Sometimes it is easier to forget than remember, dismiss than embrace, overlook than confront, and we are all familiar with the idea of impermanence. Here today and gone tomorrow.

This project grew out of these ideas and a few different encounters with clothes found around the bay area. Just about everyone has had seen the lonely pair of slacks sitting on a bus top or the "almost new" sneakers curbside waiting for someone to pick them up. Often times we just pass them up. But curiosity always strikes to pose the questions of whom they belonged to or how they got there.






Perhaps the reason discarded clothes sparked our curiosity is because we knew that at some point they belonged to someone and that it still carried some of their essence. We all have special relationships to clothes and they are an extension to ourselves. Often they are connected to particular moments in time and memories. Just think of a time you lost a special hat or jacket. What did it feel like?

After sifting through dozens of found clothes we finally choose seven Outfits that were used to create short 2-3 sentence narratives. These narratives were formulated in a collaborative writing process that focused on our own relationships to the clothes, the locations in which they were found, and possible identities of the people who may have worn them.

Then a mock up of the future public installation inside one of the CCA studios


Once the lay out was determined through the studio mock up the third stage could be set in motion. This would be a Public art piece set in an area of high foot traffic near the locations where the clothes had originally been found.

The location search took place post Oscar Grant trial on October 6, 2010 just a day after the Oakland riots. The aftermath of this event left many building with boarded up windows and storefronts. Perfect surfaces for easy installation of anything that had to be nailed or stapled. Using this to our advantage location outside of the 19th streets Bart was chosen. This was an ideal location since it is a place for high foot traffic.






Display :







Overall public resoponse was positive.

Collaborations:

Character Building and Layout - Sarah Valentine
Technical Support - Chris Granillo
Clothing donation ( Black Pants for "Rey" )- Noah Legget
Photographic support - Madelon Kaye Calasuonno
Directions and News - Anonymous Man at Fat Cat Cafe