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At Gallery Neptune in Bethesda, art and fashion have come together. A new exhibition showcases two women who understand the similarities between those worlds. Joyce Zipperer makes high heels from metal, and Rania Hassan combines oil paintings and knitted fiber into eye-popping 3D creations. On Saturday evening, the gallery celebrated the show with a cocktail party. The two artists took a break from the martinis to chat about their work.

Jordan Edwards: What do you think about the atmosphere here tonight?

Joyce Zipperer: The atmosphere is great. It's very classy.

JE: Yes, it is. How do you like the way your work is presented here on the walls?

Rania Hassan: I think it's great. It's nice to see a variety presented here throughout the gallery. It's nice to see a range of pieces and colors and textures.

JE: Now, Joyce ... With the metal shoes, are you trying to make a statement about feminine power? What are you trying to do?

JZ: (Laughs) No, no.

JE: Am I going too deep?

JZ: That's kind of deep, yeah. I have the idea that women love their shoes. And they're gorgeous, and they will wear anything, even if it hurts their feet. So why not make them out of metal? It's kind of tongue-in-cheek.

JE: If I looked inside your closet, would I see a nice collection of Jimmy Choos?

JZ: I can't afford them. But there are plenty of shoes.

JE: So, Rania, these works are sort of an ongoing project. You've done similar pieces the last couple of years. Is this an evolution, or do plan on doing more?

RH: I'll probably continue the mixed media part of it. I've taken a different direction with this exhibit. It used to just be different hands connected. Here, I've got larger-scale installations. I'll probably keep heading in that direction.

JE: Let's switch it up and see what you think of each other's work. Joyce, what do you think about Rania's pieces?

JZ: I think they're very sophisticated. I really like them.

JE: What do you like about them?

JZ: I like the fact that they're paintings and then they become real.

JE: OK, and what about you, Rania?

RH: I love the way Joyce forms her pieces. She has some pieces ... I believe you call them oak leaves?

JZ: Yeah, they are.

RH: They are. They start with the shape of an oak leaf and she forms it into the shape of a shoe.

JE: Yeah, Joyce. That's what's interesting about your shoes. Some look like you could almost wear them, and some of them aren't even close. Where do you get your material?

JZ: Well, one place I get the aluminum from is a hardware store.

JE: It seems like a lot of artists get their materials from common stores. (To Rania) Where do you get your fiber?

RH: My fiber is actually from Japan.

JE: I stand corrected.

The work of Joyce Zipperer and Rania Hassan is on display at Gallery Neptune, 5001 Wilson Lane, Bethesda, through Nov. 14. Check out the full story in the Scene section of Wednesday's Gazette.