11th grade student at Beaver may apply. The application deadline is January 7, 2011. For further information, contact Matthew Lippman.