TRA’shion Fashion at ARTpool Gallery

Trashy Fashion at ARTpool

The Annual TRA’shion Show

Located in St. Petersburg, Florida, ARTpool exemplifies a vintage ethos with an inventive model for the future of indie art galleries. The artwork is displayed in the midst of a trove of vintage memorabilia, records and attire. More than just a display case,  ARTpool buzzes with the enthusiasm of its clientele. Frequent events, such as fashion shows and cocktail parties, draw in crowds from all over the state. We decided to come to Artpool in order to showcase the fourth annual TRA’shion Fashion show, in which local designers utilize unorthodox, recycled and unique materials. We also got a chance to learn a little more about how this independent gallery opened its doors.

Marina Williams, the curator and owner, is perhaps the greatest representation of this 1,600 foot wonderland. An established photographer and fashion designer, her events have promoted work that oscillates between visions of classic beauty and the outrageously bold. Sitting in the gallery, which is enchantingly warm and inviting (there are Italian lights and airplane panel paintings strung around the walls), one is immediately aware of the level of passion Williams posses for unique environments. Here, the heartbeat of Warhol and Bowie seems to bounce off of the walls. And it goes without saying that walking into ARTpool parallels a cinematic experience. One could envision that the closets of Wes Anderson’s characters are continually raided to renew their inventory.

Remarkably, ARTpool is mostly filled by the owner’s collection of vintage from the past twenty years or so. While Williams’ ideas originally came from practicality (her upbringing was humble), the items she compiles from second-hand stores are anything but second-rate. While studying her crafts at the University of East London, she created a dress comprised entirely of photographs.  As she puts it: “I can’t imagine myself wearing a two piece K-Mart suit anytime soon.”

The TRA’sion Show is derived from this type of creative recycling. It is an event that digs through the past, through the items of relatives or perfect strangers, that hold conceptual and aesthetic values. Items that are forgotten or ignored on on a quotidian basis are used to bring a more sincere beauty to light. Yes, newspaper is newspaper. But give it a little love, maybe some muslin, and it becomes an art object (in homage to Duchamp).

It’s is also fostered by the ideals of the green revolution. Last year’s show featured a dress by the designer Kayo comprised of discarded cassettes and cassette tape. The designs are often made out of trash bags, phone directories, and bubble wrap. Keeping within that line of thought, artists are experimenting with book pages, aluminum, and two liter soda bottles. Designer Doug Wright is even using recycled bike parts from the shop down the street. Though the materials are recycled by locals and designers, people are constantly thinking outside of the box. Williams has never been disappointed, and it you attend ARTpool’s TRA’shion show, you won’t be either.

The fourth annual TRA’shion fashion show will be held at the ARTpool Gallery on July 16, 2011. The doors open at eight in the evening. Tickets can be purchased online at ArtpoolRules.com under the events section or at the door.

ARTpool’s Home Page

http://www.artpoolrules.com/events.html