Local Artist's Work Featured in World-Renowned Recycled Fashion Charity Auction

A Pacifica artist's work will be featured in an annual San Francisco auction benefiting the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Pacifican Pamela Wiston-Charbonneau's work consists of one-of-a-kind upcycled fashions and her antique button jewelry will be auctioned. 

This annual event, Discarded to Divine, began in 2005, and  has been sourcing work from artists around the world since.

Each artist’s entry must use discarded clothing to “create wearable works of art and exquisite home décor,” said Sally Rosen, the event founder and St. Vincent de Paul Society Wellness Center director.

Wiston-Charbonneau, a resident since 1988, became familiar with Discarded to Divine through the event co-chairman, Lisa Salamone.

After Salamone gave Wiston-Charbonneau a ticket to last year’s live auction, she decided to submit her own creations this year.

Discarded to Divine co-chairman Salamone said that having this artist’s work included in the auction is a welcome addition.

“I feel blessed because Pamela is creative and her energy is limitless,” said Salamone.

For the event, Wiston-Charbonneau created several pieces of antique button jewelry entitled “Cute as a Button,” which won a jury award for women’s fashion accessories jewelry.

Her winning secret?

“I’m true to my art and use beautiful buttons,” she said.

Wiston-Charbonneau’s use of buttons in her Discarded to Divine entry is not a departure from her usual medium.

For 17 years, Wiston-Charbonneau owned a storefront in Pacifica (which also doubled as her studio at times) called Successories, where she created and sold several pieces crafted from antique buttons.

Pacificans may recognize the name, as Successories was in one of the historic Ocean Shore Railroad cabooses on the Pacific Coast highway.  

Wiston-Charbonneau moved her studio to San Francisco’s Noe Valley in 2009, but remains a Pacifica resident.

One of the jurors who evaluated the necklace, Julie Weston, said, “I’ve seen Pamela’s pieces change and evolve. I go into her shop and there’s something that always catches my eye.”

Weston is also a fashion designer with a San Francisco-based clothing line called Weston Wear.  

Successories In a Button Box, located at 3904 24th St in San Francisco, often showcases and sells the work of other Pacifica-based artists, including Wiston-Charbonneau's. 

Wiston-Charbonneau has been known to give discounts on merchandise to customers who mention they too are from Pacifica.