Don’t Throw This Valentine Away was the title of the pic that was in the Seattle P-I on Valentine’s Day, when our favorite recycled materials artist Marita Dingus showed Donna Amira’s art class at Dunlap Elementary School in south Seattle how to make valentines from items found in the trash, such as yogurt containers, fabric scraps, electrical wire, ribbon remnants, plastic bags and other junk (view video HERE).

In the cause of reducing waste, Rita Smith, community education director for Waste Management, talked to the 25 students about being aware of what they are throwing away, about how things are packaged, and about whether they should buy an item to begin with.

Ruby Re-Usable had originally been invited to do the project, but since she is already the artist-in-residence at Loyal Heights Elementary in north Seattle (see pics HERE), she graciously gave the gig to her girlfriend Marita (more about Marita Dingus HERE and HERE). We hope that Waste Management funds more events like this, because Make Art Not Waste is our motto!