Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Upcycled: Your Castoffs Become Art At The Atwater Village Goodwill
A detail from artist Spencer Lewis' painting of a pair of jeans on burlap.
(
Sharon McNary
/
LAist
)
Textile artists who work with fabric often turn to thrift stores to find affordable raw materials. Goodwill Southern California has taken it a step further, inviting a pair of artists to create an installation, using unsold clothing as inspiration and material — and saving it from the landfill.
Opening Thursday, the exhibit at the Atwater Village store has several giant art panels that dominate the lobby, along with canvases and a collection of wearables.
Visitors take photos of some of the large art panels at the Goodwill Atwater Village store gallery
(
Sharon McNary
/
LAist
)
The canvases and sculptures were painted and built by contemporary artist Spencer Lewis, while curator Darren “DRx” Romanelli worked with the American Sewing Guild Los Angeles Chapter to also create a collection of wearables for the exhibit.
Support for LAist comes from
A piece of art inspired by a donated pair of jeans
(
Sharon McNary
/
LAist
)
Some depict donated clothing, while others are made from the garments themselves, such as a giant banner made of souvenir t-shirts.
Sewing Guild chapter president Nicole Brown and another member stitched most of the pieces together to carry out the artists' visions.
"Darren would literally bring me over a pile of stuff, and he would say, 'Here, make this into something,' and I was like … okay," she said.
At first she was hesitant to impose her own artistic vision on the materials the artists gave her. But eventually, she gained confidence in her creations.
Brown used dozens of pairs of tattered jeans to create denim floor mats and rugs. She combined other materials to make large blankets. One is made up of Rams football jerseys, jackets and t-shirts.
Nicole Brown's sewn creation, a rug made from the legs of denim jeans.
(
Sharon McNary
/
LAist
)
Support for LAist comes from
Inside the store, an art installation in the form of a shelter or hang-out space is draped with some of the creations.
Bobby May works as a liaison for Goodwill, urging unhoused people to accept services. The cloth art-draped shelter, he said, reminded him of the time he spent living on Skid Row and of the encampments of unhoused people he visits there.
"It does look like Skid Row with the tent and everything,” May said. “My job is going out, bringing people to work and giving them jobs out of Skid Row."
“And now we got people working in all the stores everywhere.”
Bobby May, who refers unhoused people to jobs and services at Goodwill, says the art shelter reminds him of the tents occupied by his clients on Skid Row.
(
Sharon McNary
/
LAist
)
The large art panels will be sold through a broker with a percentage going to Goodwill Southern California. The smaller items such as the blankets and rugs and a curated collection of vintage shoes and clothing are for sale at prices starting at $30 for smaller items, also benefiting Goodwill’s training programs.
The art show runs through Sunday.
Support for LAist comes from
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars. -
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
Best of LAist