TRÉ R and D: In the studio with Tré Lilli: Fashion's Night Out

A week from today, downtown Homewood, AL is having a block party. We're gonna celebrate all things local, all things beautiful, all things charitable and we're gonna look good while we do it. Leading up to Birmingham's own Fashion's Night Out, I've been working with some of the students from this summer's art camp in Woodlawn to create an image of fashion that resonates with them. The sketch was the only thing provided and from there, the students have spent several afternoons with me in the DISCO space in Woodlawn, working on their mural. As the days have passed, I've watched them take ownership of their design. They began by owning small portions of the canvas, feeling shy about moving away from their one "corner", but as the days have gone by, the image has become more cohesive, with portions being painted over, sometimes by the original artist, sometimes not.

As of yesterday, the students had mostly completed the garments and were working on their idea for the environment surrounding their icon of style. What began as a prodding from me a week ago: "Where IS this girl?! What is she doing?" has turned into a discussion among the artists.

"I think she's in heaven" says E.
"Just because she's in a bunch of color? Or are you gonna draw heaven?" says M.
"I don't believe in heaven, or well, my friend says hell is on earth and there isn't a heaven. I don't think that, but I don't know about heaven" says E.

Silence while E puts yellow paint on her large brush and begins to block out a sky at the top of the mural. Below E, M and A (who are in a couple) sit at the base of the mural, working on a mix of light blue, white and purple. They decide, for today, that their icon of style is in the sky, perhaps in heaven, perhaps just soaring above the chaos of the city. It might change completely next week. Regardless, you have one chance to see their completed mural: Sept. 6th from 6-9pm in Homewood.