When you look at a bicycle seat, do you see the form of a snail? Do plastic shopping bags make you think of jellyfish? Ever think of making a table out of a bicycle wheel? You’re not alone if you answered “no” to any of these questions, and that’s what makes the 18th Annual CSWD Creative ReUse Art Showcase a unique and much-anticipated event in Chittenden County.
Each year, the Chittenden Solid Waste District invites high school students to take a fresh squint at the wide world of material that we throw away every day. An intriguing shape might suggest a form that has nothing to do with an item’s original function and, with a lot of care and creativity — voila! art emerges.
Saturday, February 22, noon – 3 p.m.: Open House at Adams Farm Market (986 Old Stage Road, Williston). View all 62 entries.
Friday, March 7 – Thursday, March 27: Many selected pieces on display at Frog Hollow Gallery (85 Church St., Burlington). Vote for your favorite “People’s Choice” award winner when you visit!
Thursday, March 27, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.: Creative ReUse Showcase Awards Bash at Frog Hollow Gallery (85 Church St., Burlington). Enjoy some tasty munchies while you check out the art, meet the artists and the wonderful teachers who helped inspire their students, and find out who won the People’s Choice Award!
2-D Awesome Art: sponsored by Boutilier’s Art Center ($100 gift card) -“Lion Live,” a massive lion’s face made from old fabric, Styrofoam, corks, plastic cartons, and junk paint, by Zachary Uerz of Jericho, student at Mount Mansfield Union High School, advised by Dan Tolle and Jon Harris.
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| Lion Live |
3-D Awesome Art: sponsored by Burlington City Arts ($100 gift card) -“A Snail of Great Scale,” a snail sculpture crafted from a bike seat and an old basketball, by Michelle Lee of South Burlington, student at South Burlington High School, advised by Lisa Divoll-Painter.
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| A Snail of Great Scale |
Fabulous Fashion: sponsored by Battery Street Jeans ($100 gift card) – “Trashion,” a dress stitched from an old Apple Store bag, packing peanuts, plastic bags, and bubble wrap, by Ross Herzog of Burlington, student at Burlington High School, advised by Maggie Conant.
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| Trashion |
Interactive Inventions: sponsored by Advance Music Center ($100 gift card) – “Scrapple,” a reimagining of the Scrabble game, using computer keys, a bicycle chain, plastic grating, and an old scarf, by Jack Barron of South Burlington, student at South Burlington High School, advised by Lisa Divoll-Painter.
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| Scrapple |
Perfectly Practical: sponsored by The Outdoor Gear Exchange ($100 gift card) – “Wheeled Table,” a usable “café style” table welded from metal and bicycle parts, by Sheldon Rheaume of Essex Junction, student at Burlington Technical Center, advised by Bob Coulliard.
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| Wheeled Table |
Techno Totems: sponsored by ReSOURCE ($100 gift card) – “Tomorrow’s Thinking in Today’s Products,” a lamp-like construction created out of an Amperex 4-400 electron tube, scrap circuit board material, a type S-60 UTC transformer, and heavy gauge wire, by Noah King of Jericho, student at Mount Mansfield Union High School, advised by Dan Tolle.
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| Tomorrow’s Thinking |
True Trash: sponsored by Casella Waste Systems ($100 check) – “Mini-Maxi Dress,” a wearable outfit made from sanitary napkin wrappers, a broken reusable shopping bag, and ribbon from a curtain, by Eliana Cohen from South Burlington, student at South Burlington High School, advised by Lisa Divoll-Painter.
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| Mini-Maxi Dress |
Best-In-Show: sponsored by Renewable NRG Systems ($200 check); and Strongest Statement: sponsored by Bolton Valley Ski Resort (four lift tickets for 2015 season) -“Sting,” a mobile-like hanging piece that glows under ultraviolet light, made from plastic bags, old wire, lamp wiring, and a fluorescent black light bulb, by Megan Reilly of Mount Mansfield Union High School, advised by Jon Harris.
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| Sting |
People’s Choice: sponsored by Frog Hollow – Visit the exhibit at Frog Hollow from March 7 until the Awards Bash on March 27 and vote for the artist YOU want to win the $100 gift card!
Got questions about the Showcase? Contact CSWD’s School Outreach Coordinator Johnny Powell:
jpowell@cswd.net
(802) 872-8111
Or check it out on the Creative ReUse Showcase web page!
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