PHILADELPHIA, PA. May 30, 2003 - The MYX Gallery, a unique space dedicated exclusively to youth art exploring themes in global cultures, diversity and tolerance, will launch its new exhibit, Style Tribes, on First Friday, June 6, 2003. An opening reception will take place from 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM. The public is welcome to attend.

The exhibit explores the tribal connection between fashion and specific social groups in a collection of computer-generated works by 10 Design and Merchandising students from Drexel University. Skaters, surfers, rastafarians and thrifters are among the tribes represented. A multimedia presentation will also accompany the exhibit.

Inspired by the work of Ted Polhemus, an anthropologist and fashion writer, Style Tribes curator, Anne Cecil - a Philadelphia artist and the students' professor - wanted to investigate how fashion has become the predominant way for people in modern society to signal out others with whom they identify. "Each and every one of us has a fundamental need to belong to a group," says Cecil, "and the visual language of clothing makes us and our peers instantly recognizable to each other in today's transient and global world."

The exhibit demonstrates how the elective, eclectic and experimental nature of style creates synergy between people of diverse backgrounds, fusing them into unique "tribes" unencumbered by traditional boundaries like gender, race, religion or geography. Cecil explains, " As soon as you don your oversized sports jersey and some bling bling jewelry, you've got instant credibility with hip hopsters from Indiana to Tokyo. Likewise, when you put on that three-piece Armani suit, you've got a membership to the corporate club anywhere in the world."

MYX Gallery co-founder and director, Josette Bonafino, feels the concept of Style Tribes perfectly meshes with the mission of her organization. "Fashion in the context of this exhibit is a metaphor for cultural diversity so Style Tribes is a useful tool for getting young people to think about issues like identity, stereotyping and acceptance of others in a language they can easily relate to," she says.

The ten Drexel students, along with Cecil, will be present at the reception to discuss their work. Style Tribes will be on display through August 15.

ABOUT MYX
MYX: Multicultural Youth exchange [www.myxworld.org] is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit dedicated to facilitating cross-cultural communication among youth around the world through technology and the arts. MYX was formed in direct response to the tragedies of September 11, 2001 in order to promote global tolerance.

MYX programs for 2002 include the recently opened MYX Gallery at 110 Church Street, Philadelphia, the Youth Artists Exchange to Iceland, and the first MYX Student Conference of Global Tolerance & Friendship, to be held in Philadelphia on Friday, October 4.

Contact:
Josette Bonafino, 215-923-1415 ext. 1, josette@myxworld.org
Scott Tattar, Tattar Richards-DBC Public Relations, 215-957-0300,
stattar@dbcommunications.net

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