Turning Old Into Bold, Part One ....

It was headed for the trash bin, but instead it got new life in this eye-catching wall quilt! "Out of the Blue" is a quilt is made using cardboard, packing paper, and bubble mailers. Security envelopes form the "binding". It's "tied" with twist-ties! Tasha Strigle is the creative maker. New life from discarded items is exactly what happened to every bit of second-hand "stuff" seen in Upcycle 3: Turning Waste into Wonder, an exhibit currently at Brick City Center for the Arts in Ocala, FL. At first glance, you might think this traditional-looking Log Cabin quilt is fabric. But no, the maker employed plenty of skill to stitch scrap paper into her piece!
 

The greeter- this guy really stands out in a crowd. Justin Alsedik crafted "The Legend of Cool" from wood scraps and leftover house paint.

High end jewelry? Not at all! Discarded glass bottles, jars and trinkets were used by Adele Lane to make "Expressions by Adele: Sea Glass and More."

This racoon sculpture captures the message of repurposing and the theme of environmental responsibility. In fact, the title of Brittany Craven's entry is "Reflect Responsibility." She incorporated eco bricks (made from plastic waste), zip ties, aluminum foil, plastic utensils, and paper towel rolls. Racoons know what to do!

The imagination alone is impressive in this piece, but the title made me laugh out loud. "Tetanus Guitar" is the entry of Andrew Nichols. There are scrap metals, gears, washers, and wire. A horse shoe (the headstock) and a farrier's rasp (the fretboard) are both appropriate to Ocala- the Horse Capital of the World. Strum at your own risk.

While not an entry in the exhibit, this welcoming sofa at The Brick could certainly fit the Upcycle theme. Got a stain on your white sofa? Cover it up with art and turn it into a statement piece.

In her Easter bonnet... with all the frills upon it! Nicole Upton started with vintage taxidermy and used discarded jewelry, spray paint, and silk flowers to make this statement wall art. Taxidermy sometimes startles and creeps me out, but his one is very viewer-friendly in my opinion.

Me and my gal! This is my entry- "Boot Scootin' Remix". I blogged about it in my last post here. Here we are, together again! She looks like she's floating, doesn't she? I like how the staff added the tulips for display. There's lots more to see at Upcycle 3! If you are in the area, stop by The Brick at 23 SW Broadway St., Ocala, FL, to see the fun local artists had with trash. There's a special display there, too, with the artist's story of life in The White House. It's on through April, and you can check the hours on their site. I'll share more in my next post.