White trash wedding

Garbage exhibit marries kitsch and class

By MELINDA KANE, Features Writer

Published: March 5, 2003

It's a beautiful sunny day, in contrast to the usual Seattle gray. While many are out walking the dog or enjoying the outdoors, Diane Kurzyna, an artist who works in the genre of junk art, is preparing her "White Trash Wedding" reception.

She strolls around, short dark hair matching her black velor pants and black sweater, with orange- and red-flamed Converse completing the ensemble. As a couple walks through the doors of Seattle Pacific University's Art Center Gallery, Kurzyna cheerfully greets them and begins to explain the pieces in her collection.

The "White Trash Wedding Redux" is completely literal in its connotation. It is not meant as a racial or economic slur but as an artistic display created with white trash.

"I sort my junk by color," Kurzyna explained. With an overabundance of white trash and the desire to produce a celebratory atmosphere, a white-trash wedding seemed to fit perfectly. The Redux is an addition to the first "White Trash Wedding," inspired by Kurzyna's preparation for her own wedding years earlier.

A three-tiered wedding cake fills the entrance of the exhibit. The cake layers are built with white astro-turf, covered with fake snow for icing and separated with pillars of thread spools. Golf spikes, straws, wish bones, milk holders and plastic knives and forks decorate the cake. On top, Cafˇ Ladro coffee cups form the bride and groom's bodies. It looks almost good enough to eat until one remembers that it is all recycled garbage.

Creating art from trash has been an interest of Kurzyna's since childhood. "I have always been attracted to junk and art," she stated, reasoning that junk is readily available, free or cheap, and practical.

She had desired to use natural materials in her art but has always lived in urban areas. She decided to use materials that reflected the "natural" urban environment.

For Kurzyna, this is a creative and intellectual challenge. The ability to "transform human-generated waste into something interesting, even beautiful," is what inspires her. Plus, recycled art shows how much our society wastes while promoting awareness of human excess.

At about half past two, the guests have yet to arrive.

"You know you have to compete with a gorgeous sunny day," says a friend. But that doesn't seem to faze Kurzyna, still beaming with excitement.

Soon after, family and friends arrive. Hugs are given; refreshments and cake are served; pictures are taken and laughter fills the air.

"So that's what you were doing with those plastic forks," remarks Kurzyna's youngest son as he observes the wedding cake. Her children provide support as well as materials for their mom, seen in the candy wrappers used to make the outfits for the "wedding guests."

Another friend approves of the mirrors placed in the faces of people in the wedding display. Kurzyna explains that she uses mirrors because she wants people to see themselves. "I want the viewer to interact with the piece."

The viewers not only see themselves reflected in the art; they see a part of Kurzyna. Shiny, bright colors light up the room, conveying the lively demeanor and fun attitude of the artist.

The party is in full swing, perhaps the kind of celebration Kurzyna had hoped for when she designed the exhibit.

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