Art Made from Recycled Materials Article

[Jill]

Art made from recycled materials
BY JESSICA LYONS
Wednesday, January 23, 2008 3:57 PM EST
The exhibition “Made in the MFTA,” which is currently on display at the Henry De Ford III Gallery in the Citi building, highlights the work that can be done using recycled materials.

Located in Long Island City, Materials for the Arts (MFTA), which is a program of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and Departments of Sanitation and Education, provides recycled materials for arts programs throughout the five boroughs.

When the Citi building was first built, a gallery was included in order to bring art to the community and staff. They had long held a desire to partner with the MFTA for an exhibit.

Curator Robert Bangiola said that the main requirement of the exhibit’s pieces were that they had to be created using materials from MFTA. He said that he was thrilled with the final results.

“There are thousands of artists from organizations that use Materials for the Arts,” Bangiola said. “The artists I chose for this show are some of the most exciting and resourceful in the international art scene.”

Juan Carlos Alcaraz, the Director of Artists on Wheels, created “Time Machine” using scrap electric and hardware parts. A love for machines was his inspiration.

“It’s important to show the people that the recycled parts, the scrap parts, can come alive again,” he said.

Olek, an artist whose piece is called “Borborygami,” said that she likes the idea of using recycled materials. She also said that such materials already have had another life and story behind them.

“I think that using recycled materials for art makes total sense,” said Annie Reichert of the Flux Factory. “It’s important for artists to have access to cheaper, free materials to do what they’re doing.”

Reichert assisted in facilitating the Flux Factory’s participation in the exhibit. Ian Montgomery’s piece “How to Fold a Giant Bear” is included in it.

Astoria resident Blanka Amezkua, who also teaches art to middle school students in three of the boroughs, used the project in the exhibit to unite her students. Each student put together pieces of fabric to represent the members of their households.

Amezka said that she hopes people who see the exhibition will learn “that anything you have can be turned into art.”

Suzanne F. W. Lemakis, the Director of the Citi Department of Fine Arts, and Teri Lehner, who assists her, said that their goals for the exhibition are to “entertain” visitors as well as educate more people about artists reusing materials.

“ ‘Made in the MFTA’ is a terrific art show, but it’s also a terrific example of the importance of reuse. Every year Material for the Arts collects and redistributes millions of dollars worth of donations, helping reduce our waste stream while generating enormous creativity among New Yorkers of all ages,” said Kate D. Levin, the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. “This past year alone, our program made it possible for artists, students, and educators from across the five boroughs to turn 680 tons of material into artworks, props, stage sets, and classroom projects.”

“Made in the MFTA” will be on display at the Henry De Ford III Gallery through March 5. The gallery is located in the Citi building at One Court Square in Long Island City. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.mfta.org or call 718-248-2953.


http://www.queenscourier.com/articles/2008/01/24/entertainment/top_...

[McBeth]

I understand the Washington D.C. metro transport. systems is planning a recycled art project -- created by high school students using lost and found items left on buses and trains that were never collected by the owners.

I love this idea!

[Jill]

Hi McBeth

I did a search on this project but couldn't find anything listed. I will keep an eye on the google alerts and post up any info that comes up.

I like the idea as well!

[Mandy Lawrence]

This is an interesting subject. Not that i have much to offer but am keen to find out the sort of things people make with recycled goods.

Lesley put up some trinket type creations that were made by recycling other bits and that got me to thinking about making Em something for her. Maybe something like a collage of her life to date. The things she has done and liked as she has grown up. I would go all ambitious and make a trinketty type box ...I might even do that but I want to start small and build up.

Am going to look for pictures over the weekend and photos and maybe jewels and ribbons to fancy it up.

If it looks any cop will take a photo and put it up, although i want it to be personal to her. So I might not. ho hum.

[Jill]

Hi Mandy

Leslie has written about her recycling and this will be included in our week 12 theme.

It's great you are getting ideas to try new things yourself.

Will be glad to see any pics of your creations later.

Bye for Now
Jill

[Jill]

Here is another recycled arts project

Students Blaze Their Own Trail Through Recycled Art

The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 26, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - One person's trash is another person's artwork.

That's true each February when high-school-age teens compete in the Art of Recycling, showing off their creativity, promoting reusable resources and vying for monetary rewards and other prizes.

And there's a bonus: Graduating seniors who have entered the contest may apply for the Art of Recycling Scholarship through the Pasco Education Foundation.

The exhibit is on display through March during business hours in the lobby of the West Pasco Government Center off Little Road.

The students use 70 percent recycled materials to express an environmental theme through painting, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, wearable art and architecture.

They compete for honors in these categories: best use of newspaper, best art, best environmental concept, best use of materials, theme award, commissioner's award, recycling award, best use of wire and the people's choice.Sponsored by the Pasco school district, county government, the Pasco Arts Council and corporate contributors, the Art of Recycling is open to students at public and private high schools and to home-schooled teens.

The school district's recycling policy is to be a community role model by: avoiding products that are overpackaged and helping to create markets for recyclables by purchasing recycled goods whenever it makes economic sense.

For more information on school district efforts, visit recycle.pasco.k12.fl.us.