Mattress Factory is excited to announce its free community festival, TRASH BASH COMMUNITY FEST, celebrating the incredible talent of regional artists, musicians, designers, and vendors!
The festival is free for all ages and will take place on Sunday, August 6 from 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM at the Mattress Factory. This year, we are highlighting creatives focused on re-use, DIY and sustainability as part of their practice. Inventiveness and resourcefulness are core to the Mattress Factory’s ethos, and those values inspired the theme of TRASH BASH.
Always seeking to engage and foster the next generation of creatives, COMMUNITY FEST provides mentorship and entrepreneurial opportunities for emerging youth artists. We have three outstanding teen fellows working closely with Mattress Factory’s Education and Community Engagement department to plan and execute the event. Community mentors have been partnered with the teen fellows to provide additional guidance and support a collaborative approach to community-focused event planning. We are excited to exhibit work by both emerging and established artists to support mentorship and creative exchange at the event.
“My involvement as a mentor at this year's Community Fest has been an overwhelmingly positive experience. Everyone working on this project is extremely kind and supportive, and the mentees are ambitious and talented. I'm very honored to be able to contribute and give back to the community, and to keep encouraging the next generation of people in Pittsburgh’s music and arts scene!”
- Giovanni Orsini, Community Mentor
Teen Fellows – Bea Kopaz, Truly O’Neill, Alexis Rockwell
Community Mentors – Elaine Healy, Chi Ilochi, Giovanni Orsini
Staff Mentors – Frankie Baker, Laurie Barnes, Mattie Cannon, Taylor Medwid, Melannie Taylor
“Community Fest is a place for everyone! It’s been a pleasure working alongside everyone at MF to make this event happen.”
- Truly O’Neill, Teen Fellow
“I am very grateful to be a mentor for the Community Fest. It is a privilege to watch these designers, artists, and models show up as they are and share their greatness with others. Watching talented people have spaces in any capacity will always be an honor to me.”
- Chi Ilochi, Community Mentor
Designers, performers, and vendors applied to participate in TRASH BASH COMMUNITY FEST through an open-call process and were selected by a committee of teen fellows, community mentors and Mattress Factory staff.
Fashion Designers – Elaine Healy, GOODWEIRDpgh, Melissa Sade Designs, Papa Jeans Co., Small Floofs Creations (teen), Vindeezy
Bands – Merce Lemon Band, Natural Rat, Rex Tycoon, Trip Lotus (teens)
Solo Performers – Henry Bard (teen), Jesse Crownover, Brenna Dugan, Craig Philip, SpeciàlK
Makers and Vendors – Edge Life, Flux Bene, Forage Vintage & Goods, Gay Racoon Art, Kathy Vo Art (teen), Katie Bullock Art, LeatherTrash, Loose Threads, Megalons Stained Glass, Pittsburgher Highland Farm, Steph Neary Art, The Government Center, The Refillery
Food and Beverage – Allegheny City Brewing, Badamo’s Pizza, Commonplace Coffee, Goodlander Cocktail Brewery and Lo Bar Cocktail Services, Gari Shoyu Sando Co.
Participating Orgs – Allegheny CleanWays, City of Pittsburgh Dept. of Public Works, MCG Youth, PA Resources Council, PGH Center for Creative Re-Use, WorkshopPGH
To learn more about the event, visit mattress.org/trashbashcommunity. Please contact Laurie Barnes with questions Lbarnes@mattress.org.