Trash Bash
Driven from an early age, I wanted to learn the practice and theory of conventional dressmaking and tailoring methods so that I could successfully push boundaries into the avant-garde. I applied practice and theory to a variety of non-traditional materials to make garments that would be accepted as fashion and thus art, this work is the result of my creative curiosity actively pushing those boundaries.
Movement and wearability are at the forefront of this work. Limited to office and art supplies such as paper, cardstock, chipboard, etc, assembled with tape, glue, rubber bands, and staples I explored the usability of these materials for hand and drape, considered the properties of traditional textiles, and began to construct garments that retain the expected movement and wearability of clothing. This self-imposed challenge has, in turn, expand my thinking and approach to other costume making.
Original Newspaper Dress (1997)
Having moved from NYC where time to create was scarce, necessity became the mother of invention for budgetary reasons. I purchased this dilapidated building for my art studio and wanted to signal to the neighborhood I was here to affect change through art and this dress was born albeit static.
Producer: Gramann Studios
Designer: DJ Gramann II
Performer: Christina Baldwin
Photo: Martha Wren
Bag Lady (1998)
Next, I wanted to explore and resolve weariblity issues in a runway setting, so I produced a runway show in my studio for neighbors and friends. The idea here was a decorative garbage bag with a person coming out of it, not unlike a cake that becomes a dress for a Barbie.
Producer: Gramann Studios
Show: Trash Bash Fashion (Spring 1998)
Designer: DJ Gramann II
Performer: Christina Baldwin
Photo: Martha Wren
Trash Bash Line (1999)
"The most exciting and humorous fashions in the show were made of paper, including leaf bags, Dayton's ads and egg crates. They were constructed by DJ Gramann II and included a flamenco and a geisha costume, as well as two numbers entitled 'Bag Lady' and 'Ivana'....it was dj's wild 'Local Trash,' an outfit so outré and outsized that the model could hardly maneuver, that brought down the house to end the show." --Margot Siegel
Producer: Textile Center of Minnesota
Show: Artwear in Motion
Performers: Judy Speltz, Kenneth Abbott, DJ Gramann II
Designer: DJ Gramann II
Trash Bash Line (2001)
After two seasons at Textile Center of MN, I entered two designs in the GenArt Fashion Design Competition. My entry was a standout for fashion icon Patricia Field who was a judge at the event. And theses dresses ultimately won the Design Vision Award in Women's Avant-Garde, a personal best.
Producer: GenArt
Show: GenArt Fashion Design
Designer: DJ Gramann II
Photo: Rosalie O’Connor
Faux Jean (2004)
I was invited to design outfits for the band Faux Jean for their performance in Voltage. Lead singer Matty Schindler and I looked through their cannon of songs to find one that lent itself to this work and landed on their one country song deciding to embrace the cowboy. When the idea was pitched to the band, it was met with a huge eye-roll by one of the members, an attitude that persisted throughout the process. At the after party the night of the show, this band member walked right up to me, vigorously shook my hand and apologized for his behaviour saying, "I didn't get it until tonight, now I get it. Thank you!"
Producer: Anna Lee
Show: Voltage: Fashion Amplified
Designer: DJ Gramann II
Performers: Faux Jean
Photo: Sean Smuda
City Pages 25th Birthday Bash (Fall 2004)
Because this work is about experiential movement for the wearer and the viewer, I decided to take it off the runway and into the crowd. This event was a "happening" in that the celebratory guests were assembled at First Ave enjoying cocktails when my troupe of models and dancers infiltrated one by one, parting the crowd to embark on a voguing competition. A photo opportunity for guests and models followed where the energy and enthusiasm for the work was palpable.
Producer: City Pages
Show: City Pages 25th Birthday Bash
Designer: DJ Gramann II
Models: Lisa Jones, Valentina Castellon, Beatrice Adenodi, Latawnie Hernandez and Keira Higbee
Photo: Tony Nelson
Homage To Charles James (Fall 2004)
At the invitation of Margot Siegel, I recreated this dress for the opening of the Charles James exhibit at the Goldstein Museum of Design. There is now a book that illustrates the engineering of this Charles James dress known as the "cloverleaf", however, at the time, it was up to me to work out the engineering myself. Even though my version bordered on wearing the model as opposed to the other way around, it was an amazing journey combining geometry and dressmaking and channeling James as I created this homage to the master.
Producer: Goldstein Museum of Design
Show: Charles James Exhibit Opening
Designer: DJ Gramann II
Model: Jessica Rau
L'Etoile Editorial (Fall 2005)
Where previously the non-traditional materials were the textiles, these dresses are examples of exploring non-traditional materials to make up textiles that were them made into garments. Featured in L'Etoile Magazine, the goal once again was to achieve results that resemble conventional garments.Producer: L’Etoile Magazine
Show: Charles James Exhibit Opening
Designer: DJ Gramann II
Models: Stacia Rice, Beatrice Adenodi and Lisa Jones
Storytelling Fantasy (2011)
Producer Scott Mayer partnered with Arts, Inc. to create an advertising campaign for The Ivey Awards Collaboration. I was invited to create this larger than life look for actress Regina Williams who is well versed in knowing how to "sell the garment!"
Producer: Scott Mayer
Show: Ivey Awards
Designer: DJ Gramann II
Model: Regina Marie Williams
Photo: Thomas John Wallce
Fashion is Free (2013)
Featured in Playing with Paper by Helen Hiebert, this dress is a further exploration in creating textiles out of non-traditional materials that mimic the properties of traditional textiles. In this case, masking tape in colors, kite string, and newspaper headlines are interwoven to create the drape of a poncho.
Author: Helen Hiebert
Designer: DJ Gramann II
Model: Navita
Trash Bash Video (2002)
Movement and wearability are at the forefront of this work. A test run prior to the GenArt Design Vision runway show, this video demonstrates my approach and give a sense of movement as the dress comes together.
Producer: Gramann Studios
Show: Making Of Trash Bash
Designer: DJ Gramann II
Model: Nellie Bassett
Video: Rebecca and Craig Ness