Artist's dryer lint sculptures to be displayed inside Pittsburgh laundromat
Clothes lint from dryers became the medium for artist Cheryl Capezzuti, so a pop-up art installation at a laundromat seems to be a natural progression.
On Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., some of Capezzuti’s works of lint sculptures will be displayed inside the Butler St. Coin-op Laundromat in Lawrenceville. The art installation is a satellite experience of her larger show “Discarded: Sculptural Work and Puppetry from Dryer Lint and Other American Discards” at Be Galleries, just down the street, which has been extended through March 14.
“I love the idea of this art in opposite spaces,” said Capezzuti, of Brighton Heights, who also creates puppets of all sizes and has done puppet shows in laundromats. “A laundromat is the opposite of an art gallery. It’s the raw space where the lint art begins.”
Capezzuti’s work with dryer lint began as a sculptural lark in 1994 that was fueled by people from around the country sending her lint in the mail and receiving small sculptures in return.
From 2000 through 2004 she was the artist-in-residence at Duds ‘N Suds laundromat in Shadyside, where she installed numerous shows, hosted art experiences and produced community performances. “Discarded” is her first solo show since 2003. It features numerous life-sized sculptures that she said invite viewers to ponder daily debris, participate in a collaborative experience, explore the role of art in contemporary life and find delight in the effort.
Anyone who would like to participate in the project is invited to bring a bag of dryer lint, marked with their name and a short note about doing laundry, to the Lawrenceville laundromat.
All her pieces are for sale.
“Laundry is something we all do,” Capezzuti said. “So when people hear about the lint art and the next time I see them they tell me they think of me every time they empty the lint trap, it makes me smile and I hope they are smiling too. The lint tells a story about the person such as the colors they like and the kinds of textiles they choose for their clothing.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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