Perpich Arts Student Earns National Acclaim in Fashion Design
Perpich Arts High School senior Catrielle Barnett is racking up an impressive collection of prestigious honors in the arts.
The Plymouth teen was recently honored with a YoungArts finalist award in design arts after submitting her collection of clothing art. Barnett is also one of six students nominated for the 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts program, one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students.
“What inspires me is I can tell stories through clothes,” said Barnett.
Barnett’s collection of wearable clothing art comes with a message. Her pieces also take hours upon hours of tedious work.
A clothing piece titled “All Stirred Up” used burned stir sticks interlaced with fabric.
“I always thinking about all the social issues of this past year and everything that gets us stirred up as a nation,” she said.
Another called “First Flame” wove in chopped-up rulers on the shoulder due to its “how do we break the rules” to initiate change theme. For the clothing piece titled “Silent Killer,” Barnett focused on the harmful effects of littering.
“I took photos of cigarette butts on a nice clean backdrop with my camera and then I used Photoshop methods and comprised this bug, kind of like a Rorschach almost-inspired design and then had it digitally printed on fabric,” she said. “I knew I wanted to the print clean on the front and a deteriorated version on the back to show the effects of this and how harmful it can be.”
Barnett also created a design called “Breaking the Record” she made out of pieces of vinyl records. For her, the item is personal.
“So my brother is on the spectrum and I have dyslexia, so growing up, it was kind of challenging for both of us with school,” said Barnett. “It’s kind of the idea of being able to achieve something that you’d never thought you’d actually be able to do.”
Clothing piece titled “First Flame” by Catrielle Barnett
‘Very supportive of others’
Barnett’s teachers say they are not surprised by her success.
“From the very beginning she came into my class in August, you could tell by the answers she would have for homework assignments that she’s thinking at a very high level,” said Craig Farmer, who had Catrielle in her art history class last semester and now has her in museum studies.
Farmer says her student’s success isn’t just about her. He says Barnett goes out of her way in taking interest in what others are doing.
“She’s very supportive of others and their work,” he said.
That may explain what Barnett’s future goals are.
“I’m wanting to go into teaching,” said Barnett, who currently teaches ceramic art to children in her spare time.
Barnett, who began attending Perpich this year, credits the public arts school for taking her design work to the next level.
“Perpich has honestly helped me a ton, like helping me confidently talk about my work, being able to present in settings,” she said. “Having a community of young, talented artists that I’m apart of almost on a daily basis is just phenomenal.”
Barnett’s clothing pieces titled “Breaking the Record”
Also See: Standout Student: Perpich Arts High School Boasts National Gold Medal Artist
