“Out of the Closet Thrift Store”

In News by AHF

The West Hollywood Out of the Closet Thrift Store window displays are a constantly rotating gallery of artwork, thanks to visual artist Edgar I. Orduna—also known as “eiotown”—who has been creating these captivating pieces for the last eight years.

“The window displays that Orduna creates are beautiful works of art that have really become a part of the character of the West Hollywood store,” said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation which operates twenty-two Out of the Closet Thrift Stores in Southern California, Northern California and South Florida. Ninety-six cents of every dollar earned goes directly to patient care, treatment and testing.

Orduna came to the United States at the age of 12 where he calls Anaheim, California his hometown.

He says his objective in life is to have his art live forever and make an impact in this world.

“It’s important for me, that people know that I’ve walked in this world and hopefully through my art I can show a glimpse of my inner mind as art forever,” says Orduna.

A job in retail unexpectedly gave him an opportunity to explore his creative side through designing window displays. This is where he found out he had the enormous potential to create a visual display that used every aspect of his creativity. Taking a mannequin and using that as his canvas, he was able to draw on that and expand his definition of creating a piece of art.

Adds Orduna: “I love beauty and perfection. In my mannequins whether broken, faded or incomplete, I always see potential in them. My hands are guided by them to extract their beauty. They inspire me to bring forth the artist I’ve become.”

Professionally known as “eiotown”, he has cultivated different combinations to his art always bringing something new to his work that never stops amazing people.

Most of his work represents life’s complications and relationships: “My Loves, emotions, and my ‘relationship’ is just another tool to get creative while my brain is on strike. In order to fuel my creative gene I require conflicting matter, which I only get from relationships.”

His eye-catching work on the “Out of the Closet Thrift Store” window displays have been featured in nearly every West Hollywood publication. He now also does the window displays for The Pleasure Chest in Los Angeles and New York.

For more information about “eiotown” and his work, please visit his website: www.eiotown.com.

You can keep up to date with all things “Out of the Closet” by following us on Twitter @OTC_ThriftStore and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/OutoftheClosetThriftStore.

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