3 minute read
Lost and Found
Artist designer Demeree Barth brings new life to objects often forgotten.
BY RO MARTINEZ
As a young girl, Demeree Barth would watch her seamstress mother create garments on her sewing machine. Eventually, the two would work together on projects, with inspiration from Vogue magazines. Demeree’s talent blossomed and today the Seminole artist creates with a keen eye for fashion. Through her brand called DemiGod Studio, she delivers stunning one-of-a-kind garments, headwear and jewelry worthy of being displayed in a gallery.
Her trademark is layering materials sourced from local thrift stores and found objects, such as spent metal grinder pads, bullet casings, dried flowers and shells. Her experience is evident as she is able to sew, mold and join a variety of non-conventional materials resulting in wearable art. The DemiGod customer often attends parties and wants to stand out from the crowd, she says. “I design a one-of-a-kind accessory, headdress, or outfit that will garner many compliments and amazing photographs for social media,” said Demeree.
Demeree’s wearable art fashions became her medium of choice in 2016, when she joined The Garden Fairies, an art collective in Pinellas County. Since then, she has designed and constructed an “artfit” for the Dunedin Wearable Art Show, a quirky, amusing and amazing runway benefit held annually at the Dunedin Fine Arts Center. “I look forward to this show every year as it motivates me to really create something fabulous that I can wear down the runway,” shared Demeree.
Earlier this year in March, Demeree was invited to display her work at MUSE 2023, the annual St. Pete Arts Alliance fundraiser and awards. “A fellow wearable art friend, Janna Kennedy, invited me to show some wearable art on models at this gala that’s filled with St. Pete artists and supporters,” Demeree says. “It was incredible seeing four of my designs being modeled under the balloon sculpture by Jason Hackenworth that filled the room.”
Demeree works as an elementary school art teacher by day, encouraging young children to let their creativity flow. But when school’s out, you’ll likely find her in her DemiGod Studio mulling over fabrics and feathers and found objects.
Last November, she mentored high school students for a few sessions in the Dali Museum’s Fashion Design at the Dali program. “Students applied to the program and got to create for five months in the Gibbs High School theater sewing studio,” explains Demeree. “They designed and sewed an outfit inspired by one of Dali’s artworks and had a fashion show at the end. I guided them on how to create, using repurposed and found objects.”
The avant-garde galas held annually at the Dali Museum also provide a perfect complement for DemiGod creations from wild headwear and custom jewelry to one-of-a-kind masks. “I have had a few clients who attend the Dali galas,” Demeree says. “I love designing for these galas.”
See more of Demeree’s work and contact her at demigodstudio. com Ro Martinez is a creative writer and fine art artist. She can be reached at romartinezrimes.com.
