Artist: Marina DeBris
In a recent talk at UCLA (12/2/2013), DeBris stated that the reason for undertaking this kind of design is to make visible the differences between the realities of our behavior on the environment and the sanctioned images presented to the public. The pristine beaches and coastline of Marina del Rey usually pictured are a starch contrast to DeBris’ postcard of the Marian del Rey harbor.
Her trashion pieces speak even more closely to consumers by showcasing trash that she collects directly from the coastline. Her website describes her purpose as follows: “She uses creativity, a little humor and irony to show that the waste we create keeps coming back to haunt us . . . She encourages the viewer to question the use of single use items, and consider ways to reduce waste so it does not end up in our oceans and landfills” (np). She repurposes washed-up garbage to create unique fashion pieces. Rather than eschew discarded rubbish, DeBris makes it the focal point of her work forcing her audience to question their daily choices.
