I love the artist community on Twitter. I love how talented they all are! I love how willing they are to jump on any opportunity to participate in drawing prompts and themes. I love #inktober, I love #mermay, and this week, I love #metsona!
But what is #metsona and how did it start?
This past Monday was the Met Gala, an annual fundraising event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC that’s known for attracting the biggest stars—and the boldest fashion! This year’s gala theme was “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” and it certainly spawned some iconic looks from the likes of Rihanna, Chadwick Boseman, and so many others.
Kevin Wada on started the fun on Twitter by egging on several of his artist friends:
I'd love to see doodles of what some of y'all would have worn to this year's Met Gala… Looking at you @waxmittert
— Kevin Wada (@kevinwada) May 8, 2018
His own contribution took a while, but showed up the next morning with quite a lot of fanfare.
Technicolor stained glass coat with bejeweled jaw/neck piece a la the forgotten martyrs. Feeling very Dracula #METsona #MetGalaSona #metgala pic.twitter.com/GF4fUnfNNT
— Kevin Wada (@kevinwada) May 8, 2018
Dozens of artists joined in the exercise, drawing a variety of stunning outfits and sharing them in the #metsona tag. There was a huge range of high fashion, based on cathedrals, saints, reliquaries, Renaissance art, and nods to other cultures and religions! We’ve compiled some of our favorites for you here, but if you want to see more, be sure to check out the hashtag!
Here's my #Metsona for @kevinwada's challenge!
Inspired by the former persecution of the Catholic faith in Japan, and Catholic Samurai folk heroes like Amakusa Shirō
It's a complicated and nuanced part of Japanese, Catholic, political, and colonization history, read more! pic.twitter.com/zEF1WApjZ8— Yoshi Yoshitani (@yoshisquared) May 8, 2018
sketch of my #metsona ? I wanted to create a look inspired by my experience of being raised catholic in a Ghanaian household pic.twitter.com/RAfU4MZRFL
— Abelle✨(they/them) (@abellehayford) May 9, 2018
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your D.J. #metsona @kevinwada pic.twitter.com/RBr8qkI7Eb
— D.J. | BLACK LIVES MATTER (@OhHeyDJ) May 8, 2018
The gala….if it was Muslim………..here's my very Tamil Muslim take on it, based off of dargahs motifs and Dravidian folk Islam. pic.twitter.com/GjrBqIIEbm
— Nabi H. Ali (@ab_varaham) May 8, 2018
I hear people are drawing their #metsona for the #MetGala so I took fifteen minutes to shoot millions of arrows at my heart. pic.twitter.com/o0EnvCKCg2
— Jared Pechacek (@vandroidhelsing) May 8, 2018
Alright @kevinwada, you got me. Uriel rising against the night sky—my #Metsona ?✨ pic.twitter.com/N7I6bvVSjK
— Jen Bartel (@heyjenbartel) May 8, 2018
Much as I would love to think I'd wear some super elaborate ensemble to the Met Gala, I know my style. Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is my favorite cathedral I've ever seen. Thanks @kevinwada for this cute idea! #Metsona pic.twitter.com/NUZoYuXKaH
— Talia | Patreon Pre-Sale Commissions OPEN! (@TaliaMirai) May 8, 2018
Not sure if it would be good or bad luck to meet my #metsona on the road.
Thanks, @kevinwada! pic.twitter.com/Qzk7EtAqr8— Rori! (@RoriComics) May 8, 2018
cosmic priesty ghostman #Metsona pic.twitter.com/kNKG5hVAw7
— ✨HAPNU✨ COMMISSIONS WIP (@japhers) May 8, 2018
a quick #metsona because i loved the theme/aesthetic of the met gala this year and wished i was relevant and could go. #metgala2018 pic.twitter.com/8i7lGim6Py
— izzy (@flightlessart) May 8, 2018
My #metsona is all about my boy sebastian pic.twitter.com/3MQotGx070
— G.C. Houle ? Antifascist (@gchoule) May 8, 2018
My #METsona – Always depend on me to deliver that memento mori aesthetic. @kevinwada pic.twitter.com/aETxwjpn2J
— Reimena Yee ?☕️ SÉANCE TEA PARTY SEPT 15 (@reimenayee) May 8, 2018
Did I wake up early just to draw a #metsona #MetGala2018 …yes my outfit would be inspired by Jephthah's Vow: The Martyr 1885 pic.twitter.com/xdfSMyHl4q
— sharp teeth gangsta ✊??? (@munadraws) May 8, 2018
So this was supposed to stay a quick sketch but I have no chill and neither would my #Metsona look. Any excuse to let me draw Byzantine brocading and heavy beading. pic.twitter.com/630Xe2pTVf
— Naomi Franquiz (@naomifranq) May 8, 2018
Here is a sketch of my #Metsona! Thabks @kevinwada for inspiring this trend!!! pic.twitter.com/jqWQbNnEmE
— Shadia as Jackie Daytona? (@shadiaminart) May 8, 2018
hi, this is probably weird but i tried. fallen angel/reliquary/relapsed catholic look for the #METsona tag. ty @kevinwada for the prompt! pic.twitter.com/GgMBgVFQE0
— MANCAMERON! ✏️ (@boycameron) May 8, 2018
a more legit ashkenazi #metsona …… i wish i could spend more time expressing the beautiful intricacy of jewish embroidery but i got work to do ? pic.twitter.com/BQUbUfRSkB
— Isaac Livengood (@isaac_livengood) May 8, 2018
CMON Guadalupe Pant Suit #Metsona pic.twitter.com/XHf6J0hlmB
— Lydia’s Himbo Haven (@hackedmotionart) May 8, 2018
