Twenty artists including some students from the Miami International University of Art and Design were invited by gallerist Bernice Steinbaum to design a garment of recycled and upcycled materials. They chose everything from used tires and caution tape to beetle wings, peacock feathers, condoms and more. The result? An extraordinary exhibit entitled “Halleluyah: Recycling and Upcycling Le Salon Des Refuse” curated by Steinbaum. It runs until October 19 at the Green Space. Check out this preview, a photo gallery of some of the creations. The name of the artist creator and the work as well as materials used are indicated in each image.
First, I thought it’d be helpful to explain the difference between “recycled” and “upcycled:
Recycling involves the destruction of waste in order to create something new, whereas upcycling takes waste and creates something new from it in its current state.
And here’s an explanation from the catalogue on the inspiration behind the exhibit of recycled and upcycled fashion:
“Art has been a way of expressing religious ideology, nationalism, individualism, terrorism, color, texture and has stood as a symbol of capitalism. The work in this exhibition deals with all these issues but also addresses issues of sustainability and climate change. Each participant expresses personal responsibility for recycling and upcycling their garments.
Each of these fashion artists creates using consciousness, skill, creativity and imagination, seeing opportunity that lies in sourcing materials from regenerative farms and investing in regenerative solutions as a form of carbon offsetting.
The artists in this exhibition are concerned with rethinking, redefining and re contextualizing the traditions of fabrics. Thus these works, whatever the medium, is a message in and of itself”. – Bernice Steinbaum
The Green Space, 7200 Biscayne Blvd , Miami, FL 33138. This exhibit on recycled and upcycled fashion is open Wednesday through Saturday from Noon to 6 p.m. When you go, check out the space next door as there are often art and craft popups.
Love fashion? Don’t miss the Parodi Costume Collection. To find out more, click here.
Looking for other special things to do in October? In case you missed it, click here for my monthly post that will keep you going!
