“I wanted to create art but wasn’t able to afford supplies, so I started dumpster diving and picking things up off the curb. I’ll take whatever I can find and create something interesting with it: hats, scarves, shawls, and boas--- all ready-to-wear articles of clothing made from items that people throw away. I would describe my art as haute couture recycled trash.
“A while back there was a flood in the Midtown area and I came across a whole collection of ribbon that had gotten wet and been thrown away by a storeowner. I picked up all the ribbons, washed them, hung them out to dry, and said to myself, ‘Hey, I can do something with this.’ I started collecting more ribbons everywhere I went, finally accumulating enough to make a dress and an opera coat. That creation was the 1st place winner in the 2014 Curb Couture Trashion Show by the City of Memphis Beautiful.
"Every year I participate as a featured designer in the Curbside Couture annual recycling show at the Clinton Museum. It's a design contest for students all over the state of Arkansas, and there are cash prizes for the various age groups, elementary through high school. I've done the show's finale for the last five years, and my goal is to inspire the kids to create something new and to think outside the box. It's one way I can give back and help young artists.
“I encourage people to be creative with resources. I believe in recycling, cleaning up the environment, using what you have, and not being wasteful. We can do it one step at a time, one rag at a time.”
“A while back there was a flood in the Midtown area and I came across a whole collection of ribbon that had gotten wet and been thrown away by a storeowner. I picked up all the ribbons, washed them, hung them out to dry, and said to myself, ‘Hey, I can do something with this.’ I started collecting more ribbons everywhere I went, finally accumulating enough to make a dress and an opera coat. That creation was the 1st place winner in the 2014 Curb Couture Trashion Show by the City of Memphis Beautiful.
"Every year I participate as a featured designer in the Curbside Couture annual recycling show at the Clinton Museum. It's a design contest for students all over the state of Arkansas, and there are cash prizes for the various age groups, elementary through high school. I've done the show's finale for the last five years, and my goal is to inspire the kids to create something new and to think outside the box. It's one way I can give back and help young artists.
“I encourage people to be creative with resources. I believe in recycling, cleaning up the environment, using what you have, and not being wasteful. We can do it one step at a time, one rag at a time.”
Click on the photo below to see shots taken by the staff of the Memphis Flyer:
Photos below courtesy of Paul V. Thomas:
Paul's winning ribbon-dress design:
Paul V. Thomas, Artist
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
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