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Artists find their inspiration in recycled materials

June 23, 2009

By Lauren McLaughlin

By Lauren McLaughlin
When the arts commission was trying to decide about the next art exhibit at City Hall, they decided to find artists who use old stuff.
The exhibit, which opens June 24, features 44 artists who make their art out of recycled materials.
According to Carol Ross, a member of the commission, “Eco Art” is art made of materials that are recycled or otherwise repurposed.
Ross mentioned that some of the artwork used unusual canvases such as newspapers or cutting boards. Other artwork is made of recycled material; one person made bugs out of computer parts.
Ross has been to Eco Art exhibits before. She went to a few in Kirkland organized by Donna Lindeman Porter.
“I thought they were fantastic,” Ross said. Ross asked Lindeman Porter to help with Sammamish’s Eco Art exhibit.
“It’s an honor that they asked me,” Lindeman Porter said.
Lindeman Porter has curated many recycled art exhibits and said she looks forward to Sammamish’s Eco Art exhibit.
“I wanted to show the community international and national artists that use recycled materials,” Lindeman Porter said. “I also wanted to show local artists at this exhibit.”
The show will feature recycled art from galleries and local artists. Local artists Katya Palladina, Kurt Rodenhiser, and Sherry Pepke will be showing artwork at the exhibit.
“This is something I’ve always wanted to do,” Rodenhiser said.
“I’m really anxious to see what everyone has thought of,” Pepke said. “I think it will be very inspirational.”
Pepke was not the only one eager to see what ideas the other artists have come up with.
“I think it will be very inspiring to see all the other works and she what people have done with what would have been thrown out,” Rodenhiser said.
Palladina looks forward to seeing the community’s reaction to the exhibit.
“I’m curious to see what everyone will think of the exhibit,” Palladina said.
I’m sure the great ideas of the artists will move everyone forward,” Palladina said. “I see more people at the grocery stores with their reusable bags, I hope this will get more people to recycle and reuse things.”
Pepke said, recycling has become such a part of our lives and its really nice to see we can do something more with it.
The artists are not the only ones looking forward to seeing the imaginative art.
“What people’s imagination can do with things that would normally go into recycling bins is amazing,” Ross said. Every new entry she sees impresses her more than the last, she said.
“I love inventive minds that take trash and make it into something new and exciting,” Lindeman Porter said.
Sammamish Arts Committee Commissioner Deborah Akerstrom said the exhibit seems topical.
“I think the theme is very current,” Akerstrom said. “I think it’s an advantage to open on the market day.” Akerstrom said she hopes people attending the market will come in to see it.
“We even have some teens walking around the market to advertise,” Akerstrom said. She said the teens will be wearing at least one object made of recycled materials.
Eastlake senior Cynthia Johnston, one of those teens, said the outfits are a work in progress.
“We haven’t really decided what to do yet,” Johnston said. “But we have a ton of ideas for everyone.”
One idea Johnston had was to make a skirt out of old school papers.
“I think it’s going to be a lot of fun,” Johnston said of volunteering to advertise for the Eco Art exhibit.
“People (at the market) are really friendly,” Johnston said. “I think they’ll enjoy it.”
The teenagers are not the only ones eager to display their recycled art.
“There’s one elementary school booth that’s selling wallets made out of Capri Sun wrappers,” Akerstrom said. “Right there gives me hope that there’s an interest in recycled art.”
Intern Lauren McLaughlin can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 244 or samrev@isspress.com. To comment on this story visit www.sammamishreview.com.

When the arts commission was trying to decide about the next art exhibit at City Hall, they decided to find artists who use old stuff.

The exhibit, which opens June 24, features 44 artists who make their art out of recycled materials.

According to Carol Ross, a member of the commission, “Eco Art” is art made of materials that are recycled or otherwise repurposed.

Kurt Rodenhiser made a dragon’s head from recycled wine bottles. Photo contributed

Kurt Rodenhiser made a dragon’s head from recycled wine bottles. Photo contributed

Ross mentioned that some of the artwork used unusual canvases such as newspapers or cutting boards. Other artwork is made of recycled material; one person made bugs out of computer parts.

Ross has been to Eco Art exhibits before. She went to a few in Kirkland organized by Donna Lindeman Porter.

“I thought they were fantastic,” Ross said. Ross asked Lindeman Porter to help with Sammamish’s Eco Art exhibit.

“It’s an honor that they asked me,” Lindeman Porter said.

Lindeman Porter has curated many recycled art exhibits and said she looks forward to Sammamish’s Eco Art exhibit.

“I wanted to show the community international and national artists that use recycled materials,” Lindeman Porter said. “I also wanted to show local artists at this exhibit.”

The show will feature recycled art from galleries and local artists. Local artists Katya Palladina, Kurt Rodenhiser, and Sherry Pepke will be showing artwork at the exhibit.

“This is something I’ve always wanted to do,” Rodenhiser said.

“I’m really anxious to see what everyone has thought of,” Pepke said. “I think it will be very inspirational.”

Pepke was not the only one eager to see what ideas the other artists have come up with.

“I think it will be very inspiring to see all the other works and she what people have done with what would have been thrown out,” Rodenhiser said.

Palladina looks forward to seeing the community’s reaction to the exhibit.

“I’m curious to see what everyone will think of the exhibit,” Palladina said.

I’m sure the great ideas of the artists will move everyone forward,” Palladina said. “I see more people at the grocery stores with their reusable bags, I hope this will get more people to recycle and reuse things.”

Pepke said, recycling has become such a part of our lives and its really nice to see we can do something more with it.

The artists are not the only ones looking forward to seeing the imaginative art.

“What people’s imagination can do with things that would normally go into recycling bins is amazing,” Ross said. Every new entry she sees impresses her more than the last, she said.

“I love inventive minds that take trash and make it into something new and exciting,” Lindeman Porter said.

Sammamish Arts Committee Commissioner Deborah Akerstrom said the exhibit seems topical.

“I think the theme is very current,” Akerstrom said. “I think it’s an advantage to open on the market day.” Akerstrom said she hopes people attending the market will come in to see it.

“We even have some teens walking around the market to advertise,” Akerstrom said. She said the teens will be wearing at least one object made of recycled materials.

Eastlake senior Cynthia Johnston, one of those teens, said the outfits are a work in progress.

“We haven’t really decided what to do yet,” Johnston said. “But we have a ton of ideas for everyone.”

One idea Johnston had was to make a skirt out of old school papers.

“I think it’s going to be a lot of fun,” Johnston said of volunteering to advertise for the Eco Art exhibit.

“People (at the market) are really friendly,” Johnston said. “I think they’ll enjoy it.”

The teenagers are not the only ones eager to display their recycled art.

“There’s one elementary school booth that’s selling wallets made out of Capri Sun wrappers,” Akerstrom said. “Right there gives me hope that there’s an interest in recycled art.”

Intern Lauren McLaughlin can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 244 or samrev@isspress.com.

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Written by Lauren McLaughlin · Filed Under Community 

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