Beth Bolander’s wearable art piece “Doragon,” which was pulled from a runway in Juneau in February for what some criticized as cultural appropriation, won four ribbons in the Southeast Alaska State Fair Wearable Arts Exhibit.

Fair staff member Deana Stout said the piece, influenced by Japanese artwork and fashion, won division and department champion ribbons, a first-place ribbon in wearable art and a professional level ribbon.

The piece won third place in Juneau’s “Wearable Art 2018” showcase Saturday, Feb. 17, but was pulled from the Sunday runway show after event organizer, the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council, received complaints about cultural appropriation. The council said it received “virulent and nasty comments” before the show, and later wrote a letter apologizing for not identifying and addressing the issue sooner and for allowing “Doragon” to be judged and awarded.

Ty Yamaoka of Juneau, who is Japanese, modeled the piece in the fair’s wearable arts review Saturday. Bolander, who is in Nevada preparing for the Burning Man festival this month, said she was disappointed she couldn’t be in Haines for the show. “I’m bummed I wasn’t there to see Ty model my piece at the fair, I understand he totally rocked it,” Bolander said. She said she was surprised she won so many ribbons. “I feel slightly redeemed after all the crap I had to endure earlier this year over my art.”

Longtime emcee Deborah Marshall said she only heard positive feedback on the piece.

“I didn’t hear one person who felt that it was in any way controversial,” Marshall said. “People were really glad that Haines got to see it. It’s a work of art.” She said the show is meant to “celebrate art for art’s sake.”

The piece included a gold dragon-like garment and scaled skirt (made up of 2,000 cardboard scales), silk fabric on the arms and geisha-like makeup and hair.

Marshall said a complaint in recent years was that the wearable art show was too provocative, but this year the show was kid-friendly. “I heard gratitude and relief that the costumes didn’t have sexual overtones,” Marshall said.

She encouraged people to start thinking about creating wearable art for next year’s fair.