Clothes Like a River  recycled clothing threaded together to depict the flow of ubiquitous textile waste

CLOTHES LIKE A RIVER
#REFAB
75 items of rescued clothing, thread
2019

 

CLOTHES LIKE A RIVER (detail)

 

#REFAB
Continuous video loop

#REFAB (as in REFABrication and RE=reuse FAB=fabric) identified a big challenge in today’s world: the tremendous waste generated by the textile industry and the part that industry plays in worsening and accelerating climate change. The #REFAB show was the culmination of a 3-month Making for Good Artist Residency.* The show consisted of projects done by various community groups using rescued textiles as a legitimate artistic medium, an installation titled Clothes Like a River, and a video loop of three videos about textile waste (“This is the final resting place of your cast-off clothing”, “Watch us explain why your $8 shirt is a huge problem”, and “The life cycle of a t-shirt”).

Clothes Like a River used recycled clothing and old textiles threaded together to depict the flow of textile waste. Members of the local Federal Hocking High School Art club were instrumental in its production, arrangement and installation. To connect the dots between textiles and climate change, go here.

#ThisIsWhatWereDoingAboutIt

 

Working with the Federal Hocking High School Art Club members

 

ABOUT THE MAKING FOR GOOD ARTIST RESIDENCY

Part of Dairy Barn Art Center’s Making for Good Artist Residency is centered on creating positive change in the community and the region through the arts. Community-driven artists were invited to submit proposals for projects that bring Artist and Community together to focus on an issue or challenge facing the community as well as the world at large and affect positive change. The proposal was required to have these components:

  • Community engagement
  • Partnership with local non-profit organizations
  • Addresses one of these issues: climate change, disease, hunger, or social injustice

 
*With grateful acknowledgement to PALS, Passion Works, Ellen Hadley, Federal Hocking High School Art Club, Reuse Industries and the Community of Athens, Ohio.