Artist throws paint at handmade wedding dresses

(COLORADO SPRINGS) — AnaKacia Shifflet is a wedding dress designer from Rye, Colorado. When she developed Long COVID, she found a therapeutic way to express the frustration and anxiety she was feeling: she began throwing paint at her handmade creations.

“I wanted to throw paint at something, but not just anything,” Shifflet said. “I wanted to throw paint at one of my treasured original gown designs for the purpose of destroying it. On the days I didn’t feel well enough to work on the project, I came up with a plan for how I would go about this—I knew it would turn out awful, but I still wanted it to have meaning. I cried while I tossed, poured, and sprayed my creation with paint; it felt incredible, a huge release. In the end—very surprisingly—the result inspired me and I found that I loved it!”

Shifflet wrote a book about her experience called Throwing Paint . She will be releasing the book and launching a nonprofit organization during a special reception on June 6, 2024, at Academy Art & Frame at 7560 N. Academy Blvd. in Colorado Springs. She will paint a new dress at the event, and will discuss her book and sign copies.

The nonprofit, called The Painted Dress Project , will advocate for people dealing with the effects of Long COVID, and to raise awareness about chronic illness.

The reception for Shifflet’s book and nonprofit launch will happen on Thursday, June 6 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Academy Art & Frame will display the original gown created at the event until Friday, June 28.

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