What do you do with all of your extra stuff? I have always felt, while other developing countries struggle to obtain some basic needs, American’s are challenged with the opposite: how to get away from all the stuff that we accumulate in order to live a more simple life, free of clutter. I must admit, I even have a draw in my kitchen named the “odds and end drawer” designated to stuff that doesn’t really have a place to go. One of the simplest and most effective steps one can do for the green movement, that is, even more valuable than recycling, is RE-USING, finding a new purpose for the item you no longer need to transform it somehow into something that serves you. An old door can be used as a tabletop or a headboard. Left over tiles can be made into decorative stepping-stones, use salvaged windows to make a small green house. It takes a bit of creativity, but is also very rewarding. And this is why, in the spirit of Reusing, EcoSpaces Green Building Design Showroom is having a RE-PURPOSE art show that has inspired artists to create art for art sake with green building material extras.
Mosaic artists, sculptors, art teachers, jewelry makers and kids have pillaged a mountain of outdated samples. Cut-offs, already made from recycled materials such as glass countertops, beautiful exotic cork and bamboo flooring samples, recycled porcelain tiles and hand died silk fabrics, were taken back to studios and given yet another life as art. “We are constantly being exposed to the latest and greatest green building materials. And, therefore, we have gathered an excess of beautiful samples that we no longer need.” Says Joanna Kanow, founder or EcoSpaces. “We also wanted an excuse to throw a party to celebrate three years in business serving the community by supplying sustainable green building materials to architects, contractors and home owners and new greener building in our area.” Local artists of all ages will be displaying mosaics, sculptures, elaborate hot plates, window coverings, mobile, Zen floor mats, hard wood boxes, recycled class and concrete planters, and more. There will be a silent auction for most of the student art, to raise money for the Telluride School Art Department in order to purchase more supplies to make art. Prizes from EcoCleaners, The Garden Store, Cindy Bread, China Rose Tomboy Coffee and Counter Culture will be awarded for: most functional, most recycled, most original and other door prizes for those attending this reception. The RePurpose art show takes place Thursday, September 23, at 4:00pm at the EcoSpaces Green Building Design showroom in Lawson Hill Business Center. Call 970-728-1973 for more info.
