Jan Durand, artist
Art to Wear takes center stage for artists of The Gallery at Flat Rock in June, with jewelry and fashion trunk shows at the gallery, and designers taking part in the annual La Vie en Rosé at Marked Tree Vineyard.
On Saturday, June 7, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., The Gallery at Flat Rock presents a Jewelry Trunk Show featuring the work of artist Jan Durand who creates eclectic pieces inspired by colors found in nature. “I have dozens of new one-of-a-kind items that I’ve recently made, including many necklaces and an abundance of earrings,” Durand says. “There is a lot to catch the eye in these pieces, like semiprecious gems, clay beads, brass, Czech glass, freshwater pearls, African beads (including some African beads made from paper) and sometimes coins and shells.”
Durand, who has been making jewelry since 2008, believes that jewelry is not just for dressy events. “I personally wear my jewelry with jeans and a T-shirt and my friends do, too,” she says. “I’m not going to wait for a special occasion because that means I would never wear the jewelry I create!”
The trunk shows—another one is planned for December—offer her the chance to meet with buyers. “Not everything I make looks good on me so when I do a show I can see how good a piece looks on other people,” she says. “It’s a personal thing for the customer to choose something, and I love getting to see how a necklace complements their style and face.”
Marked Tree Vineyard holds its La Vie en Rosé Fashion Show on Saturday, June 14, at the vineyard. Reserved runway seating is available by visiting Marked Tree’s website. Ash Rana and Janice Schmidt, both represented by The Gallery at Flat Rock, will be among clothing designers presenting their 2025 collections.
Janice Schmidt, artist
“Goddess Rags are colorful jackets and vests made with vintage fabrics, mostly from India,” Schmidt says. “The garments are reversible and fit and flatter a wide variety of bodies. For this show, I’ll just be returning from a textile trip to Paris where I’ll shop for interesting fabrics and flea market finds.” She looks forward to the show to see who’s walking the runway and what they’re wearing. “It’s a beautiful show in a beautiful setting with tremendous support from the community,” she adds.
Rana was born in Nepal and attended school in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. He studied fashion design and illustration at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, launching his first fashion company, Ash Rana, Inc. in 2000, and designing clothing for major pop acts including Tim McGraw, Lil’ Kim and Trina.
His 2025 collection blends fabrics gathered from travels through Japan and India with handprinted denim and E’toile textiles. “Each piece tells its own story through relaxed, unisex silhouettes shaped by modern streetwear sensibilities,” he says. “Designed with comfort, versatility and self-expression in mind, the collection invites wearers to experience the quiet power of thoughtful, handcrafted design.”
On Saturday, June 21, from 12–5 p.m., The Gallery at Flat Rock hosts a post-fashion show Trunk Show featuring Rana’s 2025 collection.
Learn more at GalleryFlatRock.com and MarkedTreeVineyard.com.
