magpie etc., a gallery of sorts

Neighborhood gallery combines art, handmade clothing

— JONATHAN MARX, STAFF WRITER

Clothing designer Rhiannon Guillet and artist Emily Harper have been friends and collaborators for the past few years, launching their own line of clothing and accessories, magpie apparel. From 4 to 9 p.m. today, they embark on the latest adventure in their creative partnership with the grand opening of magpie etc., a gallery of sorts, in the 12South neighborhood at 2227 10th Ave. S.

Nashville has seen its share of new art galleries in the past few years, but magpie promises something a little different: a combination of exhibition, retail and performance space. Today’s reception will offer a well-rounded sampling. Along with items by magpie apparel, the gallery will feature artwork by Harper, Miranda Crump, Brandon Gnetz, Andee Rudloff, the Twisted Sisters and members of the city’s Sudanese Lost Boys community. Expressive pop singer-songwriter K.S. Rhoads and acoustic duo The Smoking Flowers will provide a gentle musical backdrop.

The magpie aesthetic is best summed up in Guillet and Harper’s approach to making clothes and accessories. The pair regularly visits flea markets and thrift stores, looking for vintage clothing, scraps of fabric and cast-off bits and pieces — everything from buttons to guitar strings. Guillet assembles wearables from these repurposed materials, while Harper makes jewelry.

It’s an approach that gains more and more currency at a time when consumers are beginning to question their involvement in a cycle that results in needless waste and the exploitation of Third World workers. Just as significantly, a handmade garment is a work of art — something that can’t be said for a mass-produced skirt purchased at the mall.

For Guillet and Harper, the combination of fashion, art and music — not to mention the occasional workshop — is a natural fit. It’s all a celebration of beauty, of local culture and a way to bring together people looking for something unique to enliven their world. The gallery will be open on Saturdays, with hours by appointment during the rest of the week. For more information, visit www.magpieapparel.com .