Wednesday, August 14, 2013

The Evolving Role of Tarps

When people think of tarps, they often envision military men out in the middle of nowhere, constructing a lean-to like structure and covering it with waterproof fabric. It’s not exactly the most happy-go-lucky image. However, tarpaulins and tarp covers actually have a wide range of uses and styles, and an even the material from which they are manufactured has changed over the years. Tarps are way more than plasticized army green swaths of fabric now, and their usefulness is limited only by our imagination.

Tarps have traditionally been used to cover equipment or people, protecting them from the elements. Consequently, their design has usually been utilitarian. However, now tarps are used to cover people at parties and major events. They are used to house large scale outdoor art exhibits, sporting events, and fashion shows. These new uses have given rise to tarpaulins that are highly decorative, and almost as artistic as the work that they are protecting. Gone are the days of the grey-green tarp used only for camping. Tarps today make an artistic statement all their own, and artists and advertisers are only now beginning to explore all the ways they can be used to draw our attention.

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