• A quote from Laura Marks Touch




  • Born to Swap Cincinnati: Clothing & Accessories Swap



    Cincinnati's Meetup.com Clothing Swap group Born to Swap is having the first swap of 2013 with wine tasting tomorrow from 4 - 7pm

    To attend simply RSVP to the event.  I'll be there!



  • MFA Thesis: Clothes Swap Cincinnati

    My MFA Thesis project investigating how clothing swaps create opportunities for dialogue through the act of trading garments.

    •  Launched: Mar 12, 2013
    •  Funding ends: Apr 1, 2013

    In grad school I have been working in and out of the studio to make works that are related to place in which I'm creating small seeds for dialogue with the members of my community.  my blog from last year's work and process is objectsofobjects.blogspot.com.
    The idea of focusing on clothing swaps as the subject of my research came from thinking about the separation that exists here in Cincinnati, between the University and the City, and the people from neighborhood to neighborhood.  I have not lived here very long, and noticed the divisions immediately.
    I see clothes swap events as something I have done throughout my life as a way to purge, share with friends, and to care for others once loved things.  The concept of making clothes swap events public, and inclusive - or as inclusive as possible - not only involving women, but all genders and ages, struck me as a way to create communal gatherings, in which people could come together for a reason other than being involved in work or shopping, to engage with acquaintances, friends and/or strangers to experience unexpected intimacy.
    My thesis show will be in Cincinnati, with a reception on Friday, April 12th from 6-8.  You are all invited!!!!
    Please help me make this thesis make an impact on Cincinnati.  Your support helps me create events in places that will include the most amount of participants, a do-it-yourself Clothes Swap book, and will help me to create a large scale installation for the Thesis exhibition.  My goal is $1,000 - which will help me to organize more events, print catalogues (which I will send to you) and other costs associated with a large-scale exhibition.


  • Clothing Swap: University of Cincinnati



    Meyer Gallery location shown in red. 

    Clothing Swap: Cincinnati is series of community events that will bring people together in circles to give-and-take each other’s no-longer worn clothing.  Events are free and open to the public, and all are welcome to become involved in organizing future swaps.  The upcoming swap will be held at DAAP's Meyer's Gallery on The University of Cincinnati's main campus, across from the Bearcat stadium.  

    What is a Clothing Swap? 
    A clothing swap is a social sharing event wherein people come together to give away, and take clothes.  The swaps are held in public locations and are free and open to all.  Participants should bring any no-longer-used but still wearable clothing to give away, and can keep any clothing they find that they will use.  These events are traditionally held in someone’s home, and are popular amongst groups of women.  This concept for the Cincinnati series is to take a private ritual and make it public, allowing people to develop a new way to engage with one another, share with each other, and be involved with a physical social network. 

    Why participate in a swap?
    We always need new clothes, and someone else can easily wear the clothes we no longer use.  There are plenty of options for purging no longer desired clothes.  They can be re-purposed, given away to a friend of family member, donated to a charity, or even thrown away.  The most popular option is generally to donate unwanted clothes to collection and re-distribution agency like a thrift store.  Although this is an easy service to utilize, we don’t fully know what contribution we are really making, or who will be impacted.  It is one of many ways we have become a society that is almost totally isolated. 
    A clothing swap is an opportunity to know who may be using your no-longer worn clothing.  There is no cost so if you find garments that you might wear, you can easily take them with you. 

    When is the next clothing swap, and how do I prepare?
    The next clothing swap is on April 10th from 5-8pm at the Meyer’s gallery at the University of Cincinnati. 
    To prepare for a clothing swap, simply select any no-longer used but still wearable clothing, wash and dry them and bring them for exchange.  Please do not include undergarments or swimwear (unless new and unworn.)

    Questions?
    Contact: Corrina Mehiel   corrinamehiel@gmail.com


  • Images from the Clothes Swap at DAAP Cafe at the University of Cincinnati, on 3/7/13








































  • In November of last year, the artist Martha Rosler held a "Meta-Monumental Garage Sale" in the atrium of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.  The garage sale was exactly what it sounds like, A bunch of stuff for sale, that she had acquired and was ready to part with.   

    Rosler has held garage sale art performances for over 30 years, and says they are only interesting when 'as much as possible like every other garage sale in America.'   

    Rosler's work not only interests me in that there are many similarities between the culture and tradition of garage sales and clothes swaps, but also because in these events she is in some ways 'making the personal political' and in a way, making the private, public.  


    Since this Thursday will be the first large-scale public clothing swap I have ever organized, I cannot tell for sure if there will, in fact be any similarities to the yard sales or small clothes swaps I have attended in the past.  I do know that those who come will make it what it is, bringing with them not only their no-longer-wanted garments, but also the stories, memories and traces of themselves stored inside the clothes, and by simply showing up with a desire to give away some small piece of yourself, you will be lighter and more free, and ready to take on some new experience, or at least a free T-shirt.  Hope to see you there. 






    http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2012/11/17/arts/artsspecial/20121117GARAGE.html?smid=pl-share


  • Hope to see anyone and everyone in the DAAP community at the upcoming clothes swap this Thursday evening from 6-8pm.  Bring any unwanted but still wearable garments or accessories and take home what you like!

    Clothes, refreshments, and smiles provided free of charge.  Email corrinamehiel@gmail.com with any questions or to drop off clothes early!

    See you there!

    (Click to be view the event page on Facebook)