We had the good fortune of connecting with Star Trauth and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Star, what do you want people to remember about you?
Legacy whispers toward the future by telling stories that pull from the past. The constant thread through my body of work is my legacy. My journey has been rich, varied, and painful at times. I have amassed a vast tapestry of memories, experiences, joys, and scars. With these mounting stories I decided to author my own expectations for a lasting purpose. I want the beautiful and the broken to mean something. When I became a mother I noticed how she watched everything I did with a measure of curiosity. As my work was published and exhibited people began to be affected by it. To me this is a huge responsibility. I want to pass on wisdom, gratitude, joy, and beauty through my art and my actions. I want my daughter to always have something of me to carry with her.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My body of work explores how much my material can take before it burns to nothing. It starts as plastic/paper waste converted to fiber. I give it life again just to see how far I can stretch it. Literally.  It’s shaped, dyed, and fire molded, individually. Each component it’s own work of art. I assemble it into mounted Sculpture. I’m taking waste from man and bending it to my will to give back something interesting and beautiful.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I was fortunate enough to be a tourist in Miami for years before calling it home. The mindset of tourist vs inhabitant is so different that we’ve given locals recommendations for places to visit that they’ve never heard of. My favorite hotel is The Sagamore. It’s a gorgeous oceanfront spot that is as much museum as hotel with gorgeous pool and delicious menus to boot. While being a relatively new city, Miami boasts one of the oldest buildings in the Western Hemisphere. The Ancient Spanish Monastery is a beautiful experience combining art, architecture, gardens, and artifacts. Nearby, MiMo(Miami Modern) historical district features Miami’s take on Midcentury modern. Full of quirky restaurants and bars, my favorite being Greg’s Diner. MiMo is also home to that iconic Drew Barrymore Coppertone ad. Miami Beach has the largest historical district in the country featuring a veritable plethora of Art Deco buildings from modest homes to grand hotels. If modern architecture is more your thing, Zaha Hadid’s One Thousand Museum building is a gorgeous example. Which can be seen from the grounds of the PAMM. Any city is lucky to have a good museum, we have many. The list is long but some favorites that spring to mind are The Lowe for Contemporary to Ancient Art-from cat mummy to Chihuly, I never tire of it. The PAMM with gorgeous rotating exhibitions, a building that is a work of art in itself, and it’s situated on The Bay for lunch alfresco. The Rubell a private collection turned museum complete with one of my favorite artists, Yayoi Kusama and boasts one of her signature Infinity Rooms. The Bass never disappoints, it’s contemporary exhibitions so interesting I often leave spent. I try to stick it out though for a short walk to the ocean and then a bite at OLA where the atmosphere is relaxed and the food delicious. The Wilzig complex was a recent discovery and did not disappoint, what started as Naomi Wilzig’s collection of erotica has become a museum complex. From tame slice of life black and white photography to erotica in many mediums, you never no what you will find around the next corner of the sprawling complex. How about a walk in the forest? No, seriously. Hidden in plain sight is what remains of the Brickell Hammock at Simpson Park. Eight acres of 162 plant species, 15 of which are endangered, all under a gorgeous tree canopy. After put up your feet up at Bahia atop the Four Seasons Hotel for a few tacos and mixed drinks. Kamodo for an exciting Japanese menu and an interior that delights the senses is next on my list. A trip to Miami Beach Botanical Garden will introduce you to some of the most beautiful botanicals in the world including my favorite, The Rainbow Eucalyptus. No trip to Miami would be complete without a walk around Wynwood Walls for a one of a kind collection of some of the most diverse graffiti art in the world. Near are many great food and watering holes favorites including Wynwood Diner, The Butcher Shop, Wynwood Brewery, The Salty Doughnut, and J Wakefield Brewery. No trip would be complete without a trip to Little Havana for a taste of Cuba whether it be for way too much of our famous Cuban coffee, cigars, delicious cuban food, and art. Go, wander the street, and enjoy it all. Long story short, there’s something for everyone in Miami.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I owe a debt of gratitude to curators Viviana Puello, Michael Lam, Cheon Eob Yu, Seonghwan Moon, and Yoo Choong Yeul, who’ve had continued faith in my vision, and provided me the breathing room to continually share and develop my practice. To my husband and my daughter who keep me grounded, inspired, loved, and supported. When I think I can’t they remind me I can.

Website: www.wethree.net
Instagram: @startrauth
Linkedin: Star Trauth
Twitter: @startrauth
Facebook: Star Trauth

Image Credits
wethree studios